Exploring Leadership~Courtney

I think that the chapter three of Exploring Leadership was pretty much the opposite of what we learned in “Closing the Leadership Gap” by Marie C. Wilson. Wilson talked about how the majority of the time had to stand up for them, or how women are not taken seriously when being compared to men in leadership roles. This book mainly pertained to the characteristics and the skills that are needed to be a good leader.
The quote that I liked the best is on page 76 that states “Leaders and members promote the organization’s purpose through a shared vision and not for self-gain such as achieving a higher leadership position or frame.” Leaders and members go hand-in-hand in an organization not as enemies. One must not fear the leader because everyone would be afraid to make a mistake. This is not the way to go if one wants to be an effective leader and lead a promising career. It is said, “Sometimes leader will fail to act because of the indecision or due to a fixation on perfection. Because “Competent, confident leaders to tolerate honest mistakes that are not the result of negligence”.” Leaders need to make mistakes so they know how to improve there organization/business, and to learn how to become better leaders. This quote summed up the point about making mistakes by saying that “A leader who sets a standard of ‘zero defects no mistakes’ is also saying, ‘Don’t take any chances”’ (Komives).
After reading this section, it made me remember that leadership can be interpreted in different ways. When I did my interview with Professor Eby, I thought that it was weird that she never mentioned be aggressive and competitive. She explained how I do not need to be afraid to make mistakes or take risks. Leaders need to do that to expand there horizon and become better by learning through their own personal experience. “Leaders promote learning in at least three ways: through their own learning on a personal level, by helping others in their units [organizations] learn, and by shaping and contrbutiong to an organizational culture that promotes learning.”