Trait-Based Leadership

The trait-based leadership theory simply separates leaders from non-leaders. According to this theory, if you aren’t born with leadership traits, you will never become a leader. While there are people that support this theory, I cannot agree with it. I do believe that some people might be born with certain traits that make it easier for them to become leaders. But that doesn’t mean that one who isn’t born with a trait can never become a leader. I believe that it’s about having the drive and the will to achieve something, and if you have that drive, you can learn anything.
The pro for this theory is that for somebody who possesses those traits, they are natural leaders, while on the other hand, one who does not possess those traits will never have the chance of becoming a leader, which can be very discouraging.

Traits I admire

The first trait that comes to my mind when I think about it is integrity. It is an important trait that everyone should possess. Integrity is more that being honest, it is about having moral principles and being able to enforce them whether it is in your professional or personal life.
Another trait I admire is drive. It is amazing to see how much more one can achieve when he or she has the drive to achieve a goal. Also, when you have the drive to accomplish something, energy comes naturally to you, making it easier to get your work done. Combining these two traits, I think it is a great start for a successful career.

Leadership and I

Leadership is a subject that deserves a lot of attention, especially for students at our level as we represent the future of our industry. As a senior student at San Diego State University, I have now taken several classes that emphasize leadership skills. I believe the purpose of such emphasis is to prepare us not only to become good hospitality employees, but also to become good industry leaders, leaders who have a good sense of their personality, and who know how to react to certain situations. As we all know, these classes teach us a lot about ourselves, and how we respond under pressure.
My idea of a leader is one that can lead others through good and bad moments, and is able to celebrate the victories but at the same time has the ability rise every time he falls. Someone who is able to transmit his thoughts and like Dwight Eisenhower once said, “leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” This makes communication, according to my perception of leadership, a very important part of being a successful leader. A leader who has the drive to achieve a goal will possess an energy that is unstoppable. But at the end of the day, a leader is nothing if he doesn’t have integrity. And the reason why I put so much emphasis on this trait is because there are plenty of great leaders in history, but some happen to have the wrong cause.

“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”
-Dwight Eisenhower