According to Northouse (2013) “the traits approach was one of the first systematic attempts to study leadership”(p.19). Among the major leadership traits is intelligence, self-confidence, determination, integrity, and sociability (p.23). In this blog I will talk about one of the most important US public leaders of the 21st century, Condoleeza Rice whom I believe portrays self-confidence as a leader. Self –confidence according to Northouse “is the ability to be certain about one’s competencies and skills”(p.24)
Born in segregated Birmingham, Alabama in 1954 she grew up surrounded by racism but went on to become the first woman and first African-American to serve as provost of Stanford University. This is a sign of self-confidence in her abilities despite the obstacles and discrimination of racism. She believed in herself and saw limitless opportunities and went for them. Rice’s self-esteem and self-assurance played an important role as a leader who interacted with other leaders in the many national and international policies she carried out as a national security adviser in President George W. Bush’s administration then as a US Secretary of State. She was a first in many roles in her career either as a first black woman or a first woman.
Even though some of the foreign policies in her era such as the US going to the Iraq war were criticized, her confidence in her competencies and skills to get the job done and her professionalism to admit to mistakes is clearly seen when she answers tough questions during interviews. She tells AbC’’s George Stephanopoulos in his question if “there were mistakes in the execution of the war in Iraq” that she felt “we could have done better”.
The Washington Post called her 2012 Republican National convention speech “statesmanlike, stirring and secure.” While others in her party were bashing president Obama and democrats she delivered a “serious speech about big things” twitted former Reagan speechwriter David Gergen. This is a trait of a leader who feels “assured that her attempts to influence others are appropriate” as described in the text (p.24).
References:
http://www.biography.com/people/condoleezza-rice-9456857?page=1
http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/414635-ricespeech.html#document/p2
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/full-transcript-george-stephanopoulos-and-condoleezza-rice/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-leadership/post/why-condoleezza-rices-convention-speech-stood-out-transcript-and-analysis/2012/08/30/97e18764-f2ab-11e1-892d-bc92fee603a7_blog.html