Leaders: And What They Need

By CW5 Issac D Smith

Has the role of a 21st-century leader... changed?

My book teaches people how the life of an army soldier has various lessons for the working individuals of the corporate world. I've taken multiple roles of leadership that have told how, at the very core, we're all similar, and how working hard enough to reach your full potentia

• Language: English
• Publisher: TWCLeader LLC
• Release date: Nov 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9780578795317

Book preview

Preface

For a very long time, our definition of a leader has stood strong on the pillars of intelligence, charisma, and other core personality traits. Rightly so, these qualities play a vital role when you’re leading a team. Accordingly, academics have always considered that these dominating traits are what make leaders, leaders.

Is that true, though? With the goal, either being injecting enthusiasm in your team members or equipping them with will power – has the role of a 21st-century leader… changed? The theories we’re familiar with, indicate that with sufficient character – any person can trump over the reality they’re having trouble confronting.

But in recent years – a new idea of leadership has emerged. We have better accounts of what leadership truly means, and how the psychology of a leader has indefinitely been redesigned. Rather than assuming you have absolute dominance over your followers – leadership now relies on an approach that takes in every team member’s thoughts and opinions.

Acknowledgement

First giving honor to God, who is the HEAD of my life; it’s through him that ALL things are possible! Next, I’m enormously grateful to this person who was essential in paving the path of this book while keeping me from panicking en route: my wife Theresa. Our countless brainstorming sessions were invaluable, but more than that your belief in me always.

Likewise, I am thankful for the following for taking the time to give me feedback and encouragement:

-Bettie & Warren Hargrove (Mother & Father in-laws)-For accepting me as your son from Day 1

-Jessika Gordon (Oldest Daughter)-For lasting feedback and helping me see another point of view

-Isaiah Smith (Oldest Son)-For giving me the hard reality check

-Brandon Smith (Middle Son)-For keeping me grounded and pushing me to the level of research

-Elijah Smith (Youngest Son)-For making me see the softer side of being a leader

-Bishop Shawn Smith, Elder James Harden, & Pastor Charles M. Galbreath (My Spiritual Fathers)-For always willing to give me the hard true and advice

-Rickey L. Robertson (Mentor & Friend)- For always pushing me to be my best self

-Nadin & Demond McGrew (Family Friends)-For always being an ear when I needed it

-Lindsey Bender (Spiritual Brother & Friend)-For always being my Brother in Arms no matter what

-Ricky Horne (Real Talk Brother)-For always giving me the real deal of things

-Ainsley Walls (Marketing + Creative)-For always willing to listen to my crazy ideas to get my story out then helping me make them a reality

Chapter 1

L: Lead From the Front

From the initial stages of their careers, army officers are taught to be leaders regardless of their rank. To put it simply, an army officer is taught how they should be earning the trust of the team they work with. The message being that people only follow someone they can trust. One of the best ways a person can lead by example is by making people trust them.

As much as we would like to think that leadership is something people are born with – it’s more of a process. It’s decades of conditioning and positive influences that make a leader who they are. The ability to lead is the ability to inspire people and challenge the way they lead their lives. When you lead by example, you help other people see the challenges they are up against. But what would happen if your leader isn’t cut out for the job?

That’s when a group starts going through conflicts, and everyone wants to do things their own way. One of the many vital responsibilities of a leader is to inspire people so they can be profitable and productive for the organization they work for. To achieve this, a leader has to get involved in the process and apply all of their teachings to themselves. If you don’t take your teachings seriously – how can you