Qualities of Leadership Introduction 1 In the speaker’

Man: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
    Thank you for attending this homecoming lecture. Let me say that it is not really a lecture but an informal discussion of my insights into the qualities of leadership.
    Although a good leader needs to have many qualities, in my opinion there are 10 qualities, which are the most important.
    The most important quality of a leader is to lead. This may sound simple but in reality many people in leadership positions fail to lead.
    The world is constantly changing and any business needs to move with the times or risk losing ground. To lead means to make difficult decisions. These decisions include setting your own agenda for the organisation such as determining its core values and setting its strategic direction. Other decisions also include making tough decisions on professional, business and personnel matters.
    No leader makes the right decision every time but a good leader is not afraid to make decisions because he is not afraid to reverse his decision and take remedial action where necessary. A bad leader is one who shies away from making decisions and simply wait for things to happen.
    Secondly, a leader is expected to set the strategy for the organisation. How does a good leader choose the right strategy for his organisation? A good leader must develop a thorough analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the organisation. He must evaluate carefully the pros and cons of each alternative strategy. He should also consider the short-term as well as the long-term impact of each option. What I cannot over-emphasise is that a leader must adopt a strategy for his organisation He cannot simply copy others.
    Thirdly, a key attribute of a good leader is to be able to communicate internally and externally. He must maintain a high level of visibility. Internally, the leader must communicate his strategy and vision to every member of the firm. Externally, the leader is the face of the organisation and must project a positive image for the organisation. He should act as the spokesman on important issues for the organisation.