Determination is Key to Successful Leaders

The key to successful leadership is determination. Without determination, nothing will come to fruition. The plans, ideas and goals will be stagnant without the perseverance to make them come to life. Often times, traits such as determination is what separates effective leaders from those that are ineffective (Northoue, 2016, p.21). To be an effective leader with unbounded determination, characteristics of determination such as drive, persistence, initiative, and dominance must evidently be seen and applied (Northouse, 2016, p.24).

The drive and persistence to get things done especially when others give up displays a person’s determination (Northouse, 2016, p.24). An example of determination that is close to my heart is shown by my uncle. From a small food stall to setting up one-hundred twenty food stalls today. This of course did not happen overnight. It took several years of trial and error, hardly any profit, and a growing family to support. It was not easy. When they were finally on the verge to give-up and close it down to focus their efforts on building something else, he resolved that his current business is all he knew and from there, he pushed boundaries to not only make ends meet but he found a solution to make it grow. From only working with his wife, to then employing his family members, and now he employs over 1,000 workers who look up to him as their leader. He made quality food that was affordable and strategically put stalls in target market areas. His idea and strategy was good, but what made him an effective leader and a successful business owner, was his determination. He showed that effective leaders push boundaries when they are faced with obstacles and they have the capacity to persevere through them (Northouse, 2016, p.24).  After the big leap of one food stall to one-hundred and twenty small food stalls, he did not stop there, rather persevered today and added twenty more high-end restaurants. The success of his goals was because of his vigor and persistence in pursuit of them (Northouse, 2016, p. 21).

People with determination show initiative by being proactive (Northouse, 2016, p. 24). They are willing to do what is necessary and beyond even without being told to do so. It is this characteristic of determination that set the standard for my uncles’ employees. He would often go around his restaurants to check the standard and quality of the food, the place and whether the employees are doing a good job. During one of his visits to his restaurant, he found a napkin lying on the floor. Instead of asking one of his employees to pick it up and clean it for him, he took a dustpan and broom and did it himself. For a man who employs thousands of people, his employees were shocked and commented on how much he cared and was willing to do things himself even if it wasn’t part of his job description. I believe that having initiative simply shows that you care enough to do something and be proactive about it.

Determination includes displaying dominance especially when followers need to be directed (Northouse, 2016, p. 21). As a leader, it is important to mobilize the people you lead to achieve your shared goals. There may be instances where  followers may not completely agree with the decision or direction that you are taking them towards. In this case, it is important that a leader asserts himself and demonstrates the determination to maintain the momentum towards the goal. Many times followers only know a piece of the puzzle, whereas leaders envision how the picture in the entire puzzle will look like and therefore must be determined to create that picture even when the people around them don’t necessarily agree. For example, when many of my uncle’s relatives were telling him to close the small food stall down and discontinue it, he asserted himself and maintained the momentum toward the goal.

It is the leaders who are determined that will be effective. Becoming a successful leader is like running a race. A lot of people can start the race, but not all will last. When it comes to determination, it is not a matter of who is running next to you, rather, it is based upon whether you are able to keep running despite the obstacles that come your way.

Determination is a key trait to becoming a successful leader. If you give up, so will everyone around you. To be a successful leader, you must be willing to keep going when others are tempted to throw in the towel. To become a successful leader, the characteristics of a person must include initiative, persistence, dominance and drive (Northouse, 2016, p.24). These characteristics help shape and mold an effective leader.

Reference:

Northouse, P. (2016). Leadership Theory and Practice (7th ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.