By Ian McDermott Click here for details of 'The Art of Influential Leadership' training If you were to ask the average man or woman in the street what makes a good leader, the majority, I think, would put forward qualities such as strength, determination, courage and, for many, ruthlessness. If you were to ask how many people demonstrate such qualities, our fictitious survey group might cite Napoleon, Wellington, Margaret Thatcher and some leaders of industry such as Richard Branson.
Leadership is perceived as being in short supply.
We are, so many believe, crying out for leadership. But while the word 'leader' usually conjures up the picture of someone like JFK, we are all leaders at certain times - and not just in special circumstances. A parent needs to lead his or her children. A partner within a relationship will, if the relationship is to be balanced and work, have times of being the leader and other times of being led. Even though leadership may not be a full time occupation, we will all have moments when others look to us for direction, guidance and support.