Successful Leaders example essay topic

350 words
Much has been written in recent years about corporate leadership - who America's most successful leaders are, the principles under which they operate, how to emulate and cultivate new leaders, and so forth. With the struggle on to maintain and grow sales and profits, I raise a personal concern that paradoxically centers around those in leadership positions who are threatened by stellar performers committed to the organization's success. As a business owner who has worked with many companies attempting to perform against a large variety of objectives, I have seen it and you have seen it. Undoubtedly everyone in American business has at some time looked at a given corporation's leadership team and wondered how a particular vice president or president has reached that lofty position lacking vision, conviction, interpersonal skills, and countless other essential leadership skills and behavioral traits.

More often than not, this leadership dilemma is caused and perpetrated by a deep sense of insecurity and a resulting need to create an illusion of competency. The tragedy in organizations plagued by this form of "leadership" is that the careers and livelihoods of employees are directly dependent upon their leaders' competency. I regard this situation as criminal - literally - because in every sense of the word these leaders are stealing precious time, talent, energy, and emotion from their organizations - resources that if properly cultivated would ensure individual and organizational success. Companies rarely fail because they lack skill and talent in functional roles.

But if leadership team members don't, through their example, work together, challenge themselves to improve, surround themselves with those who have the potential to out-perform them - and inspire others through the constant application of well-communicated values and philosophies - the company is prone to failure regardless of its size or prior successes. Corporate leaders are charged with serious personal responsibilities that include financial, social, and moral obligations associated with their business enterprises. The job is not about them; it's about those they serve. And that group includes customers, suppliers, and most importantly, employees.