LEADERSHIP

What is leadership? A simple definition is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of
people to act towards achieving a common goal. In a business setting, this can mean directing
workers and colleagues with a strategy to meet the company's needs.

This leadership definition captures the essentials of being able to inspire others and being
prepared to do so. Effective leadership is based upon ideas (whether original or borrowed), but
won't happen unless those ideas can be communicated to others in a way that engages them
enough to act as the leader wants them to act.

Put even more simply, the leader is the inspiration and director of the action. He or she is the
person in the group that possesses the combination of personality and leadership skills that
makes others want to follow his or her direction.

“LEADERS ARE BORN NOT MADE”

A paper was published elaborates and critically discusses the different leadership approaches
and theories. It critically analyzes the statement that "leaders are born not made" in the light of
the views of different authors on various theories. In the early twenty century, it was considered
that the leaders are born and cannot be made. It was assumed that there must be three
qualities in every leader and on the basis of these qualities the leaders can be judged.
Personality, physicality and mentality were the elements that were found mandatory to be a
leader. It was also thought that the organizations having an ability to recognize great leaders
would touch the pinnacle of success (Horner 1997). According to this view, the leaders are born
and these qualities cannot be developed. Without the natural capabilities and abilities no one
could become a leader. These leadership qualities are the gift of nature that can be given to
any one regardless of sex, nationality and origin. Horner suggests that a number of researches
have been carried out to distinguish the qualities of a leader but so far no great output has been
achieved. The author says that there may be several situational and environmental factors that
add up to a leader's effectiveness (1997). According to a famous Michigan and Ohio State
leadership study in the context of an organization, consideration and initiation as two most
important factors. The same was proved with the research carried out at other several colleges
and universities. In the presence of this research, it can be said that leadership qualities are not
necessarily inborn but it can also be grown in the employees (Horner 1997). Leadership is
something keenly related to the behaviors that can be taught to the employees. The employees
are not necessarily born with leadership qualities but these are the qualities that can rise up in
the employees. If the employees are motivated and trained in the manner there is no reason
why the maximum output is not achieved and they will surely be proved themselves as the great
prospective leaders. Some researchers have moved forward with their research to discover
what leadership behaviors are and how the behaviors of leader can be distinguished from their
subordinates. In the light of those behaviors the art of leadership could be taught. Such
researches focus on both people oriented and task oriented actions of behavior. (Horner 1997).
This behavior can be learned instead of considering that these are inborn factors. There are
several leadership theories that elaborate leadership behaviors, traits and qualities. These
theories explain the different aspect of leadership and qualities of a good leader or weather
these can only be the inborn qualities or they can be taught as well. The first theory is the great
man theory that says that the "leaders are born and not made". According to the theory, the
great leadership abilities are inherited and cannot be taught to anyone. Further only the great
man can lead and the subordinates are made to obey these great men (Roberts 1994). The
great leaders show up when there is a great need of them. The main idea of the Great man
theory was the recognition of the great people as natural born leaders. The theory further says
that the history has been formed by great leaders.

Islamic perspective on leadership:

Leadership is needed in a society and country. A society without leaders would lose its direction
and purpose. Islam has laid down the basic principles of leadership and the Prophet (PBUH) and
the Khulafa' al- Rashidin have proven their superiority and excellence through success in world
history. Not everyone is qualified to lead because it is a trust answerable to Allah (SWT). Thus,
there are several conditions to qualify for leadership, such as being free of physical handicap so
as to be fit for active service and possession of knowledge in order to administer properly with
fairness and justice because it is the key to peace and harmony in society. Our religion verifies
that “LEADERS ARE BORN’.

The notion that leadership skills were inherited through genes or something that is from family or
legacy seem to be mixed with the environmental influence that certain great families or
legacies have on certain leaders that are born in that family or environment. Such leaders that
happen to grow up and develop in this environment also go through the iteration of developing
the fundamental characteristics that makes them become great leaders. However because of
the environmental influence and family or community precedence such leaders are acclaimed
to be born rather than made.

Characteristics of a leader:
The Great Leaders seize the defining moment to emerge .At one point of life they make a
decision that changes everything, and how they become an individual to great a great leader.
They survive hardship to rival themselves, they endure failure before rising up. They are leaders
because they have a vision. They cope with changes and set directions to align people and
motivate them, they are persistent and self-confident. They focus on solution not on problems.

For enhancing your capabilities, your inner spark, you must follow there in order to become a
true leader. We all have the potential to become a leaders by making a choice. Find something
you are passionate about. Take a stand and believe in it, Dedicate yourself, Be authentic and
true to yourself, Be ready to fail and fail again, Know your strength and weakness to accept
them, Have those basic rights and let the process of transformation happens and create a path
for their followers to be leaders.
TECHNOLOGY: DOES IT BRING US CLOSER?

For the most part, the answer to this question is simple and obvious. Technology does bring you
closer to family, friends and acquaintances as it easily puts us in touch with those we have not
communicated with in a long time. For those who live thousands of miles apart from one
another, technology has made it easy for people to communicate with ease. The list goes on
and on. However, for every good, there is a bad. For every ying, there is a yang.

With the oversaturation of communication apps and websites, it’s clear that social media
platforms and technology show no signs of slacking in 2017. However, many people worry that
as people become more attached to the screen on their phone, they become less concerned
with the world six inches past their face. If you’ve come to this blog to find a clear and decisive
answer about whether or not technology has brought us closer, or driven us further apart, then
you’ll be disappointed by the time you finish this blog.

As creative mavens, ad-specialists, admen and adwomen, and Glintsters, we pride ourselves on
being up-to-date on the latest technologies and media platforms. We believe that social media
and technology has both brought us together and pushed us apart. Social media has made it
easy for two or more people to communicate with each other with the push of a button. Using
Skype has brought people closer together when they can’t always physically see each other.
Facebook,
Twitter and other instant messaging platforms have made it possible for people to be in instant
contact with each anywhere in the world and at any particular time. Social media has opened
doors and opportunities never imagined before. We’ve come a long way from when a
teenager’s worst nightmare was to get a Facebook friend request from a parent. For Gen-X
parents, having a strong social media presence is as important as having an email address. One
of the greatest family benefits of social media is that it has brought back ‘family board game
night,’ well, at least the 2017 version of it. When children move out of the house, whether it’s for
college or one of those steps in adulthood, bonding traditions like board-night, unfortunately,
have become a thing of the past. Scrabble and Yahtzee found a quick solution by creating a
mobile-friendly version that have allowed families to play on their smartphones. Digital versions of
famous family night board games have adapted to the modern, on-the-go lifestyle. Today,
some would argue that social media has become our greatest ally, and others would say it has
become the bane of human existence.

Some would argue that social media has adverse effects on people as it limits the ability of
people from having a face-to-face conversation – more specifically, Millennials and
Centennials. Go outside for a walk you’re bound to see a group of individuals with each other,
yet not with each other at all. What do we mean by this? These groups of friends are all in the
same location, but they are social checked out as they are too worried about what Jake, or
Betty is tweeting. The worst is that there are so many people that cannot go a single day without
checking their phones. At Glint, we’re no different. We have team members, like the one writing
this blog that is likely to have a panic attack if his phone is out of sight. It can even become
more concerning when you’re at home checking in on people that live far away while
forgetting about the ones that you live with.

There is no clear-cut answer on if technology brings people together or creates a bigger gap
between people. The real answer is dependent on one factor – you. How you use technology
will determine its effects on you and the people in your lives. When used correctly, it will bring
you closer to people like you never imagined. However, fall too deep into the rabbit hole, and
there may be no way to climb back out.