Rhetoric of Leadership and Business

Leadership, Business and Rhetoric

Leadership, Business, and Rhetoric

To what extent do different situations merit different types of leaders? Different situations definitely require different types of leaders. When it comes to a team environment, transformational leaders who work with others instead of giving orders are the best choice. Some environments, such as the military, do not lend themselves to that type of leadership, though. These environments require a transactional leader who is clearly in charge and has no problem giving orders to others. There are generally severe penalties for not carrying out these orders, and there is little, if any, teamwork between the leader and the followers. One style of leadership will not be effective in all situations, nor should it be used in all situations.

Can we identify a set of personality traits common to all successful leaders? The most successful leaders are natural leaders. That means they do not really have to learn how to lead. Leading is not the same thing as managing, though. Management tactics can be taught, and each company may have some different requirements. Personality traits of successful leaders generally include being outgoing and personable, relating well to others, and being team players. Followers will come to these people because they like what the leader has to offer, not because they are forced to.

3. What are the patterns by which individuals and organizations resist and/or react poorly to change? The worst reaction to change is no reaction at all -- a resistance to change or lack of acknowledgment that it is taking place. Companies and individuals who see change happening all around them and refuse to acknowledge it will find themselves at the back of the pack when compared with their competition. That can cause companies to close their doors and individuals to stay stuck in their current roles, without the opportunity to move forward into a brighter future.

4. What are the key steps in a change process? In a change process, there are several key steps. The change must first be recognized and acknowledged. That change must also be understood. There is no point in attempting to make adjustments if there is no clear goal and no specific path for how one is to get from Point A to Point B. As the change process progresses, the plan may have to be changed. That is why it is so very important to pay close attention to how the change is being implemented and whether it is successful. Changes that are not going well must be reevaluated quickly, so difficulties can be corrected while they are still small.

5. How and why do successful leaders use stories to produce change? Successful leaders use stories to produce change because stories allow followers to put themselves in the place of the people in the tale being told. Stories are relatable, and they foster a can-do attitude because they remind people of others who were successful. They are not abstract concepts that fail to provide a correlation between where a person is and where he or she wants to be. By seeing themselves in the stories told by their leader, followers will be more likely to do what the leader asks of them. The end result of the story can be very powerful, and can help followers stay motivated when times are difficult and the future seems uncertain.