leadership position essay

Feb 15, 2023

Essays on Leadership for Students | 200 - 500 Word Essays

Are you writing an essay about leadership? Check out these examples!

Leadership is often defined as "the action of inspiring others to act in concert to achieve a particular goal." It signifies the harmony in actions that lead to a common objective. A genuine leader not only exudes confidence but also paves the way for their followers towards triumph. Over the years, various leadership styles have been identified and discussed by psychologists.

 Qualities such as intelligence, adaptability, extroversion, innate self-awareness, and social competence often emerge as the hallmarks of impactful leaders. There's a consensus that these traits mold an individual into an effective leader. Interestingly, some theories suggest that extraordinary situations can thrust an ordinary individual into the spotlight, bestowing upon them the mantle of leadership. It's also believed that leadership isn't a static trait but an evolving journey. It underscores the belief that with dedication and the right resources, anyone can hone their leadership abilities.

 True leadership goes beyond merely advocating for a cause. It involves taking responsibility, igniting motivation in others, and differentiating oneself from just being a 'boss'. A leader's essence lies in their ability to inspire and propel people towards grand visions, whereas a manager typically focuses on oversight and operational aspects.

What Is a Leadership Essay?

A leadership essay falls under the category of student application essays and serves to provide student admissions officers with insight into your past leadership experiences. Despite appearing to be very specific, this type of essay acknowledges that the nature and perception of leadership can vary significantly depending on the individual and the context.

 If you find yourself in need of further insights or a unique angle for your leadership essay, consider exploring an expert essay-writing tool designed to assist students in crafting compelling narratives by analyzing vast data and generating fresh ideas within minutes. In this article, we'll also delve into various leadership essay examples to offer a clearer understanding of the genre and inspire your writing journey.

4 Examples of Leadership Essays

Qualities of a good leader, introduction.

Confidence is the most important attribute first of all. One of the most important qualities in a leader is confidence in one's own abilities. A lack of self-assurance is fatal to a person's leadership potential. If you want others to follow you, you need to exude self-assurance. It's imperative for a leader to have faith in his own judgment and actions. How can people want to follow him if he doesn't even know what he's doing?

Every effective leader knows that they need to be an inspiration to their followers. A leader needs to set an example for his team. In addition, he ought to inspire them whenever feasible. A leader must also maintain optimism in trying times.

What qualities a good leader must have?

Leadership is the ability to influence and guide individuals or groups toward a common goal. A leader must possess several qualities to be effective, including:

Communication skills: A leader must be able to communicate their vision and goals clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. This requires excellent listening skills, empathy, and the ability to adapt to different communication styles.

Emotional intelligence: A leader must be able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of their team members. This includes being able to understand and respond to the emotions of others, and handling conflicts in a constructive manner.

Visionary: A leader must have a clear and inspiring vision of the future, and be able to articulate this vision in a way that motivates others to work towards it.

Strategic thinking: A leader must be able to think critically and creatively to identify and solve problems, make decisions, and develop plans and strategies to achieve their goals.

Flexibility: A leader must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and be open to new ideas and perspectives. This requires the ability to embrace change, be innovative, and continuously learn and grow.

Integrity: A leader must have strong ethics and values, and be willing to make difficult decisions that are consistent with their beliefs. This requires honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Decisiveness: A leader must be able to make tough decisions quickly, without undue hesitation or procrastination. This requires courage and the ability to take calculated risks.

Empowerment: A leader must be able to delegate responsibilities, give team members the resources they need to succeed, and foster a sense of ownership and accountability among their team.

Conclusion 

These qualities are essential for effective leadership, and when combined with hard work, determination, and a commitment to excellence, can help leaders to achieve great things.

How one can be a Great Leader?

Leadership is the act of performing the duties of a leader. In the business world, for instance, it is essential to have someone in charge of a team to ensure everything runs well. Effective leadership is essential for any group that wants to maximize its prospects of success.

Leadership Comes from Experience

As we've shown, leadership can be innate in some cases but is more often learned through practice and exposure. Sometimes the best traits of a leader must be learned over a lengthy period of time, so that one can become a notable one, proving that leadership is not always about a person's innate qualities. Leaders should continuously be on the lookout for opportunities to grow their leadership skills.

Nobody can disagree that experience is a key component of leadership. Numerous examples exist to back up this claim, such as:

Instance 1:

Our school's head boy or girl has traditionally been an older student who has been around for a while and thus has a better grasp of the ins and outs of school politics.

Instance 2:

When there is a vacancy for a team leader, it is common practice for the employee who has consistently put in the most effort and attention to the office job to receive a higher number of votes than their coworkers. 

“The best teacher for a leader is evaluated experience.” - John C. Maxwell

How one can be a Great Leader/Skills to be a Great Leader?

Effective leadership is a skill that develops through time. Developing into a leader with all the qualities that are needed takes a lot of hard work and potential. Being a prominent leader calls for a wide variety of traits. Some of these characteristics are addressed in further detail below:

One should be a Good Communicator

To be an effective leader, one must be able to convey his thoughts clearly to his/her/its subordinates.

Should have Confidence

The individual should have faith in what he says and does.

Give Credit to other Team Members too

A leader not only needs to impose his viewpoints and opinions instead he must also hear to the suggestions of other members of the team and offer them credit if their concept is appropriate.

Good Bond with the Team

A leader's ability to command respect from his team members depends on his ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with them.

Leads with Responsibility

A leader needs to be completely committed to his position. It's important that he takes on responsibility so that he can effectively deal with the various challenges he will inevitably face.

Any group or organization needs a leader above all else. Leadership development takes time and effort. One needs to have lived through a lot to be an effective leader. It's not enough to simply have years of experience in the field; one must also have the traits that make one an effective leader. You can't be a great leader unless you possess certain traits.

What makes a Good Leader?

Trying one's hand as a leader appears easy when viewed through this lens. Is that so tough? Of course not; leading is difficult, and not everyone aspires to be a leader. The vast majority of us have settled into well-established careers where we report to superiors and make a living. Still, not everyone is content to go along with the crowd. They become leaders in whatever field they pursue. A leader is an example to followers and will prioritize the needs of those around them.

Some Unique Qualities of a Leader

Many individuals resort to their leaders to vent their frustrations, therefore it's important for them to be good listeners.

A leader ought to be completely forthright; they can't play favorites or give anyone preferential treatment. One of the most essential qualities of a strong leader is the ability to make decisions with integrity.

They need to be aware of the bigger picture and understand what makes an individual stand out or become a leader. It's their expertise in addition to other distinguishing traits. Their awareness of current events and the results of recent studies is essential. In many ways, this is helpful, and it's the leader's responsibility to stay current.

Since some might not understand them, they should utilize straightforward, easily comprehended language. Leaders need to be able to communicate effectively at all times. In reality, what sets them apart is their exceptional communication skills. Adolf Hitler was such a gifted orator that his followers believed every word he said.

No matter how you're feeling or what's going on in the world, if you listen to a leader, they may make you feel energized. Since leaders are in charge of inspiring confidence in their followers, they can't afford to be wary or unsure of themselves. People tend to blindly follow their leaders.

Whether you're a leader or a doctor, you should devote yourself completely to your chosen field. Everything we do is for the benefit of others; engineers, for example, spend much of their time designing and constructing buildings for other people. So, take pride in what you do, and if you possess the aforementioned traits, you are also a leader who doesn't have to rely on others to succeed. No matter what you do, aspiring to leadership positions will always benefit others.

What is Leadership in Management and what are the weaknesses and strengths of a Leader?

Simply said, leadership is acting as a supervisor or manager of a group. Different mental pictures pop up when we hear the word "leadership" used in conversation. One might think of a political leader, team leader, corporate leader, school leader, etc. Leaders facilitate order and efficiency in the workplace. Teamwork and success are fundamental to effective leadership. Leaders utilize their managerial abilities to establish courses and guide their teams to success.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Leadership

Able to express oneself more clearly

Growth of character.

Self-awareness.

Possession of teamwork skills.

Gain assurance in yourself.

Weaknesses:

Acting favorably toward one's teammates.

Having no faith in the leader.

Thinks they're better than everyone else, but act hypocritically.

Not living up to the promised standard.

Insufficient morals.

Leadership and Management

Management and leadership are inextricably linked to one another. Leadership and management are both vital to the efficient operation of an organization; but, they accomplish very different things in the process. Leadership is a necessary skill for anyone aspiring to be an effective manager. The terms management and leadership are synonymous with one another. In this manner, we are able to draw the conclusion that a manager who demonstrates the traits of a successful leader is, in fact, a manager who is effective.

Leadership in School

Leadership is essential in nearly every group, as we've seen above. That group includes one's educational institution. Every school needs an outstanding figure to serve as its head of school. Class monitor, assembly captain, cultural leader, etc. are all examples of leadership roles that can be taken on at school, but this raises the question of what makes a person a successful school leader.

Any student hoping to be chosen as a student body leader will need to demonstrate a wide range of competencies. He or she needs to be a consistent student who pays attention in class and does well in extracurricular activities. For the simple reason that no intelligent and hardworking kid would ever be considered for leadership. Student leaders are most often selected from among those who participate fully in all activities.

Leadership in Organization

Leadership in an organization, also known as organizational leadership, is the process of establishing long-term objectives that further the company's mission and help it reach its ultimate destination. This is a classic illustration of how Bill Gates often works with his team: they agree on a strategy, and Gates implements it. To the same extent, it is the responsibility of the leader in each given organization to determine what it is that the group is trying to accomplish.

Leadership in Politics

Leadership in politics, also known as political leadership, is the process of becoming actively involved in a political party in the role of a party leader. Knowledge of political processes, their outcomes, and the political agenda is central to the idea of political leadership.

An effective leader can be developed in anyone who has the determination and drives to do so. Both the strengths and the areas for improvement should be nurtured. Whether in the classroom, the workplace, or the political arena, leadership is always necessary. Therefore, one can exercise leadership anywhere they like inside their own organization.

What are the types of Leadership?

The ability to lead is a rare trait that not everyone possesses. The ability to do so is a gift, so count your blessings if you possess it. It's recommended that you hone it even more so that you can propel your career forward and serve as an example to people around you. However, it is crucial to grasp the various leadership styles before you go ahead and polish your skills.

Types of Leadership Styles

Democratic Leadership

In this style of management, subordinates are given a voice in decision-making. Although the subordinates' efforts are highlighted, the leader is ultimately held responsible for the group's actions. Many people find this type of leadership to be effective.

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leaders motivate and inspire others to adopt new behaviors and ways of thinking in order to improve their own performance and that of their teams and organizations. A transformational leader is someone who encourages their team to strive for greater things and works to boost morale and output.

Team Leadership

A good leader fully incorporates his team into the task at hand. Members of the team are motivated to reach their goals and advance in their careers thanks to the leadership of the group.

Strategic Leadership

It requires a chief executive who doesn't restrict himself to brainstorming sessions with his superiors. He contributes on every level of the team. He is well-liked for his ability to unite the need for fresh ideas with the necessity of grounding them in reality.

Autocratic Leadership

The leader in a command and control structure is the center of attention. The chief executive has absolute power in this setting. He decides things on his own, without polling his staff. He relays this information to his staff and stresses the importance of swift action. The buck stops with him, and he alone must answer for his actions. Not much room for negotiation exists. It's no secret that this method of leading has its detractors.

Visionary Leadership

This kind of leader appreciates the abilities and requirements of his team members. He describes his ideal outcome and the teamwork that will be necessary to attain it.

Coaching Leadership

Leaders who coach their teams do so regularly in an effort to raise output. He inspires his employees to do better and works to keep them motivated. This approach to leadership has been much praised.

Facilitative Leadership

With occasional guidance, a facilitative leader ensures that the process runs smoothly for his team. As a precaution in case his team is ineffective. If the team is highly effective, the leader will take a hands-off approach.

Cross-Cultural Leadership

The leadership of this type is necessary when interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds. Because of the wide variety of cultures represented in the workforce across the United States, many managers and executives hold cross-cultural positions.

Laissez-Faire Leadership

The members of the team are given responsibility in this style of management. They are free to choose how they spend their time at work, with minimal oversight from the boss. It's not a good way to lead, according to experts.

Transactional Leadership

An interactive approach is integral to this kind of leadership. When team members successfully implement their leader's ideas and choices, they are rewarded with immediate, material benefits.

Charismatic Leadership

In order to bring out the best in his followers, this kind of leader makes the effort to change their attitudes, values, and actions.

This article should dispel the notion that leadership qualities can't be further subdivided. It should also assist you in pinpointing your own personal brand of leadership so you can perfect it over time.

Final Words

In conclusion, leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept that involves various qualities and skills. Effective leaders possess traits such as integrity, vision, empathy, decisiveness, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. They are able to navigate challenges, make difficult decisions, and lead their team toward success. Leadership also involves continuous learning and self-improvement, as leaders must adapt to changing circumstances and remain relevant. Effective leadership can have a positive impact on both individuals and organizations, fostering growth and creating a culture of success.

You can use Jenni.ai to quickly compose an essay on leadership, or any other topic, of your choosing. It's a fantastic choice that promises convenience and relief. Create an essay on any topic in a matter of minutes with the help of our AI-powered program. Membership is immediately available upon your free registration here.

You can use Jenni.ai to quickly compose an essay on leadership, or any other topic, of your choosing. It's a fantastic choice that promises convenience and relief. Create an essay on any topic in a matter of minutes with the help of our AI-powered program. Sign up on Jenni.ai and get a free trial.

Try Jenni for free today

Create your first piece of content with Jenni today and never look back

Leadership Essay

27 August, 2020

12 minutes read

Author:  Richard Pircher

As a college student, you must write essays on a regular basis since the latter is one of the most common types of home assignments. All this means is that in order to get good grades and be successful with writing the papers, you need to have a sound understanding of the structure. Additionally, what you should never neglect is the variety of essay types. Indeed, your essay will significantly differ from one type to another: description essay will most likely have a structure that is slightly different from an argumentative one.

What you may have already encountered in your academic life is the work on a leadership essay. Although it sounds pretty complicated and vague, it is mostly possible to master an essay on leadership. Below is a guide for you to get an insight into this particular essay type.

What is a good leadership essay?

A good leadership essay is the one in which the essay writer has fully covered the topic of leadership and understood its core ideas. More specifically, to end up with a flawless leadership essay, you will need to indicate what makes a person a good leader. For achieving the latter, you will most likely need to conduct research and trace how a particular person reaches his or her goals. In other words, the task is to discover which actions the person undertakes, what their followers say about him or her, and how the person organizes the work. So, a leadership essay implies providing real-life success examples and further revealing them.

Above all, a good leadership essay is the one that follows a precise, clear, comprehensive structure. Structuring your essay about leadership in the most coherent way leads to a win-win situation: you have fewer troubles and barriers to writing a brilliant essay, and your teacher is able to comprehend the essay easily. This guide is what you will need to refer to to get an insight into how the flawless structure for a leadership essay looks like and how it will let you take a benefit.

How to write a Leadership essay?

To write a leadership essay that stands out, you first need to brainstorm all the ideas that you have and come up with a topic for your essay. If you are struggling with this step, you may think of some of the most influential people, read about them, and find out what makes them unique. Or, you can pick any topic which is mentioned at the end of this article. After you have chosen an issue, it is time to structure your essay appropriately.

As you already know, an essay constitutes three essential sections: introduction, main body, and conclusion. Below is the more detailed description of each of the parts.

Introduction

Of course, your leadership essay introduction will always vary depending on the topic of the essay. However, you can always begin by stating your vision of leadership regardless of the topic. Additionally, to motivate the reader and instantly catch his or her attention, you may use a quote of a famous leader, or simply a quote which you find relevant to the topic. Be aware that you should avoid outlining the essence and the role of the leadership in your introduction; leave it for the body paragraphs.

What you may also do in your leadership essay is ask a question, which will most likely intrigue the leader. Or it will at least give your reader an overview of what you will dwell on  in your essay.

Body Paragraphs

You will need to divide the main body into 3-5 paragraphs to make the structure more comprehensive. What you have to do at this point  is  give your reader a sound understanding of your ideas. Therefore, try to fit each idea in a single body paragraph so that you do not confuse your reader. Do not hesitate to indicate your examples to strengthen your arguments. For instance, you may explain a fact that makes a particular person you are writing about a real leader.

Also, always stick to your thesis statement and don’t forget that the body paragraphs should reveal the parts of your thesis statement.

As you may already know, you need to restate your opinion and briefly summarize all the points from the main body in conclusion. For instance, if you wrote your essay on qualities of an effective leader, state the most fundamental qualities and indicate why they matter the most. Besides, try not to copy what you have already written in the body – it is better to restate your opinion using different words. And, of course, beware adding any new and extra information; indicate only those points that you have already outlined in the text. Finally, keep in mind that it is always favorable to keep your concluding remarks short.

Leadership Essay Examples

Writing a leadership essay requires some research and time. In case you feel the necessity to go through an essay example, below is a leadership essay sample you can refer to.

Is leadership an inborn or an acquired feature?

Is everyone capable of becoming a leader, or is this ability innate? A lot of researchers have been struggling to answer this question. One assumption about leadership implies that the leader is the person who possesses particular characteristics. Another assumption claims that leaders are capable of acquiring specific features over their life span. As the evidence shows, leaders own many features that distinguish them among others and make more and more people become their followers. These might be cognitive abilities, psychological traits, professional qualities, and a lot more, and all of them will be either acquired or innate. Based on the importance of leadership qualities, such as commitment, stress resistance, and the ability to make quality decisions, it is reasonable to claim that leaders are made, not born. 

One can deem commitment as one of the top fundamental qualities of the leader. In essence, such a feature indicates that a person is passionate about the common goal, strives to be a team player, and makes every effort to reach a shared goal. As the history shows, none of the successful companies was uncoordinated by an influential, committed leader: Apple, Amazon, Microsoft – all of these companies are examples of dominant teams led by a dedicated leader. A committed leader also inspires his or her team to achieve common goals and put more effort into the shared activity. Besides, commitment is unlikely to be an innate feature; it instead comes with experience. This is so, since commitment implies dedicating oneself to the shared task, and one can reach it only via learning and continuous self-improvement.

Stress resistance is another incredibly important feature that every good leader should possess. This is because only a stress-resistant leader has sufficient capabilities to overcome any complexity and not let the anxiety and stress prevent him or her from making proper decisions. Besides, such a leader will most likely have a positive influence on the team, as long as leading by example will motivate the team members to attain the same emotional stability. What is so far familiar about stress resistance as an effective leader’s feature is that it can be either innate or attained. However, although some researchers admit that emotional stability is something one is born with, it is not entirely true; many people still put a great effort into self-improvement, changing the attitude to unfortunate situations, and so on. Therefore, being resistant to stress can be mostly attributed to a personality.

An ability to make high-quality decisions most likely determines the chances for an enterprise’s success. In particular, such quality is incredibly fundamental for a company of any size and professional orientation. Additionally, it is one of the top tasks of a good leader to make final decisions. What he or she should do implies brainstorming, discussing various opinions in the group, making forecasts, analyzing all the pros and cons. However, the leader is the one to make a final decision. Thereby, he is in charge of researching the market, discovering all the hidden truths, and analyzing the organization’s potential and capabilities to result in the most effective decision. As it flows logically from the latter, an ability to make sound quality decisions is purely a professional quality. This leads to the conclusion that one has to work hard to become a genuine leader and master the skill of making effective decisions. 

Overall, the leader may possess a multitude of different skills and master them perfectly. However, what has so far become transparent is that any leader, regardless of which team he leads, must possess three essential qualities. These qualities are commitment to the common goal, ability to handle and resist stress, and, finally, an ability to make effective decisions. All of the three qualities are most likely to be acquired over a lifetime. The statement below leads to the conclusion that even though some qualities can be innate, most are not the ones that leaders are born with. Hence, this answers an essential question: leadership feature is acquired, and not necessarily inborn.  

20 leadership essay topics

When coming up with your next leadership essay topic, it is imperative to brainstorm ideas and think of what leadership might be related to. If you are struggling with a topic of the importance of leadership essay or any relevant type of essay, you may quickly take a look at some of the possible topics we prepared for you:

• What are the main qualities of the leader?
• Successful Time Management as a feature of an effective leader
• The role that rhetoric plays in leadership
• The most exceptional leader in the history of the 20-th century
• The role of female leadership
• What are the challenges of the leader of the 21-st century?
• How college helps students develop leadership skills?
• Qualities of the leader that motivate people to follow them 
• Top things to avoid doing to become a team leader
• Examples of effective and ineffective leadership in the history
• Top techniques for developing leadership skills
• The interconnection of creativity and leadership 
• Is a university’s role fundamental in developing leadership skills?
• Dictatorship as an anti-example of leadership
• Liberal vs Authoritative leadership: which one works better?
• The influence of the leader’s role model on the followers’ mindset
• Main difficulties that the new leader may face in a new team
• Leadership of today vs leadership of the past: what has changed?
• Reasons why I want to become a member if the leadership program
• The role of cognitive abilities for the leader 

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

Art Research Paper Topics

Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

Which program are you applying to?

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

August 8, 2022

Writing a Powerful Leadership/Achievement Essay [Sample Essay]

Essays that ask you to write about significant achievements fall under the category of

what are known as behavioral or experiential questions . The basic assumption behind these questions is that past behavior is a great predictor of future behavior . They are all varieties on the theme of “Tell us about a time when you…” These questions are meant to take the measure of your managerial potential.

Let’s look at how one candidate effectively addressed this essay question from  Stanford GSB  (*this question is not from the current application):

Tell us about a time when you made a lasting impact on your organization.

This writer avoids writing about leadership in any generic way and zeroes in on the specific aspects of his contributions and their impact:

Leadership essay example: The Change Agent

When I was invited to become the Vice President and General Manager at Third Way Associates (TWA)* two years ago, the company was in financial and administrative disorder. Employee retention was poor, and TWA took too long to pay vendors because of poor communication and accounting processes. Cash flow was managed based on immediate needs rather than by the logic of budgets planned by project and city. Sloppy expense reports that were turned in with no receipts were reimbursed to employees.

TWA founders Scott W ____ and Glenn L ____ had good intentions, but spent most of their time selling sponsorships and getting new clients rather than directing and managing the company. As we begin 20XX, TWA is much healthier in every way. Under my direction, vendors are paid in an average of 20 days from date of invoice, instead of 60 days or more. Our cash flow is better administered since I introduced very specific detailed area budgets with over 125 budget lines per city. Because I can give the company founders much better stability and macromanagement vision, the three of us are able to look more to the future rather than simply put out fires.

Despite the difficult economy in 20XX, we not only retained our same clients but also signed several new client agreements for three years or more, including a two-year contract with Big Shoe Company worth $1.3 million. I’ve brought fresh accounts and industries into TWA, including ____ Airlines and Drink Y, among others. Combined, these accounts generated more than $500,000 in 20XX, and we estimate close to $1 million dollars in the following year.

Since my arrival, we have a much wider and broader sales menu which has been crucial to generate more revenue. I’ve expanded our most popular sports events to 25 cities, giving our clients new investment opportunities. These events range from recreational soccer clinic tours to professional soccer games broadcast on TV.

I also expanded our field staff, and at present we have 25 strong and reliable managers who report directly to me from each city. Despite the economy, 20XX was not a bad year for TWA, and this year promises to be even better if we continue our current strategy and continue to work as a team.

Leadership essay analysis

In every paragraph, this writer mentions concrete measures he took to introduce order to a chaotic company that was trying to grow. From instituting budgets with line items, an improved accounts payable system, and recruiting additional big-name accounts, the writer proves how his efforts strengthened the organization.

How can you maximize on your thought leadership experiences?

As you choose among your own experiences as essay material, think about these questions to help you frame answers of substance:

• What was the obstacle, challenge, or problem that you solved in this accomplishment? A tight client deadline? A complex merger transaction? A new product launch amidst fierce competition?
• What did you do to rise to the challenge you are writing about? Motivate your team to work overtime? Sell senior management on the deal’s long-term upside? Identify a marketing profile for your product that no competitor can match?
• What facts demonstrate that your intervention created a happy ending? Did your team submit the project deliverables three days early despite being 20% understaffed? Your client approved the $500 million merger, the largest ever in its industry? Your new product has 20% market share after only one year? What was the impact of your leadership?

Don’t forget about your people leadership skills

What we’ve spoken about until this point revolves mostly on skilled problem-solving, or “thought leadership.” But respected businesspeople need to be equally or even more talented at something we didn’t have a formal name for: people leadership. By effectively leading the thinking of client firms’ problems as well as motivating them to work long hours to develop solutions to these problems and collaborate with clients on implementing them, these businesspeople prove to have what it takes to be exemplary leaders.

So don’t forget to include strong elements of people leadership in your essays. Here are several to keep in mind:

• Rallying others around a vision. Did you convince your team or group to follow a specific path/solution? How did you do it? Successful clients have talked about handling dissenting opinions diplomatically or presenting their teams’ detailed quantitative evidence for a recommendation. The more you can show that you understood your audience and tailored the content and form of your message to them, the better.
• Harnessing others’ strengths – and expanding them. Did you provide team members tasks they could handle comfortably based on their capabilities, as well as opportunities to broaden their skills? For example, you may have handed your quant jock teammate the most complicated operations analysis as well as responsibility for leading a key client meeting. In this way, you leverage teammates’ strengths while helping them develop new ones.
• Getting through tough times. Did you model for your team enviable cool in pressure-cooker situations, maybe helping them keep the big-picture goal in mind or lightening the mood with humor? Did you reward teammates with praise, pizza, or both for working long into the night? Did you pitch in on others’ responsibilities as deadlines loomed? Helping your team handle stress while managing your own is a cornerstone of strong leadership.

Use your words

Another tip: Look for opportunities to incorporate strong verbs that illustrate your strengths in these areas. Good examples of leadership might incorporate several of the following:

• Establishing a goal or vision
• Obtaining buy-in
• Taking responsibility

The old adage, “Show, don’t tell,” remains a classic bit of wisdom in the writing process. Make that a guiding principle not only in your leadership/achievement essays, but throughout your application.

For personalized advice tailored just for you, check out our MBA Admissions Consulting & Editing services and work one-on-one with a pro who will help you discover your competitive advantage and use it to get accepted.

Related Resources:

• School-Specific MBA Application Essay Tips • Tone Up Your Writing: Confidence vs Arrogance • “I’m Smart, Really I Am!” Proving Character Traits in Your Essays

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553 © 2022 Accepted

Guide to Writing a Stellar Leadership Essay (With Essay on Leadership Examples)

Apr 5, 2024 | 0 comments

Apr 5, 2024 | Blog | 0 comments

 Writing a leadership essay can be daunting for many students, as it requires a deep understanding of what makes a great leader and how to effectively convey those characteristics to a reader. To excel in this type of assignment, one must first understand the qualities that make a good leader, such as communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to inspire others. Additionally, it is important to provide specific examples and anecdotes supporting your claims and demonstrating your leadership experience. This article will explore the key components of a successful leadership essay, including how to structure your essay, develop a strong thesis statement, and effectively incorporate evidence to support your arguments. By following these tips and guidelines, you will be well on your way to crafting a compelling and persuasive leadership essay that showcases your unique qualities as a leader. 

How To Write A Leadership Essay: Step-by-Step Guide

Crafting a standout leadership essay requires a methodical approach that covers key stages, from understanding the prompt to polishing your final draft. In the sections below, we’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of writing an impactful leadership essay that showcases your unique perspective and qualifications.

College Application Essay Writing Help

Are you struggling to craft a leadership essay that truly captures your unique experiences and qualifications? Our step-by-step guide and expert college application essay writing help will transform your leadership narrative and propel you towards your dreams!

Step 1: Understanding the Essay Prompt

When crafting a standout leadership essay, the first step is to understand the prompt or instructions given thoroughly. Whether you’re writing a college application essay, a scholarship essay, or a general essay on leadership, it’s crucial to analyze the prompt and identify the key points and requirements.

What exactly are the admissions officers or evaluators looking for? Are they interested in your leadership abilities, experiences in a leadership position, or your idea of leadership in general? Carefully dissecting the prompt will help you determine the focus of your essay and ensure that you address all the necessary elements.

Once you have a solid grasp of the prompt, it’s time to start brainstorming ideas. What are the most significant leadership roles you’ve held? What examples of leadership best showcase your kind of leadership and leadership style? Jot down any relevant experiences, skills, or insights you can potentially incorporate into your essay.

Step 2: Research and Preparation

With the prompt in mind, it’s time to dive into your research and preparation. Start by gathering relevant information and sources to help you build a strong foundation for your essay. This might include academic articles on leadership and management, biographies of influential leaders, or even interviews with team members who have witnessed your good leadership in action.

Consider conducting your interviews or surveys to gain first-hand insights into your leadership abilities. Talking to members of the team you’ve led or colleagues who have observed your ways of leading can provide valuable perspectives that you can weave into your essay.

As you gather your research, begin organizing and outlining your essay. This will help you structure your thoughts and ensure that your essay flows logically from one point to the next. Consider the key elements of a well-structured leadership essay: the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Step 3: Structure of a Leadership Essay

Introduction

The introduction of your leadership essay is your chance to hook the reader and set the tone for the rest of your writing. It’s important to start strong and grab the reader’s attention from the first sentence.

One effective way to begin is with a compelling hook. This could be a thought-provoking quote about leadership, an anecdote that illustrates your unique leadership style, or a startling statistic highlighting the importance of good leadership. The goal is to pique the reader’s interest and make them eager to learn more about your perspective on leadership.

After the hook, you’ll want to provide some background information on leadership. This could include a brief overview of the concept of leadership, the key traits of a leader, or the significance of leadership and management in various contexts. Aim to give the reader a solid foundation for understanding the core themes and ideas you’ll explore in your essay.

Finally, you’ll want to introduce your thesis statement. This single sentence should clearly articulate your essay’s central message or argument, setting the stage for the rest of your writing. Your thesis should reflect your unique idea of leadership and the specific leadership abilities or experiences you plan to highlight.

Body Paragraphs

The body of your leadership essay is where you’ll explore your examples of leadership and leadership experiences in more detail. Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your kind of leadership, using concrete examples to support your claims.

Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence introducing the main idea or argument you’ll explore. From there, use vivid details, anecdotes, and evidence to paint a picture of your leadership style in action.

For instance, you might dedicate a paragraph to discussing when you had to lead a group and inspire others to achieve a common goal. Describe the situation, the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the outcomes you achieved. This will demonstrate your leadership abilities and give the reader a deeper understanding of what your leadership means.

Another body paragraph might explore the leadership theories or styles that have influenced your own kind of leader. How have these ideas shaped your approach to problem-solving and decision-making? What examples of leadership can you draw upon to illustrate these principles in practice?

Throughout your body paragraphs, maintain a clear and logical flow. Use smooth transitions to guide the reader from one idea to the next and ensure that each paragraph builds upon the previous one to create a cohesive and compelling narrative.

The conclusion of your leadership essay is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the reader. Here, you’ll want to synthesize the key points of your essay and reinforce the significance of your leadership in essential experiences.

Begin by freshly restating your thesis statement , reminding the reader of the central message or argument you’ve been exploring. This helps to bring your essay full circle and solidify the main takeaway for the reader.

Next, summarize the most important examples of leadership and leadership abilities you’ve discussed throughout your essay. Highlight the key lessons you’ve learned and how your idea of leadership has evolved. This demonstrates your leadership ability and commitment to continuous growth and improvement.

Finally, conclude your essay by reflecting on the broader importance of good leadership. How do your personal experiences and insights relate to the larger concept of leadership? Why is it crucial for individuals to develop strong leadership skills to inspire people and accomplish the task? By connecting your essay to a larger societal or global context, you’ll leave the reader with a deeper appreciation for the value of leadership.

School Application Essay Writing Help

Feeling overwhelmed by the task of writing a standout school application essay that highlights your leadership abilities? Our proven step-by-step guide and personalized essay writing assistance will help you craft a compelling narrative that leaves a lasting impression on admissions committees.

Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Leadership Essay

As you craft your leadership essay, keep the following dos and don’ts in mind:

• Maintain a professional yet engaging tone throughout your writing.
• Provide specific, real-life examples of your leadership roles and experiences.
• Demonstrate your emotional intelligence and ability to solve problems effectively.
• Highlight your personal growth and how your leadership style has evolved over time.
• Proofread your essay thoroughly to ensure it is free of grammatical and spelling errors.
• Avoid using clichés or generic statements about leadership.
• Refrain from making unsupported claims or exaggerating your experiences.
• Don’t simply recite your resume or list your achievements; focus on the why and how behind your leadership abilities.
• Steer clear of overly personal or irrelevant information that doesn’t directly support your main argument.
• Remember to address any potential weaknesses or challenges you’ve faced as a leader and how you’ve learned from them.

Tips for Writing a Successful Leadership Essay

• Be Authentic and Genuine in Your Writing: Avoid sounding like you’re trying to fit a certain mold or meet expectations. Let your unique leadership style and personality shine through in your writing. Share personal anecdotes and reflections that showcase your leadership abilities. Demonstrate your emotional intelligence by being vulnerable and self-aware. Your writing allows the reader to experience your leadership roles and various leadership experiences.
• Show Rather Than Tell Your Leadership Qualities: Use vivid descriptions and specific examples of leadership to illustrate how you’ve exhibited effective leadership qualities. Avoid generic statements or clichés about what it means to be a successful leader. Demonstrate your ability to lead by showing the impact of your actions and decisions. Incorporate data, statistics, quotes from essay samples or other credible sources to bolster your arguments. Provide specific details about the challenges you faced, your actions, and the outcomes you achieved as a leader.
• Use Concrete Examples and Evidence: Support your claims about your leadership abilities with real-life anecdotes and experiences. Use vivid language and sensory details to help the reader visualize your leadership experiences. Avoid vague or generalized statements that lack substance or ability to make a strong impact. Highlight the leadership abilities and styles most relevant to the role model or opportunity you’re seeking. Demonstrate how your use of my leadership experiences and qualities make you the ideal candidate for the leadership position or application essay you’re pursuing.
• Tailor Your Essay to the Specific Audience or Purpose: Research the admissions officers or business environment you’re writing for and understand their idea of leadership. Align your essay with the specific requirements or type of essay outlined in the prompt. Adjust your tone, language, and focus to resonate with the intended audience and their leadership is often expected. Demonstrate how your leadership abilities and unique leadership style can contribute to the organization or institution you’re applying to. Emphasize the specific leadership qualities and traits of a leader most valued in the type of leadership you’re pursuing.

Leadership Essay Examples

Creative essay writing service.

Unlock your creativity and unleash your imagination with our Creative Essay Writing Service – where words come alive and stories unfold like never before!

My Leadership Philosophy: A Leader Essay

Personal leadership application essay, leadership application essay sample, 500+ words essay on leadership, what leadership means to me essay, nursing leadership philosophy essay, leadership application essay examples, get help with your leadership essay paper.

 Essay Freelance Writers is the best in the industry for providing expert writing help for your leadership essay paper. Whether you struggle with organizing your thoughts, crafting a powerful thesis statement, or polishing your writing, our skilled writers can assist you at every step. Place your order today by clicking the ORDER NOW button above and let us help you achieve academic success. With our proven track record of delivering high-quality, original content on time, you can trust us to handle your leadership essay paper professionally and professionally. Don’t hesitate – to reach out to Essay Freelance Writers for all your writing needs!

How To Write A Leadership Essay FAQs

How should i start a leadership essay.

To begin a leadership essay, define what effective leadership means to you. Consider what qualities a true leader must possess and how you have experienced or observed leadership. A captivating anecdote or leadership essay example can grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for your essay.

What is the structure of a leadership essay?

A typical leader essay should have a well-organized structure. Start with an engaging introduction introducing your thesis statement about what makes a strong leader. Then, support your argument with specific examples and detail different leadership styles. Conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and reinforcing your stance on leadership development.

How do you write an introduction for leadership?

When crafting an introduction for a leader essay, grab the reader’s attention with a compelling hook related to leadership. Clearly state your thesis on what qualities make an effective leader. You can also tease some of the main points you will discuss in your essay, such as leading by example, leadership allows, and bad leadership.

How do I write about my leadership?

In writing about your leadership experiences, focus on specific instances where you demonstrated leadership qualities. Reflect on how you could look inward and recognize areas for improvement. Explain how you were able to inspire others and develop your leadership skills. Avoid vague statements and instead provide concrete examples.

What makes an effective leader?

An effective leader possesses strong technical skills and can develop people and teams. A true leader should lead by example and inspire others through their actions. Understanding different leadership styles and adapting to situations is crucial for a successful leader.

Through my engaging and informative blog posts, I aim to provide helpful tips on topics such as essay writing, research skills, and academic planning, empowering students to thrive in their academic pursuits.

People Also Read

• 500 Word Essay - Writing Guide and Examples
• Top 100 Leadership Essay Topics for Students
• Synthesis Essay Writing Guide: How to Write +Examples

Most Popular Articles

Racism thesis statement example, how to rephrase a thesis statement, capstone project topic suggestions, how to write an abortion essay, should students wear school uniforms essay, list causal essay topics write, respect essay, signal words, great synonyms, informative speech examples, essay writing guide, introduction paragraph for an essay, argumentative essay writing, essay outline templates, write an autobiographical essay, personal narrative essay ideas, descriptive essay writing, how to write a reflective-essay, how to write a lab report abstract, how to write a grant proposal, point of view in an essay, debate topics for youth at church, theatre research paper topics, privacy overview.

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Business

Essay Samples on Leadership

What type of leader i am: examining my leadership.

What type of leader are you? This question delves into the unique qualities, values, and approaches that define my leadership style. As a leader, I recognize that my actions and decisions influence others, and understanding my leadership style is crucial for effective collaboration and impact....

• Leadership Styles

How to Be an Effective Leader: Guiding with Excellence

Becoming an effective leader requires more than just holding a position of authority; it entails embodying qualities that inspire and guide individuals toward shared goals. Whether leading a team, an organization, or a community, effective leadership is marked by the ability to foster collaboration, motivate...

• Effective Leadership

How to Be a Good Leader: The Path to Effective Leadership

Leadership is a multifaceted skill that involves guiding and inspiring individuals or groups toward a common goal. While leadership styles may vary, there are essential qualities and practices that define effective leadership. In this essay, we will explore how to be a good leader, discuss...

Are Leaders Born or Made: the Nature vs Nurture Debate

Are leaders born or made? This age-old question has ignited debates, discussions, and exploration into the realms of leadership. The inquiry into whether leadership is an innate trait or a cultivated skill has intrigued scholars, practitioners, and curious minds. This essay delves into the heart...

• Leadership Development

Analysis of President Barack Obama as a Leader

Successful leaders possess distinct traits and qualities that set them apart. One such leader is Barack Obama, who exemplifies several key leadership characteristics. Inspirational communication, unwavering conviction, and a willingness to take risks are among the qualities that have contributed to Obama's success. Furthermore, Obama's...

• Barack Obama
• President of The United States

Stressed out with your paper?

Consider using writing assistance:

• 100% unique papers
• 3 hrs deadline option

Leadership and Management: My Personal Philosophy of Leadership

Everybody can be a leader. Nevertheless, I feel that not every individual can lead effectively. I also believe that it is not a position but a process. Leadership is an action to influence other people to move and accomplish the same goal. Leaders are ineffective...

• Leadership and Management

Leadership Development: Analysis of My Leadership Experience

This reflective essay is an analytical look into my leadership experience not only as a leader but also as a member of a group. I specifically adopted the situational approach and the path-goal theory when presented with different leadership challenges hence the adoption of changing...

My Chevening Leadership: Leadership Skills that I Developed

I acquired leadership skills from early adulthood based on my experiences in church and my family. I developed organisational, resilience and other leadership skills which have been honed over the years. My leadership skills continued in secondary school when I started volunteering and campaigning against...

What Is Leadership For You

It is a general term that can have very different meanings with broader possibilities and scales associated with it, and it goes through some evolution with constant permutations and combinations that go on forever. It starts from ancient times and then into the Middle Ages...

Important Role of Leadership Quality and Professionalism

Dedication, strength, honor, and integrity, are just a few of the descriptive words that can be used to define a leadership role. Accountability, knowledge, as well as integrity are words used to help describe professionalism. Notice how the words used to describe these roles are...

The Meaning Of Leadership To Me: Qualities That Create A Leader

For countless millennia, we had witnessed the birth of several societies and organizations that had flourished from successful leadership. Today, in modern businesses you could immediately tell how the leadership it had evolved into at present and the leadership it had decades earlier. Take for...

• Personal Qualities

The Definition Of Leadership: What Does Leadership Mean To Me

My leadership philosophy is established about the need for a leader to encourage and inspire to do what motivates them. It can be accomplished by a leader and at the same time attaining the goals and the task of the team, department, institution, or corporation...

• Personal Beliefs

Chelladurai's Model Of The Leadership

The model that is used for leadership in sports would be the Chelladurai's model of leadership. Chelladurai's model is a framework which builds on research from non-sporting settings in order to analyze effective leadership in sport. The fundamental target of the leader is to achieve...

Example Of Effective Leadership In Jeff Bezos Life Path

Since the beginning of people’s lives, everyone makes choices and decisions which gradually define a person itself. It is often difficult to identify whether the decision was good or bad because each person has a different level of awareness of the importance. Some things which...

Leadership Style Of Jeff Bezos

Jeffrey Preston Bezos is an American technology entrepreneur and the founder, CEO, and president of Amazon.com. Since high school, he has had an interest in computer science which led to him pursuing a degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University in 1986....

Management Vs Leadership: The Good And The Bad Of Being A Manager

Being a manager is a job. Being a leader is a role. Increasingly companies are seeing that you need both skills for an effective work environment. In the article, “What Leaders Really Do” by John Kotter, John highlights the differences between a leaders and managers,...

Ender's Game Character Analysis Essay

A mission that decides the destiny of humanity, its survival or obliteration, is a challenge many will succumb to. Failure is not an option. Ender’s Game, a science fiction novel written by Orson Scott Card, tells the story of Andrew “Ender” Wiggin who fights in...

• Ender's Game

The Rule of Charlemagne: The Development of Europe Under Successful Leadership

“Right action is better than knowledge; but in order to do what is right, we must know what is right.”- Charlemagne Charlemagne, also known as Charles I, Charles the Great and the Father of Europe was an important Germanic figure in medieval times and has...

• Charlemagne

The Benefits and Disadvantages of Transformational Leadership Style

Transformational Leadership deals with the motivation, inspiration, and encouragement of the personnel in order to carry out the innovative and creative change. This change directly helps the company in the growth and allows the scope for development. This leadership style is based on improving the...

• Charismatic Leadership

What Makes a Leader Charismatic

Leadership is a dense genre that had remained under debate regarding the difference in opinions of the definition and components of leadership, and either it is intrinsic quality or learned behavior. Despite all the debate, Leadership can be contributed as a personal impact that is...

The Influence of Mansa Musa's Leadership

The most important aspects of this topic would be the importance of Mansa rebuilding the Mali empire. After he helped rebuild the empire they were more powerful and had a more important standing within society. The emperor who came to make a difference within their...

My Motivation to Obtain the Darwin T. Turner Scholarship

The Darwin T. Turner Scholarship is a program of diversity and leadership initiatives. Hello, my name is Simratdeep Kaur and I believe I should be a Turner Scholar because I show great potential in the future. I have maintained great academics, participated in many school...

• Scholarship

What Does Being Inducted into National Honor Society Mean to Me

From the time I was inducted into National Junior Honor Society in seventh grade, I had always dreamed of the day when I would walk across the stage to become a part of National Honor Society. I have been continuously determined to do my very...

• National Honor Society

The Four Tenets of National Honor Society I Exemplify in My Everyday Life

Induction into the National Honor Society validates academic goals that I have worked extremely hard towards thus far. Membership would not only help maintain my academic performance, but assist me in accomplishing further goals of my school career. Getting accepted into NHS has been a...

A Brave Leader: The Success of Rosa Parks Leadership

Refusing to give up your seat on the bus; a seemingly trivial decision in the goings-on of everyday life. Maybe one would be considered rude, or irritate others – but beyond that, the effects of the refusal would seem relatively insignificant. How is it then,...

• Racial Segregation

Implementation of Leadership and Personal Development Planning in South Africa

Introduction Post-1994, the dream of the masses (previously disadvantaged groups), was a vision of self-governance, prosperity, equality, liberation and a sense of belonging and patriotism. Most of all, the yoke of Apartheid was demolished, it was a new future that held promise, a better life...

• Personal Development Planning

The History of Syrian Leadership and Its Impact on the State of a Country

Syria became one of the most discussed and controversial countries in the world in recent years due to its ongoing armed conflict. Millions of Syrians escaped from their homeland looking for a shelter and a better future abroad causing internal conflicts in highly developed countries...

The Concept of Leadership and Mother Teresa as Its Vivid Illustration

Leaders have the power and the intellect behind the organization, and they have the capability to influence the ones working for the company to accomplish and reach the company’s goal. According to Patel (2017), a strong manager or leader must reach and develop eleven traits...

• Mother Teresa

Investigating the Losses and Leadership Positions in Starbucks

The Starbucks brand started in 1971 by opening its to begin with store area in Seattle, Washington. Within the 1970s and 1980s, Starbucks Corporation experienced victory within the U.S. market. By 1987, Howard Schultz purchased Starbucks after serving for 5 years within the operation division...

The Humor Style Suitable for Leadership Positions

Throughout this report, the main topic in focus will be the Leader Humor Style. The definition of humor is not straightforward, “Over the years, researchers have been trying to arrive at one definition of humour which is both comprehensive and universal. All their efforts have...

The Results Of My S.M.A.R.T. Leadership Experience

Leadership, S.M.A.R.T. goals, and the Seven Habits profile are all interconnected in many ways. Throughout the course of this paper I will address the results of my Seven Habits profile, servant leadership, and make S.M.A.R.T. goals. They will assist me in becoming a better leader...

• Emotional Intelligence

The Definition of Leadership: Barack Obama's Presidency

Leadership can mean various things a success, power, efficiency, andintelligence. Among other qualities. However, leadership is taken into accountwhen the leader or the person who is the heads of a movement has the abilityto influence others and make a positive impact on the world around...

Leadership Is My Strong Side

Mustering the courage, penetrating the challenge, and engendering the creativity are the abilities to define myself as a visionary leader. After the head of Corporate Social Responsibility of PT Pertamina Region VII awarded me as the best presenter in Pertamina Technology Challenge, an opportunity as...

• About Myself

The Importance of Good Ethics and Leadership in Society

One of the most important, yet least understood phenomena on earth is leadership. The research was done to investigate leadership traits, activities, behaviour, and processes; yet, until Burns (1978), a few researchers were able to distinguish between leadership that is "transactional" and leadership that is...

• Human Behavior

Change Management in Organizations Dependency on Leadership

This paper seeks to establish how change can be effectively introduced to the challenging global business environment of today. However, to establish this, one has to first understand what a change management strategy is and to critically analyze the key composition of an ideal change...

• Change Management

Analysis Of Individual Aspects Of Leadership

The first factor for business success is empowering leadership. Leadership has taken companies to its peak of success. This report will look into the leadership style of Sandberg in the different companies she had worked. How her leadership skills influenced and impacted the people she...

Application Of Engineering Leadership To Improve Group's Performance

This case occurred during a practical lab session where my group and I were tasked with a graded lab report based on that session’s experiment. That week’s experimental procedure was knowledge-intensive and rigorous, requiring a good understanding of that week’s lecture content while involving many...

• Engineering

Best Way For Society To Prepare It's Youth For Leadership

The provided memo brings a lot of questions to mind. These need to properly addressed before jumping to the conclusion that increasing the advertising budget will help increase the attendance of people in movies produced by Super Screen Movie Production Company. Firstly, the memo talks...

• Modern Society

Classic Leadership And Organization Dilemmas

The main challenge of any organization is to perform tasks in the right time. If they cannot perform it within the prescribed time, their ongoing work can be interrupted. Therefore, if the job is to be executed at a given time, it is necessary to...

• Organizational Behavior

Jim Davis Case Study Analysis: The Problem Of Leadership And Power

Leadership and power have a fine line in which they were most effectively together. In that relationship it is important that a good sense of credibility is established in order to achieve and maintain a status. The problem at hand is how Jim is going...

Leadership – The Art Of Managing People

The capacity to sort out a gathering of individuals or an organization is called leadership. The individual who directs the gathering is characterized as a Leader. Despite the fact that the bigger fault and less credit come to them, a pioneer is the foundation of...

Leadership And Management In International Hospitality Business

Introduction Leadership includes giving the data, information, and techniques to understand that vision, and organizing and adjusting the clashing interests of all individuals and partners. Be that as it may, the initiative has changed after some time and has made numerous difficulties for the individuals...

• Hospitality
• Marketing Management

Leadership In Different Aspects Of Life

Introduction Leadership is defined to be the action of leading a group of people or an organization. In the coaching profession, coaches lead their teams. If you were to ask me what my personal definition and general philosophy of leadership is, I would say, “Leadership...

• Personal Life

The Challenges in the Leadership School: Stepping out of the Comfort Zone

I applied to leadership school and I was told it was going to easy but boy was I wrong. As soon we got on the bus things turned for worse. First, all phones were confiscated as we got on the bus then we to be...

Leadership Style And Influence Of Two Historical Figure

This is an extensive study of leadership styles and scope of influence of 2 historical figures of Nepal. “Siddhartha Gautama (Gautama Buddha) and Prithivi Narayan Shah. They can be seen as an effective and influential leader known to whole world. I found difference in their...

Leadership Theories And Personal Evaluation

Trait Theory Of the eight trait theories presented in the textbook I feel that I possess predominantly the desire to lead, honesty, integrity and emotional intelligence. In most jobs that I have been employed, I often find myself thinking of ways that the manager could...

Psychology Of Work: Organizational Leadership Theories

In lieu of the changing business environments globally, companies strive to be competent enough to be able to respond to customer expectations, have sound and healthy relationships with all the stakeholders, have operations that are transparent and accountable and increase their bottom line fulfilling their...

• Social Psychology

Revitalization Through New Leadership For Success In Any Field

The topic presented here makes a very valid argument that revitalization through new leadership is crucial for success in any field, be it politics, education or government. I am in concord with the claim that those in power should graciously make way at regular intervals...

An Overview of the Five Levels of Leadership

Nowadays the word ¨leadership¨ is used in all spheres of society, from the political field to the business and religious fields. One of the modern precursors of the study of leadership is John C. Maxwell, who for years has used and taught an instrument of...

The Social Influence Of Leadership On Human

For many years, many people (scholars) have had lot of interest in leadership, there have been many debates and some occasional confusion explaining the concept of leadership or what it really means. (Bass 1981) (Northouse, P 2016) Even now, defining it is not as easy...

Value Proposition Of Investing In It Leadership

Companies that invests in IT leadership perform much better than the companies that don’t. IT Leadership development is very important for creating competition and having an upper hand over other companies. A standout amongst the most important internal features to implement change is IT Leadership...

Essay About What Leadership Means To Me

For me, leadership means not only pursue success for myself but also to motivate and empower others to do the same by setting the perfect example to follow. For me, leadership means knowing where to go, leading the right path, taking new challenges and not...

Best topics on Leadership

1. What Type of Leader I Am: Examining My Leadership

2. How to Be an Effective Leader: Guiding with Excellence

3. How to Be a Good Leader: The Path to Effective Leadership

4. Are Leaders Born or Made: the Nature vs Nurture Debate

5. Analysis of President Barack Obama as a Leader

6. Leadership and Management: My Personal Philosophy of Leadership

7. Leadership Development: Analysis of My Leadership Experience

8. My Chevening Leadership: Leadership Skills that I Developed

9. What Is Leadership For You

10. Important Role of Leadership Quality and Professionalism

11. The Meaning Of Leadership To Me: Qualities That Create A Leader

12. The Definition Of Leadership: What Does Leadership Mean To Me

13. Chelladurai’s Model Of The Leadership

14. Example Of Effective Leadership In Jeff Bezos Life Path

15. Leadership Style Of Jeff Bezos

• Organizational Structure
• Business Success
• Grocery Store
• Mcdonald's
• Corporate Social Responsibility

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

• Essay Writing Guides

Your Complete Guide to Writing a Compelling Leadership Essay

True leadership lies at the heart of human well-being and success. Every positive step humanity ever took required great and responsible leadership. Therefore, people have studied leadership for many edges to unravel its different underlying factors. 

But how do you write a great essay that demonstrates your grasp of this sacred call? This post shares practical insights on how to write a leadership essay . Keep reading it to sharpen your skills in this assignment niche. 

What Is a Leadership Essay ?

Before proceeding to see how best to draft a perfect leadership essay, let’s answer the big question, “ What is leadership essay ?” A leadership essay is an assignment that falls under student application essays. This paper provides student admission officers with insight into your previous leadership experience. 

While this assignment appears to be specific, it acknowledges that the nature and perception of leadership can greatly vary depending on context and individuals. 

Leadership Essay Ideas and Topics

Selecting the best topics for your essays on leadership is vital. When composing this paper, you will focus on two main areas revolving around your leadership style and the memorable moment when you demonstrated leadership. Please note that these two areas usually overlap because while recounting that moment you demonstrated leadership, you will also show your leadership style. 

Whichever area you choose to focus on, use anecdotal evidence that proves the idea. Here, you can freely go with what feels best for you. Just ensure that the instance you use to demonstrate leadership is a real-life experience. This way, you will be best placed to choose a topic that makes your readers enjoy your paper.

How to Write a Leadership Essay

While this paper might sound like an introduction on leadership essay , it doesn’t mean you aren’t a leader or can’t lead people. So, how do you compose a killer leadership essay that impresses student admission officials? Here are ideas on how to write leadership essay that fetches good grades and makes a positive impression of your leadership potential. 

• As earlier hinted, you must research to choose a good topic that will impress your readers and portray you as an upcoming great leader.
• When writing about a leadership concept, take notes of some credible sources of information. Find out what others have written about that topic.  
• Outline your essay to organize all the details you want to include. This way, you won’t forget to include anything your readers need. 

Alternatively, you can check out past papers written on your chosen leadership topics. This way, you will have a strong basis for further expansion of your arguments and incorporating relevant ideas into your paper. However, remember to follow intellectual property laws to avoid plagiarism.

Formatting Your Leadership Essay

Your essay about leadership requires correct formatting to ensure everything flows well. Like other types of papers, leadership essays follow a five-paragraph pattern. It has an introduction, a body section, and a conclusion, depending on its word count or page limits.  

• Introduction: This section captures the reader’s interest, defines good leadership in relation to you, and directly addresses the given prompt.
• Body paragraphs: The body section gives some background information using anecdotes to describe your leadership style or moment.
• Conclusion: This finishing section is a compelling statement about your leadership attributes and capabilities. It also shows how you hope to apply them to your life and solve other people’s problems.

Tips for Writing a Leadership Essay

Do you want tips to help you write the best leadership essays that will garner good grades? Here are tips and insights to help you compose excellent leadership essays .

Define Good Leadership First

It would be best to define good leadership before proceeding. Take time to think about the best attributes that make one a great leader. Of these qualities you have figured out, which ones do you have? Outline the qualities you demonstrated in your memorable leadership moment. These attributes could be, but aren’t limited to:

• The ability to motivate and inspire others.
• Valuing others.

Lastly, review your list and select the traits you would wish to focus on. 

Moderate Your Humility 

Humility is an invaluable virtue that needs to flow through your papers. However, don’t overdo it when highlighting your leadership moment. So, draw the line between humility and self-humiliation. Just let your readers know what you did to benefit other people’s lives—period.

Don’t Use Another Person’s Voice and Style

When highlighting your leadership abilities and experience, remember to use your personal style and voice. Admission officers want to hear your voice and “see you” in the essay. Thus, allow them to see your personality in the paper the best way you know how to put it. You can use your reasonable sense of humor without overstepping boundaries. 

Tell a Story About Your Journey 

When addressing college admission officers, use your storytelling skills to describe your leadership journey. Give them an engaging story that shows them your true leadership potential. Your story should exhibit the traits you believe are instrumental in helping you lead others. The narrative should tell the readers about the following:

• That you faced a real-life challenge.
• How you solved the problem. 
• How your leadership style and potential have grown over the years.
• Any specific challenge or moment that has helped you grow in your leadership. 

Choose a Case in Which You Played a Key Role

Your leadership doesn’t necessarily mean you are always at the help of things or people. Instead, it means that you helped solve a problem that affected others. Thus, don’t fear highlighting a moment just because you were not calling the shots. Why? Because the officials are looking for the results you helped bring to the table and not necessarily the position you occupied in the story. 

Thus, you should focus more on the improved position others found themselves in after your intervention instead of the position you occupied. Also, don’t mind more about the story’s title, especially when brainstorming. If you tell an impactful story, the title will automatically fall in place. 

Acknowledge Other People’s Contributions

We said in previous sections that you should tell the reader more about your leadership skills and journey. Up to this point, so good. However, you shouldn’t become so egoistic that you assume you aren’t an island. Your personal statement should indeed be personal, but it’s better to remember that other people still have a stake in your journey. 

So, give other people their deserved credit wherever they contributed to your success. Credit others for their loyalty, hard work, and any insights they offer. This way, you will portray your leadership as inclusive and not a one-man army that gives all the credit to one man. 

Solve Problems

Lastly, your essay should focus on solving problems. There is no point in telling a long story if it doesn’t bring out this element. Why? Because leadership essentially solves other people’s problems. If this element is missing, then you were not leading. Most likely, you were merely occupying a position or exercising authority but not leading. 

Do you remember how you solved that issue on your team amicably? Did you negotiate peace between team members whose rift was threatening to tear the team apart? Then, tell it out because that is all the admission officers are looking for in the narrative. 

Leadership Essay Example

Nothing will power your leadership writing skills like a perfect example of leadership essay . This section has three excellent excerpts from the introductions, bodies, and conclusions of leadership papers. 

• Introduction 

The floor was full of press cameras and microphones ready to capture a critical event. The venue was filled with different types of furniture, leather seats, and the who-is-who in the media industry that could change the entire media industry. Until then, I never saw myself as a leader, although I knew that this event was bigger than me, a moment that I could positively influence for the benefit of everyone present.

Gaining experience is one of the pillars of growing up in one’s leadership journey. The reason is that leadership isn’t a theory or concept captured in the heads, arguments, or counterarguments of so-called leadership gurus. Instead, it’s about practical life engagements that solve people’s problems in the real world. Thus, experience is the best tool to provide leaders with the opportunities to face and solve problems, make sound decisions, and learn from their failures and successes. All great leaders cherish such experiences and use them to grow and develop their leadership. 

• Conclusion 

In my view, leadership is about solving problems and meeting people’s needs, period. That’s the big picture, and the rest are minor details. My ability to empathize with others and give them a helping hand instead of pointing fingers at them summarizes my leadership philosophy. I hope to use this drive to be on the solution side of life, to prescribe solutions instead of just describing and decrying problems. 

Final Word 

Do you want to boost your writing skills on the topic of leadership? We’ve created this post to give you valuable and practical insights to accelerate your leadership research and writing journey. We hope you will use them to compose a perfect essay on effective leadership .

• Research Paper Writing Guides

5 tips on writing a scholarship essay about leadership

Are you planning on studying abroad? Securing a scholarship will help you achieve that dream for free, but you’ll need to get through one hurdle first: the scholarship essay. Leadership skills are a common selection criteria for many scholarships, which makes it essential that you know how to provide examples of leadership that would help you clinch a coveted award.

So how can you wow the admissions committee with a winning scholarship essay? Here are some examples of leadership skills you can demonstrate in your application for a master’s level scholarship.

5 examples of leadership skills to highlight in your scholarship essay

Highlight the extent of your leadership.

Using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to demonstrate your leadership skills can help substantiate your ability to propel change or lead.

Here’s a TL;DR of what the STAR method entails:

• Situation: Briefly describe a context
• Task: Outline your task
• Action: What action did you take
• Result: What was the positive outcome

For instance, were you a student ambassador who worked with a wide variety of people? Are you an active volunteer who is able to solve problems and identify needs as they come along? Think of an example from your life and summarise it using the STAR method.

State the reasons for getting involved in a leadership role

Do you lead a community project? Are you a manager at the company you work for? What inspired you to get involved in a leadership role?

Have you always gravitated towards a leadership position and have consistently made an impact?

This is important to highlight to the scholarship decision-makers to assess your sincerity and passion in your desired pursuit.

State the obstacles you faced and how you overcame them

Have you participated in a community-based project or outreach programme? Have you organised or were involved in a fundraising project? Think back to a time when you got involved with trying to mitigate or alleviate issues facing your community, school or family and the ideas and actions you took to achieve your intended goals.

Ensure that you outline the measures taken to alleviate the problems you identified. For example, you may have noticed that there is underwhelming participation of female students in STEM-related courses at your local university.

You identify that this is an issue that you can leverage to encourage female participation in the STEM fields . Your next course of action would involve writing a letter to your university’s admissions team, suggesting that you would like to start a club or organisation centred on female empowerment and participation in the STEM fields.

The obstacle lies in getting female students on campus to participate in such programmes. This can be done by advocating for present-day female engineers, scientists and those involved in the technology sector, which encourages female students to see a bright prospect in their future should they follow the footsteps of other female influencers in the STEM fields.

This is just a hypothetical example of how you can demonstrate leadership by addressing obstacles and showing examples of how you overcome them. It’s important that you demonstrate strong evidence of your leadership qualities as well as relevant examples.

Alison’s essay for the Women in Leadership MBA scholarship competition looked at parenthood and how changing men’s careers can actually help women’s careers, and she received a partial scholarship as a result! To read it visit: https://t.co/uP1qgmf3yv pic.twitter.com/D0Vw9lLRnT — Henley Business School (@HenleyBSchool) March 31, 2022

How did your leadership skills help you grow as a person and leader?

Some believe that leaders are born not made, while others think the contrary.

In your scholarship essay, it would be helpful to explain how your leadership roles have helped you grow as a person, from teaching you new lessons to presenting numerous personal growth opportunities.

Ensure that you demonstrate a true understanding of what leadership is. For instance, you lead by your actions and not by the title that has been given to you. You lead by working alongside others in creating change and not by merely barking orders at people.

Someone once asked me to give them a #leadership title so that ppl would listen to him/her. Dont u think that’s backwards thinking? Gain the trust & respect of ppl first & then you’ll be a natural leader. You don’t need a title for that #respect #credibility #trust #authenticity — Dr. Verna Yiu (@dryiu_verna) April 25, 2022

 How will your leadership skills impact your future?

The admissions committee will likely be looking for a candidate who is a future leader and influencer in their respective countries.

It helps to think about the leadership roles you’ve held, and how they have, for instance, changed your outlook on life, how you interact with people, or even galvanised you to create positive change in your community, which can affect your long-term career goals.

In QS, Hayley Capp, winner of the 2013 QS Leadership Scholarship, also encourages students to tell the judges if they plan to continue being involved in their particular leadership activity in the future.

Popular stories

Thai owner of korean restaurant wins 3 scholarships to korea, indonesia, and malaysia.

Hablemos Español: 24 countries that speak Spanish

How to take good photos: 6 best practices to follow to get the perfect shot

The best, must-do parts about studying in Melbourne, according to a student ambassador

10 tips on how to write a winning scholarship essay

4 tips on how to get a scholarship letter of recommendation

5 UK scholarships international students can still apply in 2022

How to Effectively Demonstrate Leadership in MBA Essays

May 14, 2021

UPDATE: This article was originally posted on April 12, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

Sitting down to compose your MBA admissions essays, you may be wondering what you should write about in the first place. While there are many different strategies that can lead to an effective essay , there is one thing that you definitely need to include: a will and capability for leadership .

Leadership, more than almost any other single quality, is one of the top things schools look for in their candidates. Some schools have even decided to dedicate an entire essay to their value of strong leadership. Take Kellogg’s essay A prompt, for example, which reads:

“Kellogg’s Purpose is to educate, equip & inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Tell us about a time you have demonstrated leadership and created lasting value. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn?” (450 words)

Other schools, on the other hand, specifically ask about leadership as an element of essays or understand leadership to be an implicit part of the answer they are looking for, like Chicago Booth’s essay 2 prompt: 

“Chicago Booth immerses you in a choice-rich environment. How have your interests, leadership experiences, and other passions influenced the choices in your life?” (250 word minimum) 

This means that it is absolutely imperative that you clearly demonstrate your leadership capabilities in your essays . 

Your essay may be a masterful piece of writing, but only with the element of leadership is it likely to be successful and land you a spot in your top MBA program. 

Why is demonstrating leadership so important for elite MBA programs?

All business schools value leadership in their candidates. However, leadership has many different facets and forms , a fact that becomes clear when looking at schools – and what they value – in depth. 

Berkeley Haas, for example, connects leadership with their value of innovation . Specifically, Berkeley’s full-time MBA program features four Defining Leadership Principles . These include Confidence without Attitude, Question the Status Quo, Students Always , and Beyond Yourself . Berkeley sees each of these as an integral part of good leadership.

London Business School , on the other hand, sees leadership as an inherent and essential value for a global outlook,  one of their most important values. They write : 

“We nurture our students to challenge the status quo, to question the norm and to develop the skills to become the world’s best business leaders. Over the years we have adopted a truly global outlook tackling challenges faced by international businesses and their leaders.” ​  

For LBS, the qualities of leadership and having a global mindset go hand-in-hand.

This list goes on and on. IESE sees leadership as an essential prerequisite for impact , one of their greatest focuses; Wharton specifically offers training for global leadership capabilities through their Leadership Ventures ; Booth – a school heavily focused on community – views leadership as a fundamental element of that value . 

Given the different forms of leadership that each school values, how you showcase your own will change depending on which application you’re completing. So be sure to choose stories and lessons learned that align with the school you’re applying to. 

Of course, not only do these schools look for leadership in their candidates, they also offer explicit opportunities for developing and polishing leadership skills in their students. 

It is clear that leadership is extremely important in MBA programs, the work you do post-MBA, and of course, to the MBA admission committee. 

Leadership comes in many different forms

As you can see from above, there is no one definition of leadership that schools adhere to . In fact, because leadership can be tied into so many different values, there are many different ways to demonstrate it effectively in your MBA admissions essay. 

Here are some ideas about how to show leadership:

1. Innovative ideas

Leadership can be shown through an ability and desire to innovate . This can be coming up with a new product at a company, developing a new idea for a business, or helping an existing company capture a market opportunity that may not have been obvious before. By coming up with a creative new idea, you can show that you took the lead to help a company become more successful. 

Take a look at this example. Here, in his essay for Harvard Business School , our client Bruno demonstrated his capacity for leadership by applying data: 

“While working on a marketing and sales project for a large telecommunications company in Brazil, I was responsible for translating all the knowledge we had created with machine learning into segmented offerings, client retention actions, and up-selling initiatives. Combining industry expertise with the insights generated, I identified a 10% margin increase in the company’s mobile business, a market that is highly competitive and usually seen as margin-deteriorating. This experience made me realize that corporations need people who can guide them to make intelligent use of data.”

As you can see, identifying an opportunity to grow a business can be used to help show off your potential as a leader, especially as an entrepreneur. 

2. Helping others

This can be applied to both personal or professional situations. Maybe there was a time when your family was struggling financially, so you stepped in to offer your support? Maybe you had a colleague who couldn’t get their work done on time, so you helped them organize their priorities better and grow as a professional? Both of these instances show how you guided others through challenging experiences by relying on your leadership skills. 

This value can also be strongly related to impact and community , ideas that are becoming increasingly important within MBA programs . In many instances, leadership skills can be connected to a professional endeavor that helped a company create value for others. This is a great way to show how helping others revealed or helped you train your own leadership skills. 

Take a look at this example from a client’s application to Wharton last year:

“To escape Rio de Janeiro’s perilous, impoverished favelas, education and employment are the only way out. During university, I came to understand this while mentoring a group of underprivileged students. Despite wanting to attend school, my students often missed class due to active shootouts between gangs and police, on top of the many other challenges of living in favelas. Through this experience, I became aware of my role in society and how I could directly impact other’s lives.”

Here, our client Conrado used his experiences of mentoring others to understand his ability for impactful leadership. Not only does this help you underline the impact of your achievements, but also reveals a deeper aspect of your personality.

3. Taking initiative

Showing your desire and ability to be proactive can easily overlap with either of the two suggestions above. Often, recognizing a problem – either in your personal life or professional environment – and deciding to do something about it is a great way to demonstrate leadership. 

This is especially true if the problem was something nobody else had identified – or even blatantly denied existed. Here, your will to take the steps to fix it might be the perfect way to show your potential as a leader and self-starter while highlighting your drive and motivation.

4. Community and teamwork

A sense of community and working in teams is an essential value for many top MBA programs. Highlighting your leadership role does not mean you were working individually or only at the head of a team. Leadership can be also demonstrated through your ability to promote teamwork and collaboration. 

An important part of teamwork is being a team member who is not afraid to speak up, proactively solve problems, include others, or put new ideas on the table . 

By taking on a leadership role, even a minor one, within your community or team, you help further collective success and often multiply your impact. This is an awesome quality to demonstrate in your MBA essay. 

This can be a great opportunity to utilize extra-professional examples in your MBA essays. Take a look at another strategy Bruno used in one of his Columbia Business School essays:

“We’ve just stopped to catch some air, a scarce resource above 6000 meters. All members of the expedition are feeling mental exhaustion, but we fight it with team spirit. I nod heads with each member, making sure signals are clear. Each and every one of us is responsible for encouraging the others not to give up and for knowing when to tell a teammate to stop because going forward might risk their life. Lucky for all of us, now is not that time.”

Here, Bruno does an excellent job utilizing storytelling to help show how he is a leader within the group. As you can see, leadership can be evident even in stories of personal and group achievement.

5. Taking a leap of faith

Good leadership is not just about making data-backed decisions. Much more, it entails taking risks and using your intuition to navigate the complicated worlds of interpersonal communication, timing, and networking. 

This can not only highlight your courage but also your ability to push the envelope and create new solutions and possibilities.

For example, you could demonstrate leadership by telling the story of how your confidence in a subordinate helped them grow to become a more mature professional and enrich your team as a whole. It may also manifest itself through the idea to start a new business, despite not knowing if you will reach success. 

6. Getting out of your comfort zone

Leadership can also be recognized in the desire to get outside one’s comfort zone. Adcoms are looking for individuals who are ready to take full advantage of their MBA programs, which requires a willingness to learn and grow. This is an especially good tactic if you want to show attributes of global or international leadership, a characteristic that is especially valuable for European schools like LBS, INSEAD, or IESE. 

For example, spending a year in a foreign country can help you understand intercultural connotations of business in ways you could never have experienced before or how to communicate in completely new ways. 

Demonstrating leadership by getting out of your comfort zone can be expanded to experiences about polishing foreign language skills, helping international colleagues understand your home region, or expanding a business internationally. All of these can reveal and train global leadership skills and intercultural competencies – something all schools are looking for in their candidates. 

7. Straightforward leadership positions

Of course, we cannot forget the most obvious way to demonstrate leadership. If you have taken on an explicit leadership position within your company or organization, this is a great way to express this value to the admissions committee. 

Professional leadership positions can include leading teams, guiding clients through transformation processes, presenting results to senior leadership, or taking on a senior leadership position itself. If you have had experiences like this, be sure to include them – and the challenges you faced – in your MBA admissions essay. 

These ideas not only help you demonstrate leadership in your MBA essay, they might also give you bonus points for connecting leadership to other values a school might share, like community, innovation, teamwork, creativity, and a drive to make an impact. 

Tips for demonstrating effective leadership

Naturally, just explaining one of the above situations in your essay will not cut it. There are a few other things that you should keep in mind and try to apply when focusing on leadership in your MBA essay. 

Use the STAR method

Telling a story that thoroughly highlights your leadership role does not automatically mean it will be compelling. Often, candidates fail to show how leadership was necessary – in other words, what the problem was that required them to take on a leadership position in the first place.

That is where storytelling – and specifically the STAR method – comes in. The STAR method will help you highlight not just the problem that you faced, but also your specific role in solving it that led to success. 

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action , and Results . If you want to make your story about leadership convincing, you must include all of these elements. This translates to:

Situation – clearly presenting the context for your story.

Task – demonstrating that there was a problem to be solved or a challenge to be faced.

Action – showing exactly what you did to solve that problem or overcome that challenge.

Results – the outcome of your actions. This can range from personal growth to helping other individuals to producing company-wide results. 

In this example, our client Karen effectively used the STAR method in her Kellogg essay to show leadership initiative at her mother’s store:

“I learned the value of hard work early, as a child helping in my mother’s gift shop, serving customers and wrapping gifts. (Situation) Once the boom of social media started, I saw the opportunity to leverage this technology to improve our business – this could attract more customers, increase revenues, and keep our financials organized. Simultaneously, I realized I wouldn’t be able to help in the store once I left for university (Task) , so I taught my mom to use the computer to manage our Facebook page and financials (Action) . The fulfillment of providing my mother with the tools and skills necessary to run and improve her business – increasing sales by 10% – is indescribable (Results) .”

Using STAR is a great way to make your leadership role very clear throughout your essay and utilize storytelling strategies successfully. 

At Ellin Lolis Consulting , we believe that one of the keys to a compelling essay is effective storytelling. This technique transforms your example of leadership from a stale image that adcoms have heard a thousand times to a colorful journey that highlights you as unique and valuable to their community.

Highlighting your role

Your MBA essay is the place to discuss your personal achievements . Don’t sell yourself short in your essay! Telling a story about leadership that does not thoroughly explain your part will not be a good demonstration of leadership. 

This means that it is important to show the admissions committee what you specifically did in your story. Just saying that you were part of a team that produced fantastic results will not achieve this. Instead, you must show them how your work – what you did and how you did it – was essential for collective or individual success. 

Even if a success was only possible due to the work of your entire team, it’s still important to show how your actions complemented those of your colleagues. Not only does this allow the readers to see your contributions, but also demonstrates your capacity for collaboration!

Combining personal and professional examples

We have already established that leadership can manifest itself in many different forms, and that admissions committees see it that way, too. 

This means that the adcom is not only looking for your professional leadership experiences – or that they will condemn you for demonstrating leadership in your personal life. In fact, a good mix helps the adcom understand that you have a well-rounded, flexible understanding of what leadership means. 

For example, last year, our client Thais wanted to show leadership via the theme “grow by growing others”. To do so, she included the following stories in her Berkeley Haas essays :

• Teaching fellow children how to read as a child
• Mentoring younger students during university
• Professionally mapping NGO efforts to coordinate the distribution of their impact more evenly throughout Brazil

Don’t be afraid to include personal examples of leadership – this may help to reinforce your multi-faceted capabilities as a leader even more in your MBA essay. This is also a great way to show a clear pattern of leadership.

Show a pattern of leadership

When writing your MBA essay, it is good to not just show a single instance of leadership, but instead to demonstrate how your tendency for leadership is part of your brand using multiple stories. 

Of course, this only applies to prompts that do not ask for only a single experience (unlike Kellogg’s essay B!)

For example, you could show how you led a school club as a teenager, started a project at an NGO during college, and went on to lead recruiting initiates at your current consulting firm. This way, the adcom has a number of examples to go on to understand that you will make for a good leader in the future. 

Often, the greatest way to demonstrate a pattern of leadership is by establishing it via your central theme .

Leadership and theme

A theme is a great way to connect your message to your reader. A theme is a central topic that is reinforced throughout your essay via one or more stories. If you are curious about how to effectively apply a theme in your MBA essay, check out this article .

Many candidates decide to use leadership as their central theme in one or more of their essays. This is a great strategy and is definitely a winning possibility. However, you can also choose a theme with a bit more subtlety and still create an effective argument for leadership. 

To demonstrate, let’s take another look at Kellogg’s essay B. Their question specifically asks candidates to talk about a (single!) past leadership experience.

Last fall, our client Carolina began her essay with: 

“While the choreographed movements of a ballet dancer are polished and graceful, the journey to reach this result is full of setbacks. Although I no longer practice ballet, I have benefited from the discipline and determination I developed as a ballet dancer, applying these strengths to my professional and personal life.”

Here, Carolina uses ballet to help the reader visualize discipline and determination. She goes on to explain that she later used these traits to successfully demonstrate her leadership capabilities to overcome hurdles while implementing a membership program at her company. 

She ends her essay like this: 

“Although the membership program was successful, it required overcoming many setbacks through a rigorous execution process. Like ballet dancing, the completed project shows little of the work that went into it or the learnings I acquired along the way. Ultimately, it gave me the opportunity to lead a very diverse team, learn about a new industry, and strategically collaborate to achieve impressive results.”

As you can see, she uses the theme ballet to focus the reader on specific leadership qualities (discipline and determination) that helped her succeed in her career.

This strategy will work for other schools and essay prompts just as well. If your answer to Stanford’s What Matters Most to You and Why is quality leadership, you may be able to express that best with a metaphor. 

Our client Isabella, for example, began her essay like this: 

“What matters most to me is watering plants. Not any plant, but the ones that insist on growing, even when lacking nutrients and sunshine.” 

She continues her essay by explaining how, by overcoming bias and obstacles in her own life, she was able to grow into a leader who helped others overcome their own obstacles as well, thus “watering plants that insist on growing.”

As you can see, it is possible to demonstrate leadership in your MBA essay indirectly and implicitly – and even in unique, creative ways. Choosing your theme like this may even help reveal a new side of your personality that the admissions committee might not have otherwise been exposed to.

Don’t be afraid of conflict

In life, we work hard to avoid conflict as much as possible, yet when it comes to stories, conflict and tensions are not only important, but essential to captivating attention. 

Would Breaking Bad have been as interesting if Walter White was already an established drug lord when the show started? Probably not. Watching him take the news of his cancer diagnosis and find an unusual way to drum up the money for treatment is just what makes the show so addictive. 

Conflict and how our “hero” (in this case, you!) solves the challenge is at the core of any good story, so make sure you use the STAR method to clearly set up the conflict you needed to navigate and then show how you took steps to turn this roadblock into one of your standout moments. 

Let’s take this essay for example. In an early version, the story was conflict-free. 

Upon joining MBB after graduation, another experience inspired personal growth. While abroad, I participated in recruiting processes for top consulting firms, and saw firsthand that MBB lagged behind in recruiting students pursuing dual degrees abroad. After joining, I created a dedicated process to recruit these top performers. Four months later, we had the first online connection event, which attracted more than 40 interested students. The program has since become an essential recruiting tool. I am proud to lead this internal team in contributing to MBB’s long-term success as we attract the talent we need to deliver high-impact results to clients.

Though this shows initiative on the applicant’s part, it is far less compelling than this version of events:

After graduating, I joined MBB, as it allowed me to channel my intellectual curiosity, explore various sectors and be an agent of change. While abroad, I participated in recruiting processes for other top consulting firms, and saw firsthand that MBB lagged behind in recruiting dual-degree students. After joining, I spoke with several partners about creating a program to solve this issue. The partners were hesitant, however, concerned they could not adequately evaluate candidates remotely. After demonstrating the implications of overlooking these high-potential candidates, I received permission to create a dedicated dual-degree recruiting process. Four months later, I had mobilized 10 colleagues, leading them in organizing BCG’s first online connection event. The program has since become an essential recruiting tool, bringing in more than 10% of our hires since inception.

Here, not only does she show initiative, she also shows she has an ability to clearly communicate and add value to her firm , even when the odds are stacked against her. This tactic shows development and engages the reader, making your story more memorable.

So, when writing your leadership essays, make sure to give your stories some much-needed drama to really demonstrate how much impact your actions generated!

Still struggling with leadership in your MBA essays?

There are many factors to consider when deciding how you will demonstrate leadership in your MBA essay. 

On the one hand, it is good to consider the multi-faceted nature of leadership. You will want to demonstrate multiple environments and ways in which you have been able to create impact. And just because you have never managed a team or become the leader of a school club does not mean you cannot show your leadership capabilities to the admissions committee. 

In fact, you may be able to prove to them that you are a leader through a number of other situations, like taking the initiative or innovation, and even simultaneously connect those situations to other things the school values. 

On the other hand, just selecting a story that demonstrates leadership is not enough – you must also present it in a way that is convincing . Using strategies like STAR, a mix of professional and personal examples, and reinforcing the message through your theme, you can make sure that the admissions committee remembers your unique value as a leader. 

Of course, understanding these concepts and applying them is not the same thing. 

Even more importantly, we can help you effectively highlight your desire to grow as a leader in your top MBA program and the global world of business beyond. After all, as Kellogg’s admissions point out , growth is a challenge confronted by every organization – and every leader. 

If you still find yourself struggling with these issues, we are happy to help! Our MBA essay editors at Ellin Lolis Consulting have the expertise you need to identify the right stories and approaches to discussing leadership for each school you’re applying to. We can help you polish your essay to really make your leadership experiences shine. 

Real MBA Essays That Got People In

School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted

Get Access Now

98.9% Success Rate

With our expertise and 98.9% success rate in placing our consulting clients in at least one of their target schools, we can add more value to your application than you ever thought possible.

Recent Articles

How To Write About Diversity and Inclusion (DEI)

Jun 3, 2024

Include your experience with DEI Show allyship DEI takes lots of forms Limited DEI experience? Don’t let that stop you. Promote DEI on campus Always be authentic Show long-term commitment Get expert help...

How To Show Leadership In Your MBA Essay

May 28, 2024

Remember, leadership comes in many forms! Make leadership your theme Use STAR Highlight you. Use personal and professional leadership examples Show that leadership is a habit Leverage conflict Get expert help...

How to Discuss Failures and Weaknesses In Your MBA Essay

May 27, 2024

Take advantage of failure Use STAR to demonstrate your strengths! Strengths and weaknesses complement each other Check out past examples! Nobody is perfect! Utilize personal failures, too Talk about failure – even...

Ready to start your MBA Success?

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

Why You Should Showcase Leadership in a Personal Statement

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Kaila Barber, from College Essay Guy, in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

How to showcase leadership.

• Choosing Your Personal Statement

In this post, we will discuss some strategies and tips for showcasing leadership, and other essential values and transferable skills necessary for success, in your personal statement essays for applying to college. 

Let’s say you want to talk about leadership in your essay, there are many ways you can go about it. You can talk about leadership capabilities and experience through topics such as your organization skills, productivity and making things more efficient, communicating with people, and being a mentor. Categorizing the different skills and components of leadership can help you brainstorm potential topics that will position you as a good fit, and even an asset, for prospective colleges.

In particular, leading through mentorship is a great topic to write about as it is very important because you are creating a safe environment for those around you that fosters personal, academic, and professional growth. Building connections and community and creating a safe space where people can be authentic and feel mutual trust is what mentorship is all about, and having these abilities is a major plus.

Choosing Your Personal Statement 

Writing about a challenge.

If you choose to write about a challenge you overcame, make sure you’re talking about, and focusing on, specific actions you took, and what skill you gained from it. You can include leadership and productivity skills like time management, adaptability, or flexibility if those are relevant. 

Many students, especially during the pandemic, had to help out their families financially. If this describes your experience, or you have gone through similar challenges, you can write about it as  taking on that kind of extra responsibility is a big deal for students studying full-time. From experiences such as this, students gain a lot of real world experience applying skills essential for academic, and later professional, success and those are things colleges want to hear about.

Writing About Your Hobby

A popular topic for personal statement essays is how students turn their hobbies into an interest they now want to study in college. If you choose this topic, you want to make sure you demonstrate the insight you’ve learned from this hobby, as well as the values and transferable skills it has helped you develop. 

Similar to the way we broke down leadership, categorize the different skills you’ve gained from this hobby. You can then also talk about how these skills have influenced your decision to now study your hobby. Remember, the most important thing in this essay is to personalize it to your life story. If your hobby has affected your values and life views, that is a great way to personalize your essay.

A great example of breaking down how your hobbies can change your values is crocheting. A hobby like crocheting takes time and patience. There is a beauty and importance in taking the time to learn and practice the basics so you can then master more complex processes. Someone who writes about their crocheting hobby will be able to talk about how these values, gained through their hobby, changed their life values and helped them develop transferable skills. Crocheting is just one example, but this is the structure you should aim to have if you choose this topic. 

If you’re worried about choosing the right topic, you can always do a topic check with CollegeVine. This is a community feed where you can ask specific questions about the topic you’re considering writing about. 

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

What is leadership?

All leaders, to a certain degree, do the same thing. Whether you’re talking about an executive, manager, sports coach, or schoolteacher, leadership is about guiding and impacting outcomes, enabling groups of people to work together to accomplish what they couldn’t do working individually. In this sense, leadership is something you do, not something you are. Some people in formal leadership positions are poor leaders, and many people exercising leadership have no formal authority. It is their actions, not their words, that inspire trust and energy.

Get to know and directly engage with senior McKinsey experts on leadership

Aaron De Smet is a senior partner in McKinsey’s New Jersey office, Carolyn Dewar is a senior partner in the Bay Area office, Scott Keller is a senior partner in the Southern California office, and Vik Malhotra and Ramesh Srinivasan are senior partners in the New York office.

What’s more, leadership is not something people are born with—it is a skill you can learn. At the core are mindsets, which are expressed through observable behaviors , which then lead to measurable outcomes. Is a leader communicating effectively or engaging others by being a good listener? Focusing on behaviors lets us be more objective when assessing leadership effectiveness. The key to unlocking shifts in behavior is focusing on mindsets, becoming more conscious about our thoughts and beliefs, and showing up with integrity as our full authentic selves.

There are many contexts and ways in which leadership is exercised. But, according to McKinsey analysis of academic literature as well as a survey of nearly 200,000 people in 81 organizations all over the world, there are four types of behavior that account for 89 percent of leadership effectiveness :

• being supportive
• operating with a strong results orientation
• seeking different perspectives
• solving problems effectively

Effective leaders know that what works in one situation will not necessarily work every time. Leadership strategies must reflect each organization’s context and stage of evolution. One important lens is organizational health, a holistic set of factors that enable organizations to grow and succeed over time. A situational approach  enables leaders to focus on the behaviors that are most relevant as an organization becomes healthier.

Senior leaders must develop a broad range of skills to guide organizations. Ten timeless topics are important for leading nearly any organization, from attracting and retaining talent  to making culture a competitive advantage. A 2017 McKinsey book, Leading Organizations: Ten Timeless Truths (Bloomsbury, 2017), goes deep on each aspect.

How is leadership evolving?

In the past, leadership was called “management,” with an emphasis on providing technical expertise and direction. The context was the traditional industrial economy command-and-control organization, where leaders focused exclusively on maximizing value for shareholders. In these organizations, leaders had three roles: planners (who develop strategy, then translate that strategy into concrete steps), directors (who assign responsibilities), or controllers (who ensure people do what they’ve been assigned and plans are adhered to).

What are the limits of traditional management styles?

Traditional management was revolutionary in its day and enormously effective in building large-scale global enterprises that have materially improved lives over the past 200 years. However, with the advent of the 21st century, this approach is reaching its limits.

For one thing, this approach doesn’t guarantee happy or loyal managers or workers. Indeed, a large portion of American workers—56 percent— claim their boss is mildly or highly toxic , while 75 percent say dealing with their manager is the most stressful part of their workday.

For 21st-century organizations operating in today’s complex business environment, a fundamentally new and more effective approach to leadership is emerging. Leaders today are beginning to focus on building agile, human-centered, and digitally enabled organizations able to thrive in today’s unprecedented environment and meet the needs of a broader range of stakeholders (customers, employees, suppliers, and communities, in addition to investors).

What is the emerging new approach to leadership?

This new approach to leadership is sometimes described as “ servant leadership .” While there has been some criticism of the nomenclature, the idea itself is simple: rather than being a manager directing and controlling people, a more effective approach is for leaders to be in service of the people they lead. The focus is on how leaders can make the lives of their team members easier—physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Research suggests this mentality can enhance both team performance and satisfaction.

In this new approach, leaders practice empathy, compassion, vulnerability, gratitude, self-awareness, and self-care. They provide appreciation and support, creating psychological safety so their employees are able to collaborate, innovate, and raise issues as appropriate. This includes celebrating achieving the small steps on the way to reaching big goals and enhancing people’s well-being through better human connections. These conditions have been shown to allow for a team’s best performance.

More broadly, developing this new approach to leadership can be expressed as making five key shifts that include, build on, and extend beyond traditional approaches:

• beyond executive to visionary, shaping a clear purpose that resonates with and generates holistic impact for all stakeholders
• beyond planner to architect, reimagining industries and innovating business systems that are able to create new levels of value
• beyond director to catalyst, engaging people to collaborate in open, empowered networks
• beyond controller to coach, enabling the organization to constantly evolve through rapid learning, and enabling colleagues to build new mindsets, knowledge, and skills
• beyond boss to human, showing up as one’s whole, authentic self

Together, these shifts can help a leader expand their repertoire and create a new level of value for an organization’s stakeholders. The last shift is the most important, as it is based on developing a new level of consciousness and awareness of our inner state. Leaders who look inward  and take a journey of genuine self-discovery make profound shifts in themselves and their lives; this means they are better able to benefit their organization. That involves developing “profile awareness” (a combination of a person’s habits of thought, emotions, hopes, and behavior in different circumstances) and “state awareness” (the recognition of what’s driving a person to take action). Combining individual, inward-looking work with outward-facing actions can help create lasting change.

Introducing McKinsey Explainers : Direct answers to complex questions

Leaders must learn to make these five shifts at three levels : transforming and evolving personal mindsets and behaviors; transforming teams to work in new ways; and transforming the broader organization by building new levels of agility, human-centeredness, and value creation into the entire enterprise’s design and culture.

An example from the COVID-19 era offers a useful illustration of this new approach to leadership. In pursuit of a vaccine breakthrough, at the start of the pandemic Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel increased the frequency of executive meetings  from once a month to twice a week. The company implemented a decentralized model enabling teams to work independently and deliver on the bold goal of providing 100 million doses of vaccines in 12 months. “The pace was unprecedented,” Bancel said.

What is the impact of this new approach to leadership?

This new approach to leadership is far more effective. While the dynamics are complex, countless studies show empirical links among effective leadership, employee satisfaction, customer loyalty, and profitability.

How can leaders empower employees?

Empowering employees , surprisingly enough, might mean taking a more hands-on leadership approach. Organizations whose leaders successfully empower others through coaching are nearly four times more likely to make swift, good decisions and outperform other companies . But this type of coaching isn’t always natural for those with a more controlling or autocratic style.

Here are five tips to get started  if you’re a leader looking to empower others:

• Provide clear rules, for example, by providing guardrails for what success looks like and communicating who makes which decisions. Clarity and boundary structures like role remits and responsibilities help to contain any anxiety associated with work and help teams stay focused on their primary tasks.
• Establish clear roles, say, by assigning one person the authority to make certain decisions.
• Avoid being a complicit manager—for instance, if you’ve delegated a decision to a team, don’t step in and solve the problem for them.
• Address culture and skills, for instance, by helping employees learn how to have difficult conversations.
• Begin soliciting personal feedback from others, at all levels of your organization, on how you are experienced as a leader.

How can leaders communicate effectively?

Good, clear communication is a leadership hallmark. Fundamental tools of effective communication  include:

• defining and pointing to long-term goals
• listening to and understanding stakeholders
• creating openings for dialogue
• communicating proactively

And in times of uncertainty, these things are important for crisis communicators :

• give people what they need, when they need it
• communicate clearly, simply, and frequently
• choose candor over charisma
• revitalize a spirit of resilience
• distill meaning from chaos
• support people, teams, and organizations to build the capability for self-sufficiency

Learn more about our People & Organizational Performance Practice .

Is leadership different in a hybrid workplace?

A leader’s role may look slightly different in remote or hybrid workplace settings . Rather than walking around a physical site, these leaders might instead model what hybrid looks like, or orchestrate work based on tasks, interactions, or purpose. Being communicative and radiating positivity  can go a long way. Leaders need to find other ways to be present and accessible, for example, via virtual drop-in sessions, regular company podcasts, or virtual townhalls. Leaders in these settings may also need to find new ways to get authentic feedback. These tactics can include pulse surveys or learning to ask thoughtful follow-up questions that reveal useful management insights.

Additional considerations, such as making sure that in-person work and togetherness has a purpose, are important. Keeping an eye on inclusivity in hybrid work  is also crucial. Listening to what employees want, with an eye to their lived experience, will be vital to leaders in these settings. And a focus on output, outcomes, results, and impact—rather than arbitrary norms about time spent in offices— may be a necessary adaptation in the hybrid era .

How should CEOs lead in this new world?

Just as for leadership more broadly, today’s environment requires CEOs to lead very differently. Recent research indicates that one-third to one-half of new CEOs fail within 18 months.

What helps top performers thrive today? To find out, McKinsey led a research effort to identify the CEOs who achieved breakaway success. We examined 20 years’ worth of data on 7,800 CEOs—from 3,500 public companies across 70 countries and 24 industries. The result is the McKinsey book CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest (Scribner, March 2022). Watch an interview with the authors for more on what separates the best CEOs from the rest .

Getting perspective on leadership from CEOs themselves is enlightening—and illustrates the nuanced ways in which the new approach to leadership described above can be implemented in practice. Here are a few quotes drawn from McKinsey’s interviews with these top-level leaders :

• “I think the fundamental role of a leader is to look for ways to shape the decades ahead, not just react to the present, and to help others accept the discomfort of disruptions to the status quo.” — Indra Nooyi , former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
• “The single most important thing I have to do as CEO is ensure that our brand continues to be relevant.” — Chris Kempczinski , CEO of McDonald’s
• “Leaders of other enterprises often define themselves as captains of the ship, but I think I’m more the ship’s architect or designer. That’s different from a captain’s role, in which the route is often fixed and the destination defined.” — Zhang Ruimin , CEO of Haier
• “I think my leadership style [can be called] ‘collaborative command.’ You bring different opinions into the room, you allow for a really great debate, but you understand that, at the end of the day, a decision has to be made quickly.” — Adena Friedman , CEO of Nasdaq
• “We need an urgent refoundation of business and capitalism around purpose and humanity. To find new ways for all of us to lead so that we can create a better future, a more sustainable future.” — Hubert Joly , former chairman and CEO of Best Buy

What is leadership development?

Leaders aren’t born; they learn to lead over time. Neuroplasticity refers to the power of the brain to form new pathways and connections through exposure to novel, unfamiliar experiences. This allows adults to adapt, grow, and learn new practices throughout our lifetimes.

When it comes to leadership within organizations, this is often referred to as leadership development. Programs, books, and courses on leadership development abound, but results vary.

Leadership development efforts fail for a variety of reasons. Some overlook context; in those cases, asking a simple question (something like “What, precisely, is this program for?”) can help. Others separate reflections on leadership from real work, or they shortchange the role of adjusting leaders’ mindsets, feelings, assumptions, and beliefs, or they fail to measure results.

So what’s needed for successful leadership development? Generally, developing leaders is about creating contexts where there is sufficient psychological safety in combination with enough novelty and unfamiliarity to cultivate new leadership practices in response to stimuli. Leadership programs that successfully cultivate leaders are also built around “placescapes”—these are novel experiences, like exploring wilderness trails, practicing performing arts, or writing poetry.

When crafting a leadership development program, there are six ingredients to incorporate  that lead to true organizational impact:

• Set up for success:
• Focus your leadership transformation on driving strategic objectives and initiatives.
• Commit the people and resources needed.
• Be clear about focus:
• Engage a critical mass of leaders to reach a tipping point for sustained impact.
• Zero in on the leadership shifts that drive the greatest value.
• Execute well:
• Architect experiential journeys to maximize shifts in mindsets, capabilities, and practices.
• Measure for holistic impact.

A well-designed and executed leadership development program can help organizations build leaders’ capabilities broadly, at scale. And these programs can be built around coaching, mentoring, and having people try to solve challenging problems—learning skills by applying them in real time to real work.

What are mentorship, sponsorship, and apprenticeship?

Mentorship, sponsorship, and apprenticeship can also be part of leadership development efforts. What are they? Mentorship refers to trusted counselors offering guidance and support on various professional issues, such as career progression. Sponsorship is used to describe senior leaders who create opportunities to help junior colleagues succeed. These roles are typically held by more senior colleagues, whereas apprenticeship could be more distributed. Apprenticeship  describes the way any colleague with domain expertise might teach others, model behaviors, or transfer skills. These approaches can be useful not only for developing leaders but also for helping your company upskill or reskill employees quickly and at scale.

For more in-depth exploration of these topics, see McKinsey’s insights on People & Organizational Performance . Learn more about McKinsey’s Leadership & Management  work—and check out job opportunities if you’re interested in working at McKinsey.

Articles referenced include:

• “ Author Talks: What separates the best CEOs from the rest? ,” December 15, 2021, Carolyn Dewar , Scott Keller , and Vik Malhotra
• “ From the great attrition to the great adaptation ,” November 3, 2021, Aaron De Smet  and Bill Schaninger
• “ The boss factor: Making the world a better place through workplace relationships ,” September 22, 2020, Tera Allas  and Bill Schaninger
• " Leading agile transformation: The new capabilities leaders need to build 21st century organizations ," October 1, 2018, Aaron De Smet , Michael Lurie , and Andrew St. George
• " Leading Organizations: Ten Timeless Truths ," 2017, Scott Keller  and Mary Meaney
• “ Leadership in context ,” January 1, 2016, Michael Bazigos, Chris Gagnon, and Bill Schaninger
• “ Decoding leadership: What really matters ,” January 1, 2015, Claudio Feser, Fernanda Mayol, and Ramesh Srinivasan

Want to know more about leadership?

Related articles.

Reimagining HR: Insights from people leaders

What is leadership: Moving beyond the C-Suite

CEO Excellence

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Essay on Leadership: Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

• Updated on  
• Oct 7, 2023

The concept of leadership has been known to us since ancient times, from Ashoka: The Great to modern-day democratic leaders. Whether it’s politics or business, sports or entertainment, leadership is an essential part of human society, Leadership is the art of inspiring and guiding people towards a common goal. 

Critics might argue that being a leader is just about holding a prestigious position and living a fancy life. That might be 1 in 1000 cases, as leaders across the globe work for the welfare and development of their people and country. Below we have discussed some essays on leadership where the multifaceted roles of this position are highlighted. 

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Leadership in 100 Words
• 2 Essay on Leadership in 200 Words
• 3 Essay on Leadership in 300 Words

Also Read – Essay on Summer Vacation

Essay on Leadership in 100 Words

Leadership involves a set of qualities, values and actions, which are focused on the benefit of people and their country. A person holding the position of a leader plays a pivotal role in every facet of life, influencing the direction and success of organizations, communities, and nations. To become a leader, one must have a clear vision to understand a future state that is better than the present and communicate that vision to their team or followers.

A leader’s actions should be aligned with their words, and they must demonstrate their honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour. Trust is the foundation for any successful leadership, and it is built through consistent ethical conduct. 

Essay on Leadership in 200 Words

Leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept and is an essential part of developing a society or organisation. Leadership can involve various positions and types, from democratic to autocratic, where the leaders inspire and empower their teams, fostering an environment where individuals can thrive and achieve their fullest potential.

Effective leadership involves skilled communicators to can convey ideas, expectations, and feedback clearly and persuasively. They also listen actively to their team’s input and concerns. A great leader empowers a team of professionals by entrusting them with responsibilities and decision-making authority. With the formation of delegates, the power of leadership is divided among different authorities who are responsible for fostering growth and development among team members, making the organization more robust.

Some of the fundamentals of leadership are authenticity, integrity, ethical behaviour, a clear vision and other vital traits. Trust is the bedrock of leadership, and it is built through honesty, transparency, and consistency in actions and decisions. A leader who understands and cares about the needs and concerns of their team fosters strong relationships, promoting collaboration and cohesion.

At last, leadership is more than a title; it’s the embodiment of vision, integrity, empathy, communication and resilience. Effective leaders work to bring positive changes, inspire people around them and create a sense of purpose and direction in their terms and organizations.

Also Read – Essay on Cricket

Essay on Leadership in 300 Words

Leadership is a vital concept for the welfare of a society, community or country, depending on what the leadership is about. A leader transcends boundaries and is fundamental to human endeavours in various domains. Their job involves the ability to influence and guide a group of individuals toward achieving a common objective. Effective leadership is characterized by a combination of qualities, skills, and behaviours that inspire, motivate, and empower a team.

The first and most important aspect of a successful leader is having a clear vision. A clear vision works as a guiding light, outlining the desired future and providing a sense of purpose and direction for the team. Leaders with a compelling vision can inspire and rally their followers, creating a shared sense of purpose. 

The other cornerstone of leadership is integrity. Leaders must demonstrate honesty, transparency, and ethical behaviour. Trust, which is essential in any team or organization, is built on the foundation of integrity. When people believe that their leader acts with integrity, they are more likely to follow willingly and commit to the cause. 

Another trait that is essential for effective leadership is empathy. Leaders with empathy understand and connect with the emotions, needs, and perspectives of their team members. By showing compassion and actively listening, they create a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters trust and collaboration.

Apart from these traits, other important qualities for effective leadership include effective communication and interpersonal skills. A leader must be able to articulate their vision, goals, and expectations clearly and persuasively. 

In conclusion, leadership is a multifaceted concept that plays a pivotal role towards the positive growth and development of organizations, communities, and societies. Effective leaders inspire their teams, create a sense of purpose, and drive positive change. Leadership is not merely a position; it is a journey of personal growth and a commitment to serving the greater good.

Related Articles:

• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Morning Walk for Students
• Essay on Discipline
• Essay on the Importance of Education

Some of the synonyms for a leader are: Coach, Captain, Principal, Chairman, Kingpin, Boss, CEO, etc.

What makes a good leader is their ability to persuade people using their effective communication skills, having a clear vision working towards the welfare of society, and taking responsibility for their actions.

Writing an essay on leadership in 200 words must include the fundamental aspects of leadership and the qualities they must possess. Effective leaders around the world create a supportive and inclusive environment where people can thrive and contribute their best efforts. They inspire a shared sense of purpose, foster collaboration, and guide their teams toward achieving collective goals.

For more information about such informative articles, visit our essay writing page and make sure to follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for leadership essay topics to write about? Being both an exciting research area and a practical skill, leadership is definitely worth exploring!

• 🔝 Top 10 Essay Topics

📃 Leadership Essay: How to Write

• 🏆 Best Essay Examples
• 👍 Interesting Essay Topics
• 🎓 Simple & Easy Essay Titles
• 📌 Controversial Title Ideas
• 🥇 Good Topics to Write

✍️ Leadership Essay Topics for College

❓ leadership essay questions.

In your leadership essay, you might want to take a look at the sphere of government or elaborate on the role of leadership in business organizations. Here we’ve gathered most catchy leadership title ideas together with leadership essay examples. There are also useful tips on writing your introduction, conclusion, and formulating a thesis statement.

🔝 Top 10 Leadership Essay Topics

• Leadership as a research area and a practical skill
• Theories of leadership
• Functional leadership theory
• Autocratic and democratic leadership styles: compare and contrast
• Task-oriented leadership style: the key features
• Measuring leadership: the main approaches
• Gender and leadership in Western countries
• The concept of leadership: myths and misunderstandings
• Emotional intelligence and leadership: the connection
• Leadership in non-human animals

While writing a leadership essay, you may struggle with the subject, structure, titles, and other components. Don’t worry – these tips will help you to write the best leadership paper!

Tip 1. Choose your subject area first. If your professor did not provide specific topics, you would need to select one on your own. In order to do this, you may focus on an area of leadership that sounds interesting to you.

For example, if you consider working in the hospitality sector in the future, write about leadership in hotels or restaurants. Alternatively, you can browse leadership essay topics online and see if that gives you any clarity.

Tip 2. Narrow down the topic. To ensure that your essay earns high marks, you should avoid choosing an area of leadership that is too broad.

A college level paper should offer enough details and depth to receive an excellent grade. For instance, instead of overviewing a bunch of leadership styles, focus on how certain styles impede or facilitate teamwork. This will give you enough to talk about while limiting the scope of your essay.

Tip 3. Don’t confuse leadership with management! This is a common mistake that students make while writing leadership essays. Although the two concepts overlap, leadership is more about beliefs and vision, whereas managerial work is focused on specific tools and techniques.

Thus, a leader may or may not be a manager. To get more familiar with the subject of leadership, research various leadership styles, such as transformational, autocratic, and servant leadership.

Tip 4. Pay attention to the structure. In a great essay, ideas are always well-organized and follow one another in a logical sequence. First, write an introduction where you present your topic and thesis.

Then, write the main body, where you explain the key concepts and the relationships between them by reviewing relevant research evidence.

Lastly, write a conclusion summarizing your key points. A good leadership essay conclusion should also show how the information can be applied in practice.

Tip 5. Seek to answer any questions that readers might have. For your essay to show excellent depth, you need to address the points that might be interesting to readers in connection with your subject area.

For example, if you are reviewing a particular leadership style, you might want to discuss in which settings it would be useful and what are some of its limitations.

To make this part easier, you could search for leadership essay questions online to clarify what kind of answers readers expect you to cover.

Tip 6. Explain the importance and relevance of your paper. Because leadership is focused on effective strategies that can be applied in real life, you need to provide examples of how your essay may be used to support future practice and research.

Can leaders use the information you provided to improve their relationships with other employees? Can the proposed strategies influence performance?

Think about the potential uses of your research, as well as any gaps that are yet to be studied. Highlighting areas for future research will show your tutor that you are genuinely interested in the subject while also helping you plan for future essays.

We hope that these leadership essay tips will make it easier for you to write an outstanding paper! Make sure to check our website for sample essays on leadership!

🏆 Best Leadership Essay Examples

• Nelson Mandela Leadership Style Mandela’s fight for democracy and fulfilment of the majority will was also seen in his efforts to reconcile Libya with the rest of the world.
• Reed Hastings’ Leadership Style: Netflix CEO’s Strategy Since the work of a leader is crucial for the performance of the whole enterprise, it is essential to analyze the leadership style of a particular business leader through the perspective of his or her […]
• Transformational Leadership Essay This requires the transformational leader to have the right communication skills to be able to relay the vision they have to a point of winning the willingness of the followers such that they too are […]
• Google Democratic Leadership Style – Compared to Amazon Applying behavioural leadership style theories in Bezos and Schmidt’s case reveals that the Amazon CEO is an autocratic leader while the Google CEO is a democratic leader.
• Frederick Douglass Leadership Personality Traits Report (Assessment) The book was so humorous that he feared that he would be enslaved again for the weaknesses that he portrayed in the American lifestyle and how he was able to trick them with the attire […]
• Leadership Case Study This is mainly achieved through setting a pace in serving as a role model and creation of a working environment that allows members of the organization or employees to feel honored as part of the […]
• Mahatma Gandhi’s Leadership This report is an analysis of the behaviour and leadership style of Ghandi, the transactional and transformative aspects of his leadership and the way he used the power he had to help India gain Independence.
• Teamwork and Leadership From diversity to team hierarchy, many factors influence the eventual output of the team, affecting the leader, team members’ performance, and client’s satisfaction.
• Esther’s Leadership Qualities Essay The book of Ester narrates the story of a young Jewish woman who rose to the thrones of power but also reveals the life of the Jews under the Persian reign.
• Mercedes Company: Leadership and Management Essentials The idea behind theoretical investigation is to obtain enough background information on leadership styles, which might be applied to analysing the performance of Mercedes Benz in the light of the theory’s implications on the practice […]
• Nigerian Poor Governance and Leadership In the paper under consideration, we will examine the concepts of the good governance and leadership, the problems concerning the implementation of these concepts in the Nigerian government; then we will investigate the history of […]
• Barack Obama’s Charismatic Leadership In Obama’s Case, the sparkle and invisible energy as defined by Rao pushed him to the presidency and continues allowing him some loyal following albeit the fact that some are being disappointed by the slow […]
• Foundation of Army Leadership Essay The Army leaders therefore, need to be swift, adaptive, and multi-skilled both in the country and across the world. This ensures obedience of the Army to the authority of the President and his authority from […]
• Leadership in Organization Leadership is applicable in the nurturing and development of constructive behavior patterns and organizational culture. Charismatic leadership is appropriate for the development of followers.
• Meg Whitman – Leadership Style: What Do People Do When They Are Leading? This is due to the fact that it influences the extent to which employees are committed to attainment of the set organizational goals.
• Leadership: Portfolio Project I will start by conducting a comprehensive analysis of my background in order to understand the factors that might have defined my leadership qualities in one way or the other.
• Comparison of Leadership and Management In leadership, the leader uses his charisma and influence to elicit the help and support of the followers to achieve goals.
• Bernard Arnault’s Leadership One of Arnault’s leadership styles entails identifying brands that are preferred in the market and working on enhancing the quality of these brands. Bernard Arnault is a visionary leader who has helped LVMH to attain […]
• Bill Gates’s Leadership and Impact on Organization This problem grew out of the practice that was common in Microsoft to challenge the ideas of one another, doubt them, and put them to the test.
• Starbuck Company Case: Howard Schultz Leadership Style Hence, he spends a lot of time with staff and guarantees that the company helps employees to grow both financially and intellectually.
• Google Company’s Situational Leadership The current CEO of Google, Larry Page, is a considered a great leader because of his ability to apply situational leadership skills in resolving some of the problems that threaten the success of the company.
• Nelson Mandela’s Leadership in the “Invictus” Film The film “Invictus” is a 2009 drama and biography that depicts the challenging initiative of Nelson Mandela to unite the country with the help of sport.
• Developing Leadership Skills Bearing in mind the fact that the leader is tasked with marshaling the organization’s resources to accomplish some organizational goal, it can be rightfully stated that part of the role of the leader is to […]
• Management and Leadership: Nokia Corporation The approach of the company is to have an innovative and outstanding teamwork; though the company has a departmental approach, the company ensures that it has teams in all sections that are mandated and empowered […]
• Comparison of Gandhi’s and Hitler’s Leadership The primary direction of Gandhi’s political and social work was the fight against the nationalist movement of the British rule of India.
• Foundations of Army Leadership BLC This paper examines the foundation of Army leadership, focusing on its levels and leaders’ characteristic features.
• Leadership Self-Assessment Essay To a butcher, the organizational goals of increased productivity, the input of both the individual and groups in the organization remains invaluable. To this end, the strengths and weaknesses that are inherent in my style […]
• School Leadership The multi-levelled pedagogic school leaders highly determine the mode of teaching students in schools and the effective application of the learning process.
• Ken Lay’s Leadership and Enron Company’s Downfall An analysis of Lay’s ethical conduct outlined below is conducted through the prism of Kidder’s ethical checkpoints, the principles of moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation, moral character, as well as the CEO’s power and […]
• Toyota’s Culture and Leadership Strategy Toyota’s Leadership and Culture Irrespective of numerous difficulties, the company is still one of the leaders of the industry. To understand the essence of the lean leadership, it is crucial to consider some peculiarities of […]
• Leadership in General Electric The third impact of good leadership at GE is that the ability of the organization to retain its employees would be increased.
• Democratic Leadership Style Self-Analysis Democratic leadership style is a participative and consensus-based approach to decision-making in which the leader encourages input from all members of the team and makes decisions that reflect the group’s best interests.
• Ethical Leadership: Martin Luther King All individuals were expected to consider his actions and embrace the idea of morality. Through the use of a positive community culture and empowerment tactics, King managed to model such desirable behaviors.
• Mark Zuckerberg’s Leadership Style Shareholders have complained about his leadership and failure to increase the stock price of Facebook, and others have claimed he is socially inept and too young and immature to be a CEO of a multi-billion […]
• Autocratic Leadership Versus Participative Theory It will also critically analyse the effectiveness of both participative and autocratic leadership styles in an organisation to determine the most appropriate style to be adopted for the success of an organisation.
• King T’Challa’s Leadership in “Black Panther” However, because Black Panther needed the help of the Jabari, he had to suppress some feelings of pride and act in the interest of his people.
• Leadership Style: Reflection and Analysis The concept of leadership is an essential part of the modern world due to the fact that it is one of the key determinants of successful management.
• Mary Kay Ash and Her Leadership Style The success of this woman, as well as her contributions to the world of business, may be explained in terms of her biography, milestones, she had to cope with, and the decisions she made during […]
• Marriott International Leadership This paper aims to present the analysis of the prevalent leadership style typical of executives and directors in Marriott International; to discuss the connection between the leadership style and ethical practices; to determine possible ethical […]
• Leadership and Management Practice The efficacy of a decision to either lead or manage will base on the closeness of how the insight of the knowledge, expertise and talent of persons trying to pursue the goal matches with the […]

👍 Interesting Leadership Essay Topics

• Participative Leadership: Strengths and Weakness The paper gives an overview of the approach, followed by the strengths and weakness of participative leadership. Organizational leadership, more so the approach of leadership is critical to the performance of an organization.
• Leadership and Motivation – Carlos Ghosn The purpose of this paper is to present a discussion of theories and concepts of leadership in current multinational businesses using the leadership style of Carlos Ghosn as a benchmark for effective leadership in the […]
• Development and Curriculum Leadership: Advanced Curriculum Models This book is of great assistance to educational leaders who want to explain curriculum concepts, analyze and understand the hidden curriculum, explain the contracting nature of curriculum elements and unfold strategies to develop and implement […]
• The Essence of Leadership: Warren Buffet and Oprah Winfrey To understand the concept of leadership, the report evaluates the leadership qualities that the two leaders have developed. The reason behind the conflicts rests on the fact that the organisation, for instance, has no one […]
• Strategic Leadership Nevertheless, it is important that for these strategic plans to be implemented properly there is need to have strategic leadership in the organization in order to provide the much needed leadership.
• Leadership Approach in “The Devil Wears Prada” The first point is personal characteristics that can be considered on the example of the film. Thus, whether it is the latest edition of a Harry Potter book that she manages to find or her […]
• Howard Schultz’s Leadership Style: Strengths and Weaknesses These results are in a large part due to his leadership style which can be characterised as transformational, the strengths of which are openness to new ideas and creativity, and among the weaknesses can be […]
• The Leadership of Mao Zedong For example, the Great Leap Forward policy resulted in a food crisis that led to the death of many Chinese people. Mao was assertive in the development and implementation of his policies.
• Leadership of Change in an Organization The change process involves developing urgency of change, empowering change groups, developing a vision, frequent and powerful communication of the vision, eliminating change obstacles, creating short-term goals, building on change and incorporating change in the […]
• BMW Key Strategic Issues Analysis The strong brand name and capital potential of the company is the core elements of the company’s success and popularity across the globe.
• Educational Leadership and Management Team leadership is “the ability to solve every problem affecting a given group”. I have understood why every educational leader should use the best leadership styles.
• Personal Leadership Profile Analysis At the same time, I could also use my drive for learning to develop communication, motivation, conflict resolution, and other relevant skills that could enhance the performance of my team and the work environment in […]
• Conrad Hilton Leadership Styles and Principles Leaders in this category want to transcend the basic needs of a human being and to have a sense of life success.
• Servant Leadership Research Paper | Term Paper In the context of organizations, leading entails the leader consolidating the efforts and resources of the organization and focusing on the future by setting up a vision for the organization which it intends to achieve […]
• Nursing: Leadership Development Plan I utilize the nursing process and evidence-based practice to work collaboratively with the core team, including the patient, staff members, primary care provider, registered nurse care manager, and patient support technician, and expanded team, including […]
• 21st Century Leadership Based on the character of these issues, researchers distinguish six major areas of the new leadership, and each one of them includes a set of practices which are considered to be contributive to the organisational […]
• Style of Leadership in TESCO In order to maintain the desired level of performance, the company requires a well trained and knowledgeable workforce as well as an appropriate team of leadership that is capable of developing the qualities of all […]
• Organizational Leadership and Strategic Positioning for Shangri-la Hotels Shangri-La Hotels is classified among the strongest and iconic leaders in the luxury hotel space in Asia and it has been successful in other places in Europe and around the world.
• Situational Leadership Style According to the two experts, the major responsibility of any situational leader is to become accustomed to their individual leadership style and satisfy the followers’ needs.
• Gibb’s Reflective Cycle in Nursing Leadership To ensure all the processes run effectively in the organization, the leader must reflect on the various encounters to improve the aspect of decision-making and management.
• Organizational Culture & Leadership: Whirlpool Corporation At the heart of the discussion of management and leadership are the concepts of goal setting and results. Common to both managers and leaders is the focus on the results they produce, which are based […]
• Ann Fudge’s Leadership Lessons The reason is in the fact that Fudge is a broad-minded leader who is interested in receiving new experiences. Fudge demonstrates a medium level of extraversion as she is a good motivator and a decisive […]
• The Action-Observation Model: Leadership Discussion In the beginning, I tried to persuade some volunteers to agree with their assignments since they were helping to spread awareness of a good cause; however, as arguments started occurring, I decided that the best […]
• Leadership Evaluation: Sir Richard Branson By the early 1990s, the airline had become the centerpiece of Branson’s interests and the capital needs of the airline made it necessary for him to acquire more capital.
• Unilever Company’s Leadership and Corporate Governance The success of Unilever associated with the company’s commitment to leadership. First, the strategic leadership of Unilever is tied to the company’s long-term goals and objectives.
• Leadership Concepts: Kentucky Fried Chicke This means that if the recipe was revealed to a leader who is not loyal to this organization, he/she would share it with the competitors which could cause the organization to loose many of its […]
• Carly Fiorina’s Leadership at Hewlett-Packard Company In this respect, the first part of the paper will compare the traits of Carly to the characteristics described in various leadership theories.
• Leadership Styles: Democratic, Autocratic and Laissez-Faire According to McNichol and Hamer, the participative approach, compared to the other styles, enhances the productivity of employees for a prolonged period of time as it encourages cooperation and increases staff morale. As a democratic […]
• Leadership in the hospitality industry His success in business has been attributed to the manner in which he attends to details such as research and collection of information, provision of clean and high quality products and services, and the logical […]
• Maxine Clark’s Leadership at Build-A-Bear Workshop How might her personality influence her behaviour as the CEO of Build-A-Bear? Maxine Clark is the founder and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop.
• Inside Bill Gates Leadership Journey of Building Microsoft Microsoft has succeeded in setting a fast pace in the computer software industry and in creating markets in the process. The program took over the market, and it topped the charts in Microsoft products.
• Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore’s Leadership Hal Moore’s courage to fight on despite the odds that had afflicted his men was the major driving factor that led to the victory of his group over the Vietnamese.
• Walt Disney and Henry Ford Leadership Styles Disney devoted his time to art and had a dream of becoming a leader in the animation business. The employees started to fear him and could avoid the lobby whenever Disney was passing.
• High Task & High Relationship Leadership Style Discussion of high task-high relationship leadership style The leadership underpinned by high-task-high relationship concerns with the inclusion of both tasks and relationships.
• Napoleon: Leadership Style The extremely high level of fragmentation peculiar to Europe at that era and the absence of the single perspective on France and its growing power provided him with the time needed to create a powerful […]
• The Five-Star Hotels Operational Management They will be discussed on the historic hotel to provide useful information for the improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations of the hotel.
• Servant Leadership in Indian Culture and Hindu Religion The basis of this approach is the reorientation of the values of the leader, who considers the empowerment of followers as a means and goal of his activity.
• Leadership Style of Bill Clinton: What Can We Learn? To have a good understanding of Bill Clinton, we shall have a review and a brief description of his biography in order to understand about the background of Bill Clinton right from the time he […]
• Relationship between Leadership and Management Additionally, it is apparent that the only constant in the business world is change, and for this reason, for employees to be sure of coping with such changes, there is need for them to acquire […]
• Leadership Philosophy and the Theories of Leadership These theories are the trait theory of leadership, behavioral theory of leadership, and the contingency theory of leadership. In line with the chosen personal leadership philosophy that urges the leader to show empathy, the trait […]

🎓 Simple & Easy Leadership Essay Titles

• Individual Leadership Philosophy I have also developed new values that will continue to support my leadership objectives. I will also acquire new skills that have the potential to improve my leadership philosophy.
• Leadership in the Management Practice: “Our Iceberg Is Melting” by John Kotter The resultant effect is that the taskforce charged with the responsibility of implementing change does not achieve the intended objective According to Kotter, developing a clear vision is critical in the process of implementing change.
• Proactive Leadership: Importance and Characteristics This paper will focus on proactive leadership, the importance of proactive leadership, and the characteristics of proactive leaders. For example, when a team leader is late on product shipment or delivery of products, they try […]
• Warren Buffett’s Leadership in Berkshire Hathaway The analysis is conducted within the appropriate business context after the examination of the history, structure, and organizational culture of Berkshire Hathaway.
• Gender Equality in Higher Education: The Underrepresentation of Women in Educational Leadership A prime example of gender inequality is the underrepresentation of women in educational leadership, and this problem is going to be considered here in detail.
• The Challenges of Leadership Practice in the 21st Century The existing transformational theories to leadership practice are inadequate for the development of a harmonious business environment in the twenty-first century.
• A Revolutionary Model of Leadership When the father of Ricardo Semler left his company in the early 80s, he never imagined that his son would transform Semco to be a leading and one of the best-known companies across the globe.
• JC Penney & Ron Johnson: The Failed Leadership Following the failure of Ron Johnson’s vision and strategy, the new CEO, Ulman, faced the challenge of attempting to incorporate and revert to the strategy that had been in place before Ron Johnson’s tenure.
• Nursing Leadership: A Self-Assessment The second goal is to improve my risk management attitude because it is crucial for my practice as a DNP-prepared nurse and as a leader of the team where I work.
• The Model of Primary Leadership Skills Theo was more successful in the role of manager of the new facility’s development than he was as the operations director because he needed to lead various groups of people that would help him to […]
• W. Buffett’s and F. Porsche’s Leadership Styles Finally, the third reason to call Ferdinand Porsche a bad leader is his ignorance of the social context. The businessman did not contribute to the development of the community or country but focused on his […]
• Hatshepsut’s Leadership and Accomplishments She was the leader of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt and ruled with the help of the two-year old Thutmose III.
• The Book “The Power of Positive Leadership” by Jon Gordon The positive psychology paradigm connects to organizational behavior and the leadership position. The book’s goal is to provide a framework for leadership and explain some instances of effective leadership.
• Strategic Leadership and Organisational Transformation of Walmart In the first quarter of the 2020/2021 fiscal year, the company recorded a financial performance that exceeded the projections of analysts who had predicted poor performance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Leadership and Organizational Psychology of Vince Lombardi The Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator is one of the most renowned personality tests an individual can use to assess one’s leadership journey.
• Leadership Style and Employee Motivation: Burj Al Arab Hotel How effective and sustainable is the current leadership approach within the Burj Al Arab in the management of the level of employee motivation? How effective is the function of the current leadership styles in improving […]
• Leadership Behavior: Ratan Tata and Emotional Intelligence This shows that Ratan Tata, as a leader, was not eager to compete but rather searched for options to expand the market through acquiring businesses.
• General Leadership Style: Norman Schwarzkopf According to the Katz model of leadership, the leader with human skills can leverage the power of the group. When the young Schwarzkopf visited his father in different parts of the world, he had the […]
• Mandela’s Leadership He used his power to better the lives of the public in South Africa and set an example of selfless leadership.
• Transformational Leadership in Nursing The most significant benefit to the work environment would be access to more information for me as both a teacher and a supervisor, which would allow me to leverage it in nursing care.
• Leadership Internal and External Challenges For example, one of the most difficult challenges for a leader is to find a balance between a “stick” and a “carrot”.
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s and Malcolm X’s Leadership Styles Thesis: Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both charismatic leaders, but the latter was more of a transformational leader as well because of his idealistic views and his ability to inspire his followers to […]
• Ursula Burns Leadership Style in Xerox Company By suggesting that color printing should be made more affordable, as well as reconsidering the company’s organizational behavior and putting a very strong emphasis on the relationships between the managers and the staff, Burns has […]
• Leadership Styles in Nigeria, America and China It is important to note that most of the African nations are said to have a high power distance, and Nigeria is not an exception.
• Charismatic Leadership The transformational leaders focus on changing the organizations or the leaders, while the charismatic leader has a focus on commitment and devotion both to the persona values as well as those of the group members […]
• Angela Merkel’s Leadership Style This move shows that Merkel has the essential qualities of a transformative leader, including her ability to critically analyze a situation and motivate her followers in times of need.
• Nursing Leadership and Team Building Strategies A Doctor of Nursing Practice leader has a number of responsibilities, and one of them is to motivate a team and increase engagement toward a vision and goals.
• Delta Airlines Company’s Traditional and Digital Leadership The aviation industry is one of the most performing sectors of the economy, generating considerable revenues to the respective airline companies across the globe.
• Transformational Leadership among Nursing Students The members choose me as the nursing student among the ten to be their leader. The leader creates a vision for the team and encourages them to make the dream a reality.
• Leadership of Jerry Yang, Co-Founder of Yahoo The creation of Yahoo is the story of the hobby and knowledge of two Yang people who wanted to make the Internet more convenient.
• Sundar Pichai’s Leadership and Action Logics As a result, the issue of action logics presented in this paper is vital because it paves the way for leaders to develop practical ways of understanding not only their individual codes of conduct but […]
• Personality and Leadership Style Relationship According to his approach and tests, stable and introverted people are phlegmatic, stable and extroverted are sanguine, unstable and introverted are melancholic, and unstable and extroverted are choleric.
• Stephen Hawking: Visionary and Cross-Cultural Leadership By incorporating the elements of visionary and cross-cultural leadership, he manages to succeed as not only the man that makes science evolve and become understandable to those interested in it but also the leader of […]
• “Spiritual Leadership” by Henry and Richard Blackaby The lack of leadership strategies causes the death of the church1.”Chapter Two: The Leader’s Role: What Leaders Do” The chapter starts with the evaluation of various definitions of leadership.
• Mohandus Gandhi’s leadership He modeled what he expected his followers to act on and practiced ethical leadership, as his core motivation was to benefit his fellow countrymen and women rather than himself, thus he was ready to face […]
• Astro Airlines: Burton’s Leadership Style While the company had every chance to be transformed from a small-scale business into a large corporation, Burton did not use the opportunities that he had as the head of the company.
• Brian Chesky’s Leadership at Airbnb As the chief executive officer and co-founder of Airbnb Company, Brian Chesky has proved to the world that he is a great leader who exhibits wonderful traits.
• Does Gender Affect Leadership? The number of women who are reaching top positions in the management of an organization is very less, though nowadays there is some change in this fact and so many women are holding top leadership […]
• Healthcare Leadership and Economic Models This is further amplified by Priore who argues that the personnel who encourage their peers to question and identify the possible sections that could use research, development, and acceptance and implementation of changes to implement […]
• Apple Inc.’s Leadership Effectiveness, Competitive Advantage, and Growth Strategy Apple Inc.’s current success can be attributed to the organization’s effective management and leadership abilities to quickly adapt to a highly dynamic business environment.

🥇 Good Leadership Topics to Write

• Nursing Leadership Skills Development
• Women in Top Leadership Positions
• Mark Cuban’s Leadership Style in a Basketball Team
• Leadership vs. Management in the Nursing Context
• Mohammed Al Abbar: Leadership Project
• Leadership Input to the Community Development
• The Impact of School Governance on School Leadership
• “The Ethics of Leadership” by Ciulla Joanne
• Definition of Strategic Leadership
• Leadership in “12 Angry Men”
• Team Leadership: Essential Features & Problems
• John Terrill’s Leadership Style at DGL International
• Orpheus Orchestra’s Leadership and Organizational Practices
• Reflective Practice in Leadership
• Mark Zuckerberg: Leadership Style on Practice
• Jim Jones Leadership Traits
• Leadership and Constitution
• Team Dysfunction and Leadership
• Gender Differences in Leadership Styles
• Warren Buffet’s vs. Bernard Madoff’s Leadership Styles
• Reflection on an Interview on Leadership
• Leadership Challenges in the Church
• Pixar Company’s Effective Leadership and Competitive Advantages
• Leadership Role-Play Activity for Students
• James D. Sinegal’s Leadership Analysis
• Ethics Code in School Leadership
• Leadership at The New York Times Newspaper
• Leadership Action Plan
• Level 5 Leadership, Humility, and Will
• Martin Luther King and Winston Churchill’s Leadership Styles
• Leadership Impact on Healthcare Delivery
• Leadership Theories in the Automotive Industry
• Chicago Bulls 1995-96 Championship: Team Leadership
• The Impact of Leadership in Higher Education
• Ineffective Leadership in a Workplace
• Leadership and Influence
• Leadership in the United Arab Emirates
• Leadership, Its Requirements, Roles and Objectives
• Leadership Styles and Theories
• Management and Leadership in Case of General Motors Company
• Organizational Behavior and Theory
• Workplace Management Styles: Autocratic Leadership
• Delta Airlines: Corporate Governance and Leadership Issues
• The Concept of Laissez-Faire Leadership Style
• Self-Awareness Importance in Effective Leadership
• Andy Garafallo’s Recipe in Leadership Theory and Practice
• Leadership Concepts in the “Seabiscuit” Drama Film
• Transformational Leadership in Hotel Industry
• Leadership Style of Richard Branson
• Daimler-Chrysler Merger: Leadership Issue
• Impact of Gender Difference on Leadership Styles
• Leadership Skills of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s
• Blanchard and Fiedler Leadership Models
• Transcendental Leadership and Total Quality Management Theories
• “Organizational Culture and Leadership” by Schein, Edgar H.
• Leadership, Trustworthiness, and Ethical Stewardship
• Nelson Mandela: Speeches and Leadership
• Zappos Organization’s Leadership and Objectives
• Leadership Philosophies and Core Values in Healthcare
• Leadership at YouTube: Susan Wojcicki
• Leadership and Diversity Discussion
• Biblical Leadership, “Becoming a Different Kind of Leader”
• Carlos Slim: Leadership Styles and Personality
• Leadership Personality & Achievement: TELMEX and Carlos Slim
• Cognitive Skills and Leadership Performance: The Nine Critical Skills
• Studying Leadership Behaviour: “The King’s Speech” by Tom Hooper
• Leadership in Teams: Experience and Reflection
• Personal Leadership Approach
• Leadership: Definition and Features
• J.F. Kennedy’s People-Oriented Leadership
• Political Frame for Educational Leadership Issues
• Ontology and Epistemology in Leadership Research
• Effective Leadership Today
• Effective Leadership: Character and Personal Growth
• Emotional Intelligence and Effective Leadership
• Leadership: Top Talent Retention
• Women’s Features in Administrative Leadership
• Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization?
• Steve Jobs and Tim Cook Leadership Styles Comparison
• The Ship Board: Management Styles and Leadership
• Ann Fudge Leadership Style Analysis
• Khalaf Al Habtoor’s Leadership Style
• Leadership Style: Ellen Kullman
• The Role of Leadership in Business and Its Advantages
• Aspects of Leadership Styles
• Transformational, Self-Leadership, Kyosei and Customer Relationship Leadership Styles
• Strategic Thinking and Leadership
• Charismatic vs. Inspirational Leadership
• Dr. Maya Angelou and Her Leadership Abilities
• Insomniac Games Inc.: Development of Leadership Strategy
• Critical Examination of Strategic Leadership
• Leadership and Its Approaches: Strengths and Weaknesses
• The Behavioral Approach of Studying Leadership
• Traits Theory in Leadership
• Leadership Styles: Nelson Mandela and Margaret Thatcher
• Organizational Leadership Socrates
• Business Ethics in Multinational Corporations
• Attitude Reflects Leadership: a Look at Leadership in your Professional Portfolio
• “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” by John Maxwell
• Scholarship, Practice and Leadership
• Costco Company’s Business Diversity, Ethics, Leadership
• Leadership Through Effective Communication
• Pros and Cons of the Four Major Styles of Leadership
• Chapter 6 of Northouse’s Leadership: Theory and Practice
• Servant Leadership at St. Jude Children’s Hospital
• A Leadership Development Plan’s Analysis
• The Role of Inclusive Leadership Strategy in Diverse Workplaces
• Transparency: The Role in Leadership
• International Leadership: Management Strategies
• Leadership in the “Saving Private Ryan” Film
• Constructive Criticism in Leadership
• The Role of Storytelling in Leadership
• Leadership Qualities in Nursing
• The Free-Rein Leadership Style
• The Volkswagen Group: Global Leadership and Management
• BM and Leadership: Delegation
• Leadership Skills and Leadership Development Plan
• Criminal Justice Leadership: Strategies and Practice
• Gates and Buffett: Global Leadership and Management
• Inter-Organizational Networks and Leadership
• The Leadership of Lubna Al Qasimi
• Barack Obama’s Leadership Skills
• Impact of Leadership Style on Employee Empowerment
• Sergey Brin: Leadership Process and Organizations in Context
• Consolidated Products Managers’ Leadership Styles
• Influence of Leadership Style on Employees Performance
• Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing
• Leadership of Climber Arlene Blum
• Leadership Values and Authenticity
• Comprehensive Leadership Approach
• Leadership Styles: Abraham Lincoln and Adolf Hitler
• Emergency Department: Leadership Strategy
• Tesla’s Strategic Plan for Leadership in Energy Sector
• Leadership Styles in the Middle Eastern Companies
• Strategic and Ethical Leadership Styles Comparison
• Adidas Company’ Leadership Issues
• Bill Gates’s Leadership and Success Factors
• Leadership in the Early Childhood Field
• Advantages and Limitations of Online Leadership
• Global Leadership Barriers and Overcoming Measures
• Classical Leadership Style and Aristotle’s Perspective
• Sheikh Zayed’s Authentic Leadership
• J. Carranza’s Leadership at United Parcel Service Company
• Thyressa Williams’ Leadership Interview
• Mandela’s Leadership: Long Walk to Freedom
• Poor Leadership as a Cause of Employee Turnover
• Global Leadership Development
• Strategic Leadership: Gap Inc.
• Leadership as One of the Important Factors in any Organization
• Strategic Thinking and Strategic Leadership
• Meliá Hotels International: The Leadership Model
• Relationship Between Personality and Leadership Style
• Leadership and Organisational Change in MCFC
• Kofi Annan Leadership Traits
• The Effect of Leadership in Project Management
• Reflection on Leadership and Sustainability: SKK Inc
• Performance Management: Key Strategies and Practical Guidelines
• Commander Abrashoff leadership Style
• The Benefits of Transformational Leadership
• Human Resource Management – Leadership Qualities
• Leadership and Management
• Educational Leadership in School
• Leadership in the 21st Century
• Jamie Oliver and Leadership in the Food Industry
• James Madison’s Leadership Qualities
• Contingency Theories of Leadership
• Introduction to the Four Functions of Management
• Leadership & Direction: Questions to Ask
• Leadership Models and Theories: Management Process in Organization
• GlaxoSmithKline’s Leadership Management Framework
• Is Ethical Behavior and Leadership a Challenge to Law Enforcement Officers?
• Management, Leadership and Communication
• The Failure of Leadership in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
• Leadership Traits and Characteristics
• Situational Leadership Theory & Path-Goal Leadership Theory
• Followership and Servant Leadership in the Military
• Leadership at Qatar National Bank
• Personal Vision Statement in Organizational Leadership
• Elizabeth Bloomer Ford’s Leadership Development
• Healthcare: Organizational Structures & Leadership
• Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Company’s Leadership Style
• Warren Buffett’s Leadership Style in Business
• School Leadership: Concepts and Evidence
• Leadership Legacy Issues
• Leadership is Action and Not Position
• Transformational Leadership at Virgin Group
• Leadership Styles in the UK, USA, and Japan
• Regional Strategies for Global Leadership
• Culture Effects on Leadership Styles and Behavior
• Leadership Ideals of Robert Nardelli Under Various Trait Theories
• Machiavelli and Othello’s Leadership Skills
• Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of leadership
• Ethical and Unethical Leadership in Healthcare
• Organizational Motivation and Leadership in Workplace
• The Status of Women in Leadership
• Leadership Commitment Statement on Prevention of Workplace Violence
• Personal Leadership Style Analysis
• Community Leadership in Personal Experience
• Bedside Shift Reporting: Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management
• Pacesetting as a Leadership Concept
• Leadership Styles: Democratic and Collective
• Leadership SMART Goal: Effective Communication
• Professional Development Plan: Developing Leadership
• Personal Experience of Ineffective Leadership
• Public Leadership and Its Qualities
• Future-Ready Leadership Strategies in the New Age
• Leadership on Boeing Analysis
• Leadership Themes and Recreation
• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: Leadership Analysis
• Organizational Structures and Leadership in Hospitals
• Relationship of Problem Solving to Leadership
• Positive Behaviour Leadership Model in Teaching
• Social Change and Servant Leadership Models
• Leadership: Johari Window and Transactional Analyses
• Team Leadership in “Apollo 13” by Ron Howard
• Transformational Leadership and Management Skills
• Autocratic, Democratic, Free-Rein, Coaching Leadership
• Jeff Bezos’s Leadership and the Amazon Revolution
• Leadership Models: Problem Solving Analysis
• George Washington: Servant Leadership and Communication
• Hovey and Beard Company: Leadership and Management
• Workplace Diversity and Challenges of Leadership
• International Business Machines: Leadership Development
• Organisational Performance and Leadership
• The Political Leadership Conception
• Thomas Hobbes and John Stuart Mill’ Views on Leadership
• Steve Jobs’ Leadership Style
• Leadership and Organisational Change
• Importance and Role of Leadership in Globalization
• Complexity Theory Models of Leadership with Other Models of Leadership
• The Concept of Leadership
• Success Factors and Leadership Strategies: Southwest Airlines and Emirates Airlines
• Instructional Leadership
• Quality Management Systems
• “Twin Cities” Strategic Management & Leadership
• Leadership and Management Definition
• The Importance of Leadership in Shaping the Direction an Organization
• The leadership of Amazon
• Leadership: Alan Keith
• The Impact of Leadership Styles on Organizational Effectiveness
• Effective Situational Leadership
• The Significance of Strong Leadership in Business Organization
• Theories of Situational and Participative Leadership
• Leadership: Role, Benefits, and Limitations
• Experience with Negative Leadership
• The Role of Civic Leadership
• Lesson Plan ‘The Concept of Leadership’
• The Chartered Management Institute Leadership and Management
• The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success
• Strategic Change Leadership in Management
• Transformational and Transactional Leadership
• Leadership Failure Caused by Followers
• Leadership Qualities as a Part of a Team
• Spiritual Leadership and Citizenship Behaviors
• A Lollipop Moment in Leadership
• The Main Characteristics of Servant Leadership
• Organizational Theory: Democratic Leadership
• Leadership Under Cultural Influences
• Leadership in Healthcare Management
• Adaptive Leadership as a Style and Model
• Leadership: Self-Evaluation and Comparison
• Bill Gates’ Positive Leadership Behavior
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Program
• Task Specialization and Directive Leadership in Beaufort County School District
• Mindful Leadership in Managing Critical Change
• Strategic Leadership at The New York Yankees Team
• Leadership, Family, and Community Collaboration Project
• The Crucial Role of Courageous Followers in Effective Leadership
• Leadership in Group Counselling
• Relation Between Leadership and Police Ethics
• Leadership in the Educational Sector
• How Nursing Professionals Can Benefit From Servant Leadership
• Leadership and Innovations: Article Review
• Applying Five Leadership Practices
• Transformational and Servant Leadership in Nursing
• Strategic Leadership in the United Arab Emirates
• Leadership: Theory and Practice
• The Plays “The Iliad,” “The Odyssey,” and “Agamemnon”: Understanding of Leadership
• Leadership Development Plan in Nursing
• Leadership: Character, Competencies, and Virtues
• Transformational Leadership Theory: Pros and Cons
• Nursing Practice: Leadership and Cooperation
• St James Settlement’s Leadership and Management
• Servant Leadership in Fannie Lou Hamer
• The Art of Communication as the Language of Leadership
• Organizational Leadership and Attitude-Behavior Theory
• Leadership and Ethical Requirements
• Measurement and Leadership Effectiveness in Business
• Leadership: Definition and Values
• Principles of Management and Leadership Positions
• Application of Irrefutable Laws of Leadership in the Military
• French and Raven’s Five Forms of Power: An Overview
• Leadership Style as an Important Element of the Nursing Practice
• Leadership Styles Across Generations Working in Wal-Mart Store
• Christ’s Approach to Leadership: Transformational Leadership Theory
• Morale and Leadership, Encouragement, Dedication, and Commitment Within a Band
• Elon Musk: Leadership, Financial Success, and the Future of Tesla
• Leadership in Turbulent Times: Key Takeaways
• Brand Leadership by Levi’s and Coca-Cola in Going Green
• Leadership Role of Creating Safe Nursing Environment
• Clinical Nurse Leadership Program
• Transformational Leadership at School Sites
• Fostering Effective Leadership and Collaboration in Human Services
• Behavioral and Situational Leadership: Pros and Cons
• Leadership Skills, Goals and Vision of Nurses
• Educational Theories and Leadership Studies
• Communication Style and Leadership
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and Its Leadership Culture
• Effective Leadership Analysis
• Transformational Leadership: Essential Strategies
• Servant Leadership Characteristic Evaluation: Conceptualization
• Maintaining a Leadership Position in a Company
• A District Director Nurse’s Leadership Roles
• Effective Leadership: Traits and Behaviors
• Assignment: Student Integrity and Nursing Leadership
• How Contemporary Leadership Styles Are Relevant in Today’s Military
• Diversity as One of the Principles for Sustainability Leadership
• Leadership in Nursing Practice
• Exploring Power Constructs in Leadership: A Self-Reflective Study
• Servant Leadership: The Key Aspects
• Leadership and Management: Reflection
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Leadership Reflection
• Leadership Foundations in Nursing Practice
• Presidential Leadership: Diplomatic History
• IoT and G.E.’s Leadership Position
• Principles of Leadership and Future of Terrorism
• Leadership at the Reuters Holdings PLC Company
• The Foundation of Army Leadership and Its Factors
• Leadership in a Multinational Organization
• The Ryno Firm’s Demands of Responsible Leadership
• Two Models of Political Leadership
• Change Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
• The Hempel Paints Firm’s Leadership for Strategic Execution
• Qatari German Medical Devices: Leadership for Strategic Execution
• The Home Depot’s Journey Towards Innovation and Effective Change Leadership
• Leadership Communication and Management
• Culture and Leadership in Health and Social Care
• Barack Obama’s Biography and Political Leadership
• Modern Leadership: Trends and Challenges
• Leadership Leverage at Gunderson Lutheran Health Facility
• Gender and Leadership in Healthcare Administration
• Leadership Theories and Styles
• Leadership Philosophy in Nursing
• The Personal Leadership Philosophy in Nursing
• Collaborative Leadership Model in Business
• Leadership: Summary of Media Interview
• Culture and Leadership in Organizations
• The Doctor of Nursing Practice Leadership Program
• Personal Leadership Philosophies
• Leadership Types in Telemedicine
• Connective Nursing Leadership
• Aspects of Collaborative Leadership
• Aspects of Collaborative Leadership Plan
• Machiavellian Leadership Style
• Organizational Change: The Effect of Transformational Leadership on Employees
• My Involvement as a Leader, Leadership Coach, and Development Instructor
• Transformational Leadership and Abusive Supervision
• Personal Leadership Philosophy in the Sports Industry
• The Role of Leadership in a Digitalized World
• The Importance of Leadership Training
• The Servant Leadership Concept
• Emotionally Intelligent Leadership
• Holistic View of the Management and Leadership
• Leadership Skills for the Negotiation Process
• Measuring the Quality of Government Leadership
• Collaboration and Leadership in Healthcare
• Kouzes and Posner Model of Nursing Leadership
• Leadership Formation in the Medical Field
• The Leadership and Funding Relationship
• Transformational Leadership in a Healthcare Team
• Abortion Backlash and Leadership Issues
• Strategic Crisis Leadership: South Korea’s Response to Covid-19
• Darwin E. Smith’s Level 5 Leadership Characteristics
• Change Leadership: Telehealth Technology at Orlando Health
• Leadership Style Personality Assessment
• The Basic Aspects of Leadership
• Leadership in a Digitized World
• Authentic Leadership in Healthcare
• Aspects of Leadership in Healthcare
• Behavioral Theories of Leadership
• Personal Leadership Style’s Improvement Areas
• Organizational Experiences Based on Leadership
• Leadership Analysis in Corporate Governance
• Aspects of the Sustainable Leadership Style
• Nursing Leadership in the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Martin Luther King’s Leadership Approach
• Self-Analysis on Democratic Leadership
• Leadership Ambiguity in Nursing Practice
• Importance of Leadership Skills for Employee
• Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Development
• Interpersonal Leadership Skills in Bank of America
• Developing Organizations and Leadership
• Leadership Approaches in Healthcare
• Behavioral and Trait Leadership Theories in Medical Educational Setting
• Nursing Informatics: Leadership and Administration
• Developing Leadership Skills in Nursing: A Proposal
• Women’s Leadership During a Crisis
• Situational Leadership Analysis
• Leadership for Happiness in Workplaces
• Leadership in Nursing: Organizational Servant Leadership
• Supportive Leadership During COVID-19
• The Type of Leadership Described by Daniel Goleman
• Transformational Leadership Benefits Innovation
• Transformational Leadership at the Walmart Organization
• Machiavelli’s The Prince and Cheney’s Leadership
• Exploring Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
• The Significance in Shaping Emerging Trends in Leadership
• Authentic Leadership Style in Business
• Leadership Experience Example: Leading a User Research Team
• Importance of Leadership Attributes for Healthcare
• Importance of Leadership in Healthcare and Nursing
• Servant Leadership Benefits in Nursing
• Leadership and Its Three Major Models
• Adaptive Leadership: The Main Aspects
• Boris Johnson: Influence Tactics and Leadership
• Discussion of Servant Leadership Behaviors
• Analysis of Poor Leadership Experience
• Enterprise Holdings at Leadership Styles
• The Value of Leadership Skills and Teamworking
• Personal Leadership Philosophy in Nursing
• Leadership Implementation Regarding Medication Incidents
• William White: Leadership Style
• Servant Leadership and Decision-Making in Nursing
• Leadership Behaviors, Passion, and Devotion
• Leadership Environment in Nursing
• Leadership in Lost TV Series
• Adaptive Leadership in Medical Practice
• Can a Dictator Who Developed an Economy Be Considered to Have Leadership?
• Does Leadership Affect Employee Commitment Management?
• Does Despotic Leadership Harm Employee Family Life?
• What Two Characteristics Best Describe Leadership?
• Are the Differences Between Management and Leadership?
• Does Leadership Style Impact on Projects Team Member Performance?
• Can Responsible Leadership Affect Work-Life Balance?
• Does Decentralized Leadership Influence the Performance?
• What Are the Key of Leadership Skills That Can Not Learn From?
• What Are the Critical Factors in Understanding the Nature and Dimensions of Leadership?
• How Does Leadership Emerge in a Group That Has No Common History?
• What Are Charismatic Leadership?
• How Bad Does Leadership Affect the Organization?
• How Are Culture and Leadership Linked?
• Does Cartel Leadership Facilitate Collusion?
• What Is the Role of Machiavellianism in the Relationship Between Authentic Leadership and Morality?
• Does Leadership Make a Difference?
• How Are Leadership and Management Similar?
• Are Leadership Fairness, Psychological Distress, and Role Stressors Interrelated?
• How Does Ethical Leadership Influence Employees?
• How Does Leadership Work in Different Gangs?
• Can Servant Leaders Fuel the Leadership Fire?
• Are Leadership Mentoring Programs Beneficial?
• Can Transactional Leadership Keep Your Team in Shape?
• How Does Authentic Leadership Influence Employee Proactivity?
• What Are the Differences Between Management and Leadership?
• What Leadership Behaviors and Management Systems Support?
• What Are Niccolo Machiavelli’s Ideas on Effective Leadership?
• Can Leadership Theory Improve Leadership Quality?
• What Is the Relationship Between Leadership Type and Organization Performance?
• Career Development Topics
• Conflict Resolution Essay Topics
• Management Skills Research Topics
• Communication Theories Paper Topics
• Management Styles Essay Titles
• Trait Theory Research Topics
• Work Environment Research Topics
• Work-Life Balance Essay Titles
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, November 9). 627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/

"627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 9 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples'. 9 November.

IvyPanda . 2023. "627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples." November 9, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples." November 9, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples." November 9, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/.

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, leadership college essay examples.

Hey there! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm starting to think about my college essays. I want to write about my leadership experiences but I need some inspiration. Does anyone have any examples of successful college essays that talk about leadership and can give me ideas on how to structure mine?

Hi! It's awesome that you're starting to think about your college essays early, and writing about leadership experiences can be a great topic. You can indeed find an example of a leadership essay, written in response to one of the UC system's Personal Insight Questions, on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/university-of-california-essay-examples. The post also contains analysis of what the writer did well, and any aspects that could have been made even better.

I can also give you some general examples of topics that can anchor a strong leadership essay. Remember, overall the key is to pick an experience that stands out and genuinely reflects who you are.

1. Leading a community project: You could write about a time when you took the initiative to create or lead a community project, such as organizing a neighborhood cleanup or starting a tutoring program for underprivileged kids. Focus on your motivation for starting the project, the challenges you faced along the way, and how you addressed those challenges. End by reflecting on the impact the project had on both you and the community.

2. Being a mentor or role model: Think about a time when you stepped up to mentor or support someone in need, whether a younger sibling, a teammate, or a neighborhood kid. Describe the relationship and why you decided to take on that responsibility. Explain the qualities that you demonstrated in your mentorship and how you helped the person grow or overcome challenges.

3. Overcoming adversity in a leadership role: If you've been in a situation where you faced a significant challenge as a leader (such as dealing with conflict within a club or managing a complicated project), you could share that experience. Detail the situation, the steps you took to address the problem, and the outcome. Reflect on the lessons you learned from grappling with that adversity and how the experience has shaped your approach to leadership.

4. An unconventional form of leadership: Don't limit yourself to structured roles or titles. Sometimes, leadership can be demonstrated in unexpected ways, such as by guiding your friends out of the woods after getting lost on a hike. Describe an example where you took charge or influenced others, even if you didn't have an official title, and how that experience has shaped your understanding of leadership.

Remember to keep the essay focused on a specific experience rather than covering multiple instances of leadership. Add personal reflections and insights to make your essay genuinely unique. It's essential to showcase your personality, beliefs, and growth as a leader.

Finally, if you want to be sure your leadership skills are being presented clearly, consider taking advantage of CollegeVine's Free Peer Essay Review Tool, or submitting your essay for a paid review by an expert college admissions advisor on CollegeVine's marketplace. Sometimes, a more objective look at your essay from someone who doesn't already know you can give you the best sense of how well you're communicating your points.

Good luck with your essay writing!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

Share Podcast

How to Make Your Leadership Potential More Visible

If you’re an aspiring leader trying to get to the next level, this episode is for you.

• Apple Podcasts

Do people see your leadership potential?

Suzanne Peterson says many talented professionals miss out on leadership roles for relatively intangible reasons. But she argues that aspiring leaders can learn to alter their everyday interactions in small ways to have a big influence on their professional reputation.

Peterson is an associate professor of leadership at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, and the coauthor of the HBR article “ How to Develop Your Leadership Style: Concrete Advice for a Squishy Challenge .”

In this episode, she explains how to adopt markers of different leadership styles, so that you can be seen as both influential and likable. She also discusses why it’s important to focus on relationship building as you progress in your career. As she says, “Mid-career and rising senior level, now it’s all about the relationships. It’s all about how you’re perceived.”

Key episode topics include: leadership, leadership development, managing yourself, power and influence, leadership style, reputation management, aspiring leaders, careers.

HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.

• Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: Defining and Adapting Your Leadership Style (2020)
• Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast .
• Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org .

HANNAH BATES: Welcome to HBR on Leadership , case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, hand-selected to help you unlock the best in those around you.

What’s your leadership vibe? Is it confident or compassionate? Aggressive or collaborative? Or maybe none of the above.

Suzanne Peterson says many talented professionals get held back from leadership roles for relatively intangible reasons – like their vibe. But she argues that aspiring leaders can learn to alter their everyday interactions in small ways that can have a big influence on their professional reputation.

Peterson is an associate professor of leadership at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to adopt markers of different leadership styles to be seen as influential or likable or both. You’ll also learn how to shift your thinking from a focus on competence alone, to building relationships that will help you move forward.

If you’re an aspiring leader trying to get to the next level, this episode is for you. It originally aired on HBR IdeaCast in November 2020. Here it is.

CURT NICKISCH:  Welcome to the HBR IdeaCast from Harvard Business Review.  I’m Curt Nickisch.

There’s a roadblock many people run into at work.  They get the feedback that they’re not ready for a promotion or a new project and when they ask why, no one puts a finger on it.  They’re missing a certain something – something intangible.  Which, to be honest, is not very helpful.  But it’s common that when it comes to leadership to identify leaders that it’s a bit squishy.  For too many superiors, leadership is a vibe that someone gives off and some people give it off more evidently than others.  And some people show it much better than others.  Our guest today has some advice for this situation: how to know your own leadership styles, how to understand how others see it, or don’t, and then how to change your behavior so that you can break through to the next level.

Suzanne Peterson is an associate professor of leadership at the Thunderbird School of Management at Arizona State University.  She’s also a partner at the consultancy CRA and she’s the coauthor with Robin Abramson and R.K. Stutman of the HBR article, “How to Develop Your Leadership Style: Concrete Advice for a Squishy Challenge.”  Suzanne, thanks for coming on the show.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Thanks so much for having me, Curt.  Happy to be here.

CURT NICKISCH:  Does that situation I just described sound familiar?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  It absolutely does.  And it’s, it truly is a squishy challenge and I have to tell you as much as this applies to people at work, what we find is this is relevant to anybody.  I mean whether you are trying to be more collaborative with a team, whether you want to impress that new father-in-law, whether you’re trying to influence your spouse, be more authoritative with your kids, be a trusted friend, hoping to impress team, you team at the University that you’re going to work with at a group, at an MBA class.  Style matters and it tends to be something that we find people are constantly trying to navigate, but it isn’t always at the level of awareness of what am I doing, or not doing that really makes a difference in how I’m perceived?

CURT NICKISCH:  It sounds like it’s not only your own awareness, but also the awareness of managers above you.  I mean, hey, I was thinking about, well let me just end it there.  It’s not only your own awareness, but also the awareness of managers above you as part of the problem.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  It absolutely is and all too often when we’re talking to managers of people we coach and we simply say, what’s the biggest challenge here?  Usually we’ll hear something like, you know they’re just not really ready yet to sit at the table.  They just don’t quite have the gravitas.  They’re not engaging enough.  They’re not charismatic enough.  They’re not dynamic.  Or, it can be another version of you know, they’re a little off putting.  They haven’t really figured out how to manage the relationships.  They’re not politically savvy.  There’s something that comes up, but when it comes to actually delivering say a performance review, they’re not very good at actually saying, let me tell you what it would look like for you to be more influential.  Or, for you to disagree a little differently than you do.  They simply give these large, general buckets that leave people feeling a little bit confused in terms of I understand what you mean, but I don’t know what to do on Monday.  And that’s a frustrating place to be.

CURT NICKISCH:  It made me think of, and this is a digression we may take out of the interview, but thinking about this made me think about how the U.S. Army develops leaders for instance.  And they actually turn leaders into leaders before they’re ready, not when they show something that they’re ready.  They will make somebody a Second Lieutenant and put them in charge of a squad and a platoon, and their job actually is to learn how to be a leader in that time.  It’s recognized that they’re going to fail at it for some time, but they’re not, they are really to lead the squad there.  They’re to learn to lead it and then lead to make Captain and be a Captain.  So, so when I thought about that I just thought it was, it’s interesting that it seems like people have to show their leaders before they’re given leadership authority or recognize this leader, leader’s.  And that isn’t always the way to develop people the best.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Boy, I think that’s right and it really hits on this idea that what happens to most, is early in our careers, and when everybody starts out, there’s a deep focus on competence.  You have to show you’re good at your job.  You’re a subject matter expertise.  You have the technical skill.  You have everything you need to really get to the next level to prove you, you can perform.  But then all of a sudden there’s a little bit of a plateau where just being good at your job doesn’t really get you into the ballpark anymore.  People say we expect you to be good at your job, but now we want these intangibles that we’re really never taught.  We were supposed to figure it out along the way.  So, it’s not surprising that early in our career we will focus more on am I really, do I have the merit to get to that next level?  But that mid-career and rising senior level, now it’s all about the relationships.  It’s all about how you’re perceived and really there was no real develop along those, the way for that like there is in the skill based areas.

CURT NICKISCH:  So, if your own manager can’t put a finger on it, and you can’t put a finger on it, and you’re in that place to be, how do you start working on it?  What can you do?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah, well this is really interesting.  And as we started this work, when my colleagues and I are not working on leadership style, we’re actually spending our time much more focused on leadership behavior.  This notion of —

CURT NICKISCH:  Sorry.  I’m going to stop.  I feel like I’m jumping to advice a little too quickly.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  OK.

CURT NICKISCH:  And maybe not.  Maybe we’ll get there, but, but so you’re in that position where your manager can’t put a finger on it and you don’t really have a lot of guidance and it’s not a fun place to be.  What’s happening there?  Like what, what is it that that manager can’t put a finger on, that you can’t figure out?  What’s going on there?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Well time and time again, when we talk to managers, they can, they are able to tell us a feeling.  They’re able to say, this person just doesn’t really have what it takes.  They seem tentative.  They seem unconfident.  They throw out these attributions again, but they’re never able to say what exactly is that person doing?  And then the real problem is people when they’re given this feedback of you need to be more confident, or you need to be more assertive, they take that as being personality.  And so it’s very difficult to say, you know, maybe I can’t change that.  Maybe I’m not confident.  Maybe I’m not assertive.  Maybe I am a little too direct.  Whatever feedback I’m getting, we read it as quite attributional and really what we like to say is, style and personality are not the same.  Personality is much more who you are, largely unchangeable.  It can be changed a little bit over time, the research has shown, but by and large it’s considered immutable.  And style on the other hand is not personality.  It’s a set of behaviors.  It’s a set of habits.  It’s what you do.  So, the quickest thing we come to when we talk to a manager, or somebody that we’re coaching, and we say you know, people really find you arrogant.  Well, frankly, we don’t care so much whether the person is or isn’t arrogant by personality.  Instead what we’re looking at is well, what is the behaviors that equal arrogance?  Because the truth is when you’re arrogant, typically you might interrupt.  You might hold the floor too long.  You might have nonverbal’s that very quickly are dismissive to other people.  And you might even have a tone that sounds quite off putting to some.  That’s what arrogance looks like behaviorally.  And we can change those things if we can bring it to awareness.

CURT NICKISCH:  So, when the manager say, you’re putting off these attributions and they say not confident.  What are those, what are those behaviors that they’re.  What are the behaviors that are leading to the manager or supervisor having that opinion or giving that attribution?  Like, what are they seeing?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah, what we found very quickly is that when we’re working with leaders, and my colleagues and I spent most of our time really looking at leadership behavior.  And leadership behavior, we’re looking at the behaviors of the world’s most admired leaders regardless of what area that is.  And really over 30 years ago we just started studying behavior, to identify the secrets of these world class leaders.  And after exhausted interviews with leaders, colleagues, family, friends, we did realize that outstanding leadership really doesn’t depend on what the leader knows or thinks, or believes, it’s really rather what they do.  But so what would happen is we would go in and we’d say OK, we’re studying the leadership behavior.  We’re looking at the behaviors of these admired leaders, but pretty quickly we’d find that even if they had the behaviors, sometimes something went a little bit off in the delivery.  And I’ll give an example.  Maybe we coach leaders to say, there’s a certain way that the best leaders and the admired leaders really are going to deliver feedback.  They deliver it forward instead of backward.  So, go do that.  Now that’s very behavioral and they’ll go try that.  And they might say OK, I did that, but it didn’t work.  Well we know this works.  We know certain behaviors are going to work, but maybe there’s a style component and the style looks like this.  You deliver the feedback in the way we told you, but you delivered it with hesitation.  You didn’t look them in the eye when you delivered it.  You did it over a crowed lunch where you couldn’t really hear very well.  So, maybe this feedback isn’t heard with the same gravity it would be if you spent the time being deeply present with someone.  Really allowing for 30 minutes of uninterrupted time and engaging in a much more listening and their perspective, as much as you were talking and giving that feedback, you were asking them questions.  Now, notice that’s not so much about the content of the behavior.  It’s not about did you deliver feedback like A, or B?  It’s the style of which you delivered it didn’t make it as effective.  So, that’s how we knew that there was something else here.  That it wasn’t just about a toolkit of behaviors, but it was also about the delivery of that leader on those behaviors.  And that really opened this area for us.

CURT NICKISCH:  So, what are some common, I don’t want to call them, I don’t want to call them mistake signals, but what are some common signals that people send out that, that lead to conclusion that there, they’re not leaders, or don’t have leadership potential?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah, the biggest ones usually we will hear when we get indicators is that people will fall into one of two buckets.  And we, we’ve labeled these based on our research and research that came years ago from Howard Giles who is a Sociolinguistics, who identified these social markers.  And what we’ve identified is that very quickly people fall into really one of two buckets.  They either are giving off what we call the power behaviors or they’re giving off what we call the attractive behaviors.  Now, neither one is good or bad.  We, in fact, I think what most people are surprised to hear is how easy it is, how we have both of these and how easy it is to move those.  And we could talk about that, but the idea is the power behaviors in the positive, is when you get these attributions of dynamic, charismatic, confident, commanding, an expert, articulate, easy to listen to, influential.  But on the downside that power style sometimes is intimidating, aggressive, off putting, cold, not relational.  And so we started to see that that was, sometimes when someone’s in a meeting they say, wow that person’s very abrasive.  What we’ll find is they’ll say, well I’m just direct.  But actually it’s really that they, not that they were direct or had a comment that disagreed, but they disagreed in a very disagreeable way.  They interrupted the person.  Maybe not once, but two or three times.  Two, they pretty much said, you’re wrong and I’m right.  That’s what made them abrasive.  Not the fact that they disagreed.  But on this whole other side of the spectrum, is this, these attractive markers as well, which those attributions are passive, quiet, differential, nice, easy to talk to, great mentor, great teammate, collaborator, all good stuff.  But on the downside sometimes it was, it was all the things around weak, too passive, too differential.  Not really a leader.  Doesn’t have gravitas.  Doesn’t get listened to.  Too detailed oriented.  Didn’t, not articulate enough.  Too many qualifiers in their statements.  Too many ums and ah’s when they speak.  And this hurt them a little bit.  So, we all have the ability to go one side or the other.  Just depends on when they’re used.

CURT NICKISCH:  I feel like that attractive name could be, could be better.  You’re not talking about physical attraction or attractiveness and it’s not emotional necessarily either.  It’s just that these, this attractive style is essentially more diplomatic and more, yeah more, more likeable probably.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah, in many ways that is, it is a proxy for likeability in some ways, but you’re so right.  We get this a lot Curt.  This, the attractive name, people don’t love, i.e. it comes from the theories so we wanted to stick true the theory.  Another word for it might be approachable.  That person is very, leans very approachable.  I feel like I can go toward them, engage with them.  I’m comfortable with them.  But it also might mean, but I got to be honest.  I don’t listen to them that much when they talk.  Whereas, this power style, I might find them a little off putting, or even intimidating or that there’s some distance or formality there.  But, I also might say wow, when that person speaks, I certainly listen.  Whether it’s in the negative, I have to listen and it’s hard to, or whether I listen and it’s engaging and charismatic.

CURT NICKISCH:  Do you feel like this, these models cover all types of leadership?  I just think about level five leaders, being people who are very approachable and very attractive in their style and not necessarily, they do not come across as powerful, as a powerful style, I think.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yes, and —

CURT NICKISCH:  And so, I just, I’m just curious if the leadership, gold standard we’re looking at is that, is that a bit of an archetype that’s always kind of been the White male in organizations?  Or, what are you thinking of here?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Well, I think certainly leadership is a normative construct and we very quickly, people still, when you ask about leadership they see a man.  And so, there is a level of something that’s expected that I think is still out there that people say, this is kind of what a leader looks like and how a leader behaves.  And yet, to your point, level five leaders, or all types of different leaders really don’t fit that profile.  And what we’re really looking for, we think the most effective leaders when it comes to style, and is really powerful once people really think about what this means for their own leadership, is we want them to be powerful enough to get listened to, but attractive enough to be followed.  Again, attractive meaning more approachable enough to be followed.  So, we all want to be powerful enough that we get respect and that people listen to us and our ideas have merit.  At the same time, we don’t want to go so far that people say, I hear you.  You’re really loud, but I don’t want to follow you.  So, we want to be warm enough that people say, you know what?  Not only do I listen to you, but I actually want to be around you.  I want to engage you.  I want to follow you.  If you’re a leader, I want to be loyal to you and committed to you.  And that is a difficult balance, but that’s why we think really, the best leaders seem to hit that just in the middle where you say, I really feel compelled to listen to this person, but I’m certainly, I’m rooting for them.  They’re not off putting at all.  I want to do things for them and with them.

CURT NICKISCH:  And where do people, most people who are at that juncture where they’re, where they become technically competent, or good at their jobs, and they are looking to advance and gain more leadership and influence in their organizations, where do their styles typically hold them back?  Is it when people tend to have a more attractive, approachable, likable style?  Or, is that just a nature of where they are in their careers and it’s difficult to get a more powerful style, or the other way around?  Like what’s the common pathway here?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah, I think it’s a great question and certainly context matters, culture matters, the industry matters in terms of what’s more perpetuated as a style that works.  What works in finance, the finance industry, might not work in the tech industry, or the fashion industry.  But to your point, what we find, if I can tell you which ones easier, we clearly find that it is a little bit easier to coach people to go from a powerful style to an attractive style.  So, easier to get somebody who might be a little too abrasive, too difficult to get along with, too dominate.  Whatever the attribution is.  Easier to give them tools to lean more attractive than it is to give people who naturally lean a little bit more attractive, to get them to move up to power.  Certainly not impossible.  We do it all the time with people.  But that’s a little harder.  But I think to answer your question more directly, probably when we see somebody get a little bit stuck in their career, it’s more often the lean attractive.  A little too attractive, I don’t feel like I get listened to, I don’t have the influence, I want to video call and I don’t feel like I can jump in.  I feel other people get listened to more than I do.  People don’t come to me.  They don’t include me.  I’m told to speak up.  I’m told to do more and I’m not sure how to do that.  And then they start to lose confidence which only puts them more in the attractive side and they don’t know how to use their strengths of being warm and engaging and relational without showing the other side of that coin, the downside of the attractive style, which is sometimes to be tuned out.  That’s probably more common.

CURT NICKISCH:  Yeah, and then the reaction for a lot of people was to try to take charge, or take ownership of a project and lead and they think that leadership is authority.  And they often, as they adopt kind of a more powerful stance, that often, they often get pushback for that.  That often does, you know, that often works against them.  Does that sound familiar to you?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah and it’s a classic over rotation style.  It’s very minor.  Tweaks can make big differences.  So, usually when we do, and we have so many clients that really want to listen and want to take the advice, and what they’ll do if we tell them, this is an example recently.  I’m working with someone who needs to lean a little bit more powerfully to get listened to.  So, and I go to him and I say here’s two or three things you can do.  Well, he instead of doing two or three things, does five or six of them.  So, now he’s starting the conversation.  He’s interrupting during the conversation.  He’s raising his hand on their video conference every five seconds.

CURT NICKISCH:  Sitting at the head of the table.  Yeah.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Making intense eye contact.  He’s standing instead of sitting.  He understood the behaviors and said I get it.  I need to make a few tweaks and changes, but we’re always backing off saying, you know what?  Not that much.  Really one or two would have been fine.  It’s just a slight flex.  We want you to flex your style.  We’re not trying to change anybody.  We need people to all be very authentic to who they are, but we all have range.  And as soon as we find somebody’s range and say we think your range from going powerful to attractive is about here.  Stay within your range and it’s all very authentic.  Trying to push someone out of their range, I worked with a woman who, she was from China.  She came over to the United States for a Board meeting, a global company obviously.  She came over here and the room was largely a bunch of high power marker people.  The CEO very quickly told her, afterwards, I need a bulldog, not a diplomat.  So, now we’re talking not only about who someone is authentically as a person.  We could have cultural differences here.  So, what would be the chances that I’m going to go to this woman, it would be really poor coaching for me to say listen.  You need to go in there.  You need to stand.  You need to use really intense body language.  You’re going to have to interrupt.  You’re going to have to tell people they’re wrong.  It would be poor coaching and it would never feel authentic to her.  But she had no problem when we said, when you’re able to be in the situation, let’s have you give the legal perspective first.  Also, please try to weigh in at least once or twice on other business cases so that you have an opinion on other functions in the business.  And, when you need to disagree, disagree.  But let’s have you disagree a little bit differently.  Let’s have you disagree in a way that’s more comfortable for you, rather than just plain saying, that’s ridiculous.  Which is what some of those counterparts were doing.  Then she felt very authentic doing that.  But any more than that would have been an authenticity violation for her.

CURT NICKISCH:  Yeah, I was going to say, this feels like for a lot of people, it feels like they’ve already set a precedent at their job, and they’re known in a certain way and that to change, or to really change some of these behaviors and try to adopt a different style or position can feel, might feel foreign at some point, right?  Or, inauthentic.  Like you’re not really being yourself, or at least the work self that you’ve created in the culture of your organization, and in your experience there.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yes, I think one of the things we tell people all the time, to convince them that they won’t have to make sweeping changes and this is very much within their own wheelhouse.  An example I like to use is how we’re all changing our style, all the time.  I mean the truth is if we just brought it to awareness, every situation you go into, if you’re strategic at all, without just being somebody, there are some people that just say it doesn’t matter who’s with me, what audience, I never behave even slightly differently.  Most of us understand that how you behave at a happy hour is a little different than a Board meeting.  That there’s a natural flex without becoming a different person.  But the example I like to use is, imagine you’re on an airplane.  Remember when we all use to do that a little more?  When we were on, you’d go on an airplane and let’s say you were trying to put your bag in the overhead compartment and it’s all full.  It’s full.  You were too late on the plane.  You don’t know where you’re going to put your bag.  You don’t really want to check it.  And you notice that the person sitting in the rows with you, they just put some things up like a really small purse or bag.  There’s, their food up there, their hat.  I always ask people, what would you do naturally?  Are you the type that’s going to move people’s stuff around and put your bag up there?  Are you going to ask people, would you mind putting that under the seat so I can put my bag up there?  Or, are you a person naturally who’s going to say, I’m just, I wouldn’t interrupt people and tell them to move their things.  I would never touch other people’s things.  I’ll ask the flight attendant to help, or I’ll just check my bag and deal with it.  No right or wrong here.  We have kind of a natural place.  But then I give people a couple ideas.  I say, well let’s assume that that person who’s stuff was in the overhead that had the food and the bag and the small hat, or whatever, was a 17 year old with headphones sitting there.  Would you be more apt to go to that 17 year old and say hey, excuse me, not that you’d be rude, but would you mind putting these few things under your seat so I can get my bag up there?  And most people, even if they originally said without context that I wouldn’t move people’s things, say, well maybe if it was a 17 year old, I would.  And then I say OK.  Well, what if instead it happened to be your CEO?  Are you going to, the person that said I would definitely move peoples bags around.  I’m not checking my bag.  If your CEO were sitting right there, are you still going to go to the CEO and say, hey do you mind moving your hat?  Most people will go, probably not.  If I’m going to sit next to my CEO on the ride, I probably don’t want the first conversation to be me moving his stuff around or her stuff around.  So, the point is people go you’re right.  I would probably change my behavior and it’s based on resources.  When we feel resourceful, we behave more powerfully.  Resourceful meaning I’m the most senior.  I’m older than this person.  I’m of the dominate, you know, I’m a White male perhaps.  I’m a subject matter expertise, expert in the room.

CURT NICKISCH:  I just accepted a job offer at another place and I’m leaving anyway.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yes.

CURT NICKISCH:  Yeah.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Right.  All those things that say I feel resourceful.  So, no problem acting a little more powerfully.  I’m going to disagree with that person.  I’m going to move that bag.  I’m going to jump in.  I’m going to interrupt.  I’m going to raise my hand.  But now, imagine in all the implications we have for diversity inclusion as well, now I’m in a situation where I don’t feel resourceful.  Because I’m brand new.  What about today?  I just joined this company in April.  I never even met my colleagues and now I’m supposed to be influential through video?  The idea of I’m the only woman.  I’m the youngest person here.  I’m a person of color.  Whatever it is for you, we all have different resources.  Why would you feel that confident?  So, in the plane example, what I, the biggest thing is yeah, well you have the resource in this case if you’re an adult over 17.  Let’s say you’re in your 30s, 40s, 50s, through 80s.  You may say with a 17 year old.  I have the resource of age, wisdom and experience and I’m going to politely ask this younger person to move.  My CEO, I might say, you know, I feel naturally a little deferential.  I don’t have to bow down to this person.  But maybe I would be more apt to just kind of check my bag.  So, we’re changing it all the time.  But we always tell people, now I want you to think more specifically in every situation you go into.  How do you want to be seen?  Because if you want to be seen as the subject matter expert, that commanding, the commanding person, the person who owns the show, who runs the show, who’s moving up in the ranks, maybe you do need to lean more powerfully.  But if you’re trying to be seen as a great listener, a great supporter, cheerleader, a great peer, an advisor, well maybe you need more attractive markers.  More of a listener.  And that can go for any situation.

CURT NICKISCH:  Well, let’s talk through those two styles and how to adopt them more.  And let’s start with an easier situation that you said.  That you’re seen as a more powerful person, or you have a more powerful style and you’re trying to adopt more attractive markers and send off these, more approachable signals.  What are some things you can do?  We mentioned a few, but what’s a classic example of somebody changing a behavior, sending a different signal so that they come across this less powerful?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  So, usually where we go to very quickly is there’s three different areas that we try and adjust people stylistically.  One, is nonverbal behavior.  Two, is verbal style.  And three would be contextual markers.  Like you mentioned one earlier.  Like sitting at the head of the table is a contextual marker.  That clearly sends a signal.  So, the, usually we know that verbal style is the hardest to change.  Not impossible once people get some practice.  But if someone qualifies statements a lot, or they use a lot of um, ah, hard to cut that out just overnight.  So, we’ll look maybe first for the contextual markers and then maybe for the nonverbal’s next.  So, if we were telling someone listen, we want you to be seen as a little more warm, a little more engaging, a little more approachable.  So, perhaps go into this meeting and start with, let’s have you ask questions.  Instead of make statements, why don’t you ask people where we want to start, or how can we make these changes?  Or, how can we better make these meetings more dynamic?  Start with some more inquiry, rather than just some statements.  Two, maybe in, if we were face to face, maybe you do sit in a different position.  Maybe you decide to dress down a little bit.  If you were a person that’s more formal in dress, and maybe you decide to dress a little bit differently.  Maybe you normally, you’re trying to go from you’re really powerful and typically you disagree with people by saying a very common statement.  I can see where, or that could work, but I see it you know.  This is how I would go about doing it.  Instead, maybe we have you disagree more agreeably, which is to say something like this.  I see where you’re coming from.  I think that makes perfect sense in, if we were in any other different context.  But I think given where we are today, we see it a little bit differently, and let me share that perspective with you.  Notice that’s a much softer way to say I’m about to tell you why I don’t agree with you, but I also validated your perspective.  So, there would be some things like that that we would very quickly go in, or eye contact.  We would say, often you’re not present and that’s a big power marker.  You’re consistently looking at your phone, looking off, not really looking at people.  You look distracted.  Give people deep present attention.  That’s a great attractive marker that says you’re listening.

CURT NICKISCH:  And then the, so that’s nonverbal.  You mentioned verbal and what was the third?  I’m trying to.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  The status markers or anymore what we would call contextual markers.

CURT NICKISCH:  Right.  Which we also talked about.  OK, got you.  All right so now let’s turn the tables so to speak.  If you are trying to adopt a more powerful style and you’re already known as somebody that people like, but you’re not necessarily seen as a, as an authority.  How can you start to adjust your style to be seen more as a leader that way?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Well one of the first things we would do, we’d go to the same markers and we’d watch what this person’s doing.  It would say, all right we noticed that you didn’t speak up once in the previous meeting.  You had trouble jumping in.  When you did get a chance to speak, you probably held the floor a little too long, gave too many details that weren’t relevant.  So, we’re analyzing that behavior a little first to see what are they actually doing that’s making people tune them out or not listen to them.  A big frustration with people is to say something and think they made a point, and then two minutes later have a peer make the same point and people say oh absolutely.  That makes perfect sense.  I think, but I just said that.  And the issue is usually because of the fact that how you said it just wasn’t compelling enough.  So, we will go in and say in order for you to lean a little bit more powerfully, let’s make sure you speak earlier in the conversation.  Let’s maybe tell, we’ll coach them to say, you don’t need to heard 10 times, you need to be heard once.  And maybe if you could just be heard once in the conversation that would be enough for you.  And secondly we might simply say, watch that you don’t, everything isn’t a question.  Do you think, you know, do you think we should do this?  One leader I’m coaching right now, what he says all the time is some version of sort of the situation looks like this.  I think sort of we could do that.  There’s something like that.  Now, it just becomes something that he’s saying regularly, but noticed how that’s very un-powerful language.  I think maybe we could do that.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  And people think well, I think maybe we could do that.  You don’t sound very confident, so why am I going to be confident?  So, we will usually look at it with the attractive style moving to powerful.  Some of it is you need to say things more directly, more succinctly and watch too much jargon, too much detail that gets you attributed as boring or we need to pull up the headlines.  And then sometimes it is their non-verbal style.  They lean forward so much.  They might use body language that says they, and eye contact is down.  That’s usually a big marker, at least in this, in the United States culture.  This isn’t necessarily how eye contact plays around the world.  But what we find is in U.S. culture, when your eye contact is down, that’s often read as I’m less confident.  And when you look someone in the eye, it’s more confident.  Now of course again, go over to Asia or other places where you would purposely look down to show appropriate deference.  So, the markers exist around all cultures of the world we found.  But hey obviously play a little differently based upon the cultural norms.

CURT NICKISCH:  Yeah.  And obviously your organization and the types of leaders that are already there and tend to be selected for that kind of, that can change a lot.  I suppose, I mean it sounds, it sounds like this is a process right?  It’s not really sort of changing your style overnight, but it’s trying some things on, seeing how they perform and really trying to work towards something rather than really just flip a switch, so to speak.  And that can maybe be frustrating because there’s a lot of uncertainty and you’re not really sure how well it’s working as you’re going along and you, another where you might have to, is that you might draw too much attention to the fact that you’re trying to, trying to change.  What advice do you have for people who want to set out on this process of adjusting their style so that they are seen more with that intangible quality that managers seem to be looking for?  What do you tell people about this journey?  What should they expect?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Usually what we tell people, first of all is make small changes.  So, don’t try and do too much.  Sometimes one, two of these markers as we look through the list, it’s even in the article, picking one or two things is plenty for you to start to change perceptions.  So, that we, it’s not as big of an area, it’s not as big as a shift as you might think.  And two, we tell people don’t get so wrapped up in how you feel.  Focus on more on the behavior.  Too much I think development and we would often say is about you have to feel confident and then you can go be confident.  And sometimes frankly, we’re going to go into situations and say, I do not feel confident.  But the question is, I really don’t want people to know that, so what can I do that shows confidence that has me behave more confidently?  So, we often will tell people, you might not feel confident, but we can help you posture more confidently.  You might not feel that agreeable, but we can help you behave more collaboratively.  And the idea is those emotions catch up with the behavior.  We don’t want people to operate in a place where they’re always feeling out of sync with their behavior, but you do sometimes.  When I give a presentation for example, there’s no way 100 percent of the time you’re going to feel confident.  But if I walk out there looking down, my shoulders down, I can’t look at the audience, I start out and say, so glad to be here, but I, and thank you, and I sound tentative.  I’ve already maybe lost that audience.  So, if I think let’s see, I need to go out there.  I need really good posture.  I need to look the audience in the eye.  It doesn’t mean it’s always easy, but I go out there and I need a strong, two minute start where I’m able to say, here’s three or four things I’m going to talk to you about today that are going to fundamentally change your leadership for example.  Now, I have the audience’s attention.  Which then begins to give me some confidence for example.  And now I say, actually I’m OK.  But if I go out there already not posturing confidence, it’s like blood in the water.  The audience smells it right away and not that we’re all giving large speaking engagements.  I mean again, this could be your father-in-law that you’re meeting for the first time and you’re nervous about it and you want to seem confident, or you want to seem really engaging.  So, it doesn’t really matter the situation.  Gosh, any of us that are parents out there, or anybody who is, we do this with our kids.  Sometimes we can’t be the authoritarian and the authoritative style every time.  Eventually it’s like yeah, you’re a dictator.  But we also can’t, we feel we can’t be open and diplomatic and whatever you want, be your best friend, but sometimes saying, gosh, my child’s going through something tough.  How do I want to be perceived today?  I want to be perceived as a great listener.  And the next day, I need to be perceived as the authority that’s going to say that behaviors not OK.  So, it changes if you flex it.  If not, we get attributions as parents too.  You’re this.  And people that flex more, don’t get those same attributions.  They’re more strategic with their style.

CURT NICKISCH:  And is that something you think people should strive for to try to not say develop a persona, but have one that’s more flexible to adapt to the situations so that it’s not, yeah, so that you’re always thinking and working and adjusting it all the time based on where you are and what situation you’re in.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Absolutely.  We tell people all the time, behavior number one, and question number one, you’re about to go into a situation.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s with a spouse or partner, a child, your boss, a Board room, ask yourself, how do I believe I need to be seen today, in this moment?  It might be different 20 minutes later.  But in this moment, if you’re, if your initial instinct is I need to be seen as warm, as a great listener, well then think about what markers that would bring up for you.  How many people say this?  I’m sure you’ve seen this before too, Curt.  Somebody says, really I’m just a listener in this conversation.  Funny how they talk the whole time.  Right?  So, that behavior has to line up.  If you go in and say I really want to be a listener.  I don’t need to be a talker.  I need to be, I don’t need to be heard.  I want to listen today.  Then you’re nonverbal should be nodding.  You should be recognizing.  You should be letting people know you’re on the same page.  You hear them.  But that doesn’t mean in the next meeting you don’t say, you know what?  I need to be seen as somebody who’s not going to back down because this is important.  So, I am going to talk first and I am going to talk more than I’m going to ask questions, and I am going to use strong statements.  So, now notice it’s hard to get labeled if you’re one way in one meeting and another in another meeting.  And the question is again, don’t go too far outside your range, or people will label you as you’re different in every meeting, if you go too strong, but most of us have that sense.  I mean in what I do, I can go up and lean powerfully in a speech, but then coach somebody one on one and be a listener the whole time.  But obviously I can’t just be the listener in a speaking engagement.  So, it’s still all me.  I don’t ever feel inauthentic.  But I choose markers.  And that’s the thing.  All of us that do this work, I mean we have to practice it every day ourselves.  It’s all types of leadership discipline.  Discipline, habits, routines and really wanting to make changes more so than it’s just who you are, or a trait, or a characteristic, or something to aspire to.

CURT NICKISCH:  Yeah.  There’s some deliberation there.  What about for women, or people of color, how do they need to think about this differently?  The research on the double bind for women for instance is where they clear right?  They have to show warmth and competence so it feels like flex.  The flex you’re talking about is already built into that that double bind that they have.  But yeah, what do they, how does this thinking change if you’re, if you’re approaching this problem as a woman, or as a person of color?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah, it’s a big issue, one we get asked a lot.  First of all style does apply to everybody.  In many cases, I mean we work with just as many men on their style as women, or people of color.  But make no mistake, it can be a little tougher in those areas.  Because of the fact that if we just take women for example, there is a natural tradeoff.  The research is clear that the more successful that women become, their likeability factor often goes down.  Somehow we aren’t rooting for the successful woman.  The comments are, ugh, who does she think she is?  Oh, she’s so, right?  Or, gosh she’s abrasive.  She’s difficult.  I wouldn’t want to be with her in the meeting.  And there’s a level of it, it’s harder for women in many cases to shoot to that right, that middle ground.  So, we don’t shy away from it.  We’re not going to fix all biases and problems, but we are telling women to be careful a little bit more so, just so they can still be absolutely who they are, but we want them to bring their strength as a leader, not have it be framed as ugh, you know that woman leader.  We want it to just be as a leader.  So, what we might say is absolutely.  You need to disagree.  You need to be able to negotiate hard for your promotions or your compensation.  We would never tell them to stand down, but we might say, even more important that you disagree a certain way.  Even more important that you really show and engage in the warmth side of things so that when you go powerful you show balance.  Or, if it’s the opposite side, you’re very warm, you’re very engaging, people love being around you, but interesting how you’re never invited to those two and three person meetings on the management team.  They tend to happen without you.  How do you step into that without calling them out and be considered abrasive?  But how do you naturally make sure you’re not excluded?  So, we will say the problem’s the same for everybody, but certainly it’s highlighted a little bit more when women or people of color don’t tend to display the same traits.  Or, really my favorite one and this one most of us can related to.  Its how a woman will be labeled emotional.  Like you’re a little emotional.  That person’s emotional.  She’s drama.  But the man is just intense.  He’s intense, he’s dedicated, he’s passionate.  It’s really the same behavior read a little differently perhaps because of gender and that’s usually the thing to overcome is to say, hey, I don’t know if we can fix that today, but what we can fix is let’s don’t have you be read as emotional, but let’s have you get your point across and let’s help you do that.

CURT NICKISCH:  How does the pandemic, how does the pandemic change all of this?  I just think about so many people now working from home.  So, they’re connecting with their managers over video conference.  They’re not in those same meetings and can’t see whether people are getting bored, or rolling their eyes or whatever, when they talk.  It’s just harder to pick up on clues maybe.  I just wonder, is it more, yeah, how has it changed in this situation where so many people are working from home and trying to change their style or to be seen as a leader over video conference?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Right and it’s true.  Probably the biggest inquiries we’re getting right now around style would be this combination of what does it look like to, what does your style look like virtually?  Does it translate virtually?  Does this idea of how do you lean powerfully in a virtual environment?  How do you lean more attractive in a virtual environment?  And even going down to we have lots of inquiries around business development in general because that really plays on the idea of how are we building relationships?  People who naturally could maybe get away frankly without being as relational or attractive because what you can do is, yeah you can pay for a nice dinner, you can go out and that kind of masks some of the real relationship skill.  Now, they’re left saying I can’t really do those things, so now I really do have to be warm and engaging when that was just before I didn’t really, I could kind of fake that a little bit, by just having a nice dinner to go around it.  So, now we do get a lot of this and for sure those styles still plays virtually.  I’ll give you just some examples.  A couple clients in different cases and I’m not being prescriptive with this.  Nothings right or wrong about these.  They’re just markers that come out because gosh, we all know that during this pandemic we all have real lives that are living in the background, literally in the background.  Dogs and kids and all sorts of things.  But by the, you know, style still it does show up and it can contaminate certain situations, if you’re trying to achieve a certain look and feel through video.  A woman I was talking to, she in the background happened to have, which was probably one of her children’s, but it was a cereal bowl, but the angle of her camera, it was like Fruit Loops or something like that that was just sitting there with a spoon in there.  And the whole time I’m listening to her and she’s brilliant and all I can look at is the cereal bowl.  So, again —

CURT NICKISCH:  That’s like a newscaster, when they have a crooked tie, you kind of lose track of what the news is.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah.  You just can’t help it.  And so, clearly she probably didn’t mean for that one, but a couple of things that are, you know, we pay attention to is we’re now looking at your life.  And so, by the way, sometimes what you want is to say listen, I’m this powerful and strong leader and sometimes you don’t see me that warm and engaging.  And I’m OK that my dog’s going to sit on my lap for a second and there’s a cereal bowl and my kids artwork on the background.  Maybe that’s exactly what you need to draw people in.  Those attractive markers will actually be the thing that draws your team to you like never before.  But there’s other people who already have that type of followership and those relationships that actually need to use this time to show a little bit more formality.  And we don’t want so much formality that your background is so plain it looks like where are you?  You’re very sterile.  Maybe that’s in too formal.  It really depends, right.  Again, everybody’s situations different.  But we’ll talk to people about a couple key markers.  You know energy matters.  So, a power marker is how much energy can you project through that video?  It’s harder.  You actually have to take it up 20 percent to come through normal.  So, energy, people that just speak too long on a video.  I mean now, we already have an attention span issue and now you’re taking up a video over talking.  That would be an attractive marker gone wrong, you know, bad lighting, looking in the wrong place in the camera.  Some of these rules we’re all getting better at because we all start, we’re all on a learning curve around this.  But these are some of the things we look at.  One of my clients has like six Red Bulls lined up in the background.  And I couldn’t, I couldn’t decide if this was good to show he was energetic, or if was oh gosh, please drink some water.  I didn’t know what I wanted to say to him, but I know it’s a distractor.  And people that aren’t paying attention on their video calls because other things are popping up.  But these are all style pieces and there’s a level of normality, but there is still, when you go and get on video, and you say, how do I want to show up?  Gosh, am I trying to be deeply accessible and warm and hey, life’s a mess today?  Well then go for it.  Or, are you actually trying to say, listen, I made this meeting very important.  I dressed for the occasion.  I made sure the background and the lighting was right because I’m projecting something else.  I can give you on example too which was a good one because sometimes it can go the opposite.  I, with one of my clients, I had back to back meetings.  One was a presentation on video and I was dressed more formally because it was a large scale presentation.  Well, right when —

CURT NICKISCH:  So, much of this seems to be about perception, right and we can often err in our own perception of how we’re coming across.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah, we want to tell people also, whether it’s your manager or a peer, maybe let people know what you’re striving for.  Listen, I am trying not to be so dominate in the conversation.  I’m trying to create space for other people.  I have some things I’m going to try today.  Will you let me know how I do?  Because then you’re actually really, you’re trying, you know someone’s going to come to you that you trust and say, I think you still interrupted 14 times.  You need to cut that back.  And that’s absolutely, I mean that’s what we’ll do even with each other.  We’ll watch each other a lot and it’s clear if someone dominates and it’s also clear to say you weren’t heard at all and that’s the third time.  What’s going on?  Are you not feeling a certain way, or do you just need to use some markers to make you step up a little bit?

CURT NICKISCH:  Yeah.  It really does sound like a process where you have to experiment, try, get good feedback, right?  And act on the results.

CURT NICKISCH:  I was just curious, what’s one of your favorite success stories about this?  What can people look forward to?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Well, I think obviously when it comes to the work environment, one of the best success stories for us really is when people, they try a couple things, they’re really disciplined in what they try and they come back and they say, it was, it felt very different for me.  I was amazed at how people really looked at me when I was speaking and my ideas.  And what they say is all I did was, you know, I wore a brighter color.  Again, this isn’t about dress, but that might have been their one choice that time.  I wore a brighter color, which seemed to maybe drew more attention to me.  Two, I managed to step in and I disagreed once with a comment, rather than just waiting until after the meeting.  But I did so diplomatically.  And maybe three, all I did was sit next to somebody in the room that was maybe a little more influential.  I used to just sit with my peers, but I sat up a level which probably gave me some cache.  That’s all I did, but I thought I got listened to.  So, we love those stories and we certainly love it when people come back and say, I for so long, I’ve been told I wasn’t quite ready to get promoted, and now I got promoted and I don’t feel like I did that much differently.  Because again, they already had the competence.  It was really just the style.

CURT NICKISCH:  Suzanne, who out there is somebody that a lot of people will know who you feel like really bridges this likeable, attractive and powerful divide, you know, in really deft ways and people are, people feel like yeah.  And you think is successful at, at showing leadership in a, that’s a little clunky.  Suzanne, who out there is somebody that maybe a lot of listeners would have heard about or know that you think really bridges this divide between likeability, attractiveness and a powerful style really well?

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Yeah, we do get asked this question a lot.  People want examples and I think a couple come to mind that immediately make, that people can relate to.  I’ll use one for the athletic realm and one from maybe the military realm.  I think, Roger Federer, the famous tennis player. Not only are many people a fan of him because of his play, but clearly here you have someone who is deeply competent, very confident.  He’s formal in many ways, how he dresses.  His record is quite dominate.  He has an intensity when he plays.  He’s prepared.  He’s disciplined.  All these seem to be power markers.  But on the other hand, so engaging when he’s interviewed.  So, humble.  Deeply appreciative, likeable.  He seems to be very honest with his feelings when he’s lost and how it’s hurtful.  So, he tends to be, he’s quite popular with so many.  And I think it’s this combination of great at his job, but also people are really drawn to him.  And many of his opponents don’t necessarily have that feeling.  So, he’s one example that comes to mind.  The other might be a Colin Powell who seemed to always walk that line as well of clearly general, right and so command and deeply articulate and also formal, measured, decisive would be descriptions.  But known as a great listener.  Huge, you know, very measured in his decision making as well.  Let others weigh in, in the right situations.  Tended to be liked on both sides of the political spectrum and could reach across all these, all these divides.  People also had similar feelings, generalizing of course, but by and large have similar feelings of gosh, powerful enough to get listened to.  Attractive enough to bet followed.  And so those are two.

CURT NICKISCH:  Well, Suzanne, thanks so much for coming on the show to talk about your research and to help people with this.

SUZANNE PETERSON:  Thank you so much for having me.  It was a pleasure.

HANNAH BATES: That was Suzanne Peterson – in conversation with Curt Nickisch on the HBR IdeaCast . She’s an associate professor of leadership at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.

We’ll be back next Wednesday with another hand-picked conversation about leadership from Harvard Business Review. If you found this episode helpful, share it with your friends and colleagues, and follow our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re there, be sure to leave us a review.

When you’re ready for more podcasts, articles, case studies, books, and videos with the world’s top business and management experts, you’ll find it all at HBR.org.

This episode was produced by Mary Dooe, Anne Saini, and me, Hannah Bates. Ian Fox is our editor. Music by Coma Media. Special thanks to Rob Eckhardt, Adam Buchholz, Maureen Hoch, Erica Truxler, Ramsey Khabbaz, Nicole Smith, Anne Bartholomew, and you – our listener.

See you next week.

• Subscribe On:

Latest in this series

This article is about leadership.

• Leadership development
• Managing yourself
• Power and influence

Partner Center