History is a record of great men, and some few women, who accomplished great things. Essentially, it is a ledger of the exploits of humanities greatest leaders. Some of these leaders were considered so great that they even have the adjective added to their monikers (Alexander the Great, Catherine the Great, etc.). Considering our fascination with these figures who have accomplished great things, it is only logical that we would attempt to breakdown those factors that enabled them to become the great leaders they are known and remembered as. Thus, one of the first frameworks for the study of leadership was born, the great man theory (PSU WC L2, 2019). For me, one of the best examples of effective leadership through key underlying traits is not of someone great, nor a man, nor even an adult, but a humble, adolescent from Afghanistan who has become the face of girl’s right to education, Malala Yousafazai.
Malala Yousafazai has become a globally renowned activist who campaigns for girl’s rights to education in Pakistan and around the world, despite numerous death threats and an almost fatal assassination attempt by the Taliban when she was 15 (Kettler, 2016). Yousafazai began her activism by secretly blogging for the BBC and choosing to attend school in Taliban-controlled territory, an act of defiance and protest in and of itself. In 2015, she founded a school for girls in Syria (Kettler, 2016). For this work and her determination to see girls around the world be granted the right to attend school, Malala has won numerous awards and recognitions, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015, becoming the youngest recipient to be granted the award (Kettler, 2016). Due to her young age, one can surmise that much of her success in becoming an influential leader is due in large part to her personal characteristics, namely her intelligence, determination/perseverance, and self-confidence, all of which are amongst the characteristics identified as major leadership traits (Northouse, 2016).
According to Northouse (2016), intelligence is a trait that is positively correlated with effective leadership as it facilitates abilities needed to communicate, solve complex problems, and display correct social judgment. Yousafzai has demonstrated her intelligence in her language and communication skills from a very young age; even blogging for the BBC when she was only 12 years old (Kettler, 2016). She has since gone on to speak on education for women and girls in such forums as before the United Nations (Kettler, 2016). In my opinion, her maturity and level of eloquence at such a young age is inspiring to others and allows her to be taken seriously by adults who might otherwise overlook her.
Determination is another necessary trait for many leaders, especially those who are attempting to create revolutionary changes. This trait includes the drive and desire to accomplish a goal and remain persistent in the achievement of the goal (Northouse, 2016). Few “great men” can attest to maintaining their determination for a cause to the point of taking a bullet in the face; however, 15-year-old Malala did not let this intimidate her. Having survived a gunshot wound to the head (Kettler, 2016), to then continue to actively campaign for the right to education is an extreme example of determination. Even when the simple act of attending school could provoke the ire and retaliation of the Taliban, Yousafzai continued to stand for what she believed and did not give up.
Although leaders often display intelligence and determination in how they communicate and execute their goals, a key trait that is displayed by effective leaders is self-confidence. Without self-confidence, a leader will have difficulty inspiring followership. Self-confidence allows leaders to effectively influence others through the belief that they are doing the right thing and can accomplish their goals without second-guessing themselves (Northouse, 2016). In this sense, Yousafzai has displayed an admirable amount of self-confidence. The ability to stand before hundreds, or even thousands of people, as a teenager, to defend what you believe in requires tremendous amounts of confidence. Yousafzai has absolutely no doubt that her cause is just and right, and therefore has been able to doggedly face every challenge thrown her way. Many grown adults would not dare defy the Taliban, yet a young girl was able to do just that due to her self-assurance.
In conclusion, great leaders may not necessarily be great men, but may also be great young women who display personal traits that are consistent with those necessary to be an effective leader. In Malala’s case, undoubtedly her traits have transformed her from a young girl who just wanted to be able to go to school into an international leader in advancing education rights for girls and influencing public policy on international levels.
References
Kettler, S. (2016, November 22). Malala Yousafzai. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/malala-yousafzai-21362253#after-the-attack
Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: theory and practice (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2019). PSYCH 485 Lesson 2: Trait approach. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2008237/modules/items/27074604