Most great leaders began in the capacity of followers. They became great leaders because they were intelligent followers. With a few exceptions, a man who cannot follow a leader intelligently, cannot become an efficient leader. The man who can follow a leader most efficiently, is usually the man who develops into leadership most rapidly. An intelligent follower has many advantages, among them the opportunity to acquire knowledge from his leader.
The following are important factors of leadership :
1. Unwavering courage
2. Self-control.
3. A keen sense of justice.
4. Definitions of Decision.
5. Definiteness of plans.
6. The habit of doing more than paid for.
7. A pleasing personality.
8. Sympathy and understanding.
9. Mastery of detail.
10. Willingness to assume full responsibility.
11. Co-operation.
The efficient leader leads by encouraging and not by trying to fear in the hearts of his followers. An efficient leader may, through his knowledge of his job and the magnetism of his personality greatly increase the efficiency of others and induce them to render more service and better service than they could render without his aid. The man who makes tese the basis of his leadership will find abundant opportunity to lead in any walk of life. The successful leader must understand and apply the principle of co-operative effort and be able to induce his followers to do the same. The successful leader must be willing to assure responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his followers. Successful leadership calls for mastery of the details of the leader’s position. The successful leader must be in sympathy with his followers. Moreover, he must understand them and their problems. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect a leader who does not grade high on all of the factors of a pleasing personality. One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of the leader, to do more than he requires of his followers. The successful leader must plan his work, and work his plan. A leader who moves by guesswork, without practical, definite plans is comparable to a ship without a rudder. Sooner or later he will land on the rocks. The man who wavers in his decisions shows that he is not sure of himself, cannot lead others successfully. Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his followers. The man who cannot control himself can never control others. Self-control sets a mighty example for one’s followers, which the more intelligent will emulate. based upon knowledge of self, and of one’s occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader very long.