Michelle Obama Leadership Model

The qualities that have made Michelle Obama unique are her strong personality, compassion, and her serenity. Michelle is not like many others. Her achievements go beyond just being the president’s wife. She works for the social issues that require her concern. The first lady of America doesn’t shy away from raising her voice for a cause. Even though Michelle is at the top of the world she doesn’t let the success and popularity get to her head. She thinks before speaking and maintains her composure at all

This semester, we learned specific ways to build our leadership capabilities by reading “How Remarkable Women Lead” by Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston, researching Boston women leaders, interviewing a present day woman leader, and reading a group book. Throughout all of these resources and research, common themes of how to be a successful leader emerged. Not only did I learn more about leadership in general, but I also found ways to improve my own leadership without going too much out of my comfort zone. The important lessons of leading with perseverance, framing, and an activist's mindset thoroughly influenced my identity as a leader and gave me new tactics to grow as a person.

Our world is filled with many successful leaders. The gift of being a leader can be learned; however some individuals have a natural born talent to be a leader. Each leader has his or her own unique leadership style. The gift of being a leader can be learned. Certain individuals are born with a charismatic style and can easily be a leader. A successful leader is one who can inspire and motivate people towards a goal. Martin Luther King Jr. was an individual with a born gift to lead people. The following paper will discuss how Martin Luther King Jr. was able to inspire and motivate people with his effective leadership style.

In order for an organization or movement to have success, it is extremely important that their leaders are effective. Every leader does not possess the same qualities and skills as the next leader, but that doesn't make them less effective. Each leader may also have a different leadership style than the next person. This paper will define a leader as well as servant leadership and transformational leadership styles. Finally, Eleanor Roosevelt's leadership style will be determined to be either servant leadership, transformational leadership, or both.

Throughout recent history, the definition of leadership has been the subject of a vast number books, articles, and essays. Countless authors have attempted define the ability to lead in a tangible way. They have scrutinized on how one becomes a leader and how one successfully leads. Because the ability to lead is so ambiguous and no one can follow a definable set of steps to become a leader, many authors have use examples of leaders to illustrate their views on the subject. And even in the limited scope of time that is the history of the United States, dozens of men and women have lead Americans through their words, beliefs, and actions. Whether they are appointed leaders such as President George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, or leaders of worthwhile cause such as Susan B. Anthony or Martin Luther King Jr., these leaders provide a blueprint that if examined carefully, can provide useful advice for those aspiring to become great leaders. And for Donald T. Phillips, the American leader whose life “still inspires and moves people from all walks of life” and provides an example of leadership that is without equal is Abraham Lincoln (Phillips). In his book Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times Phillips provides 15 overarching leadership qualities that Lincoln followed all throughout his life. By describing how Lincoln exhibited each of these qualities thoroughly, Phillips then relates how potential leaders today can duplicate those same qualities in their

Being a leader is not considered a job or position. Becoming a leader is not a talent, job or position. Although, leadership can be rewarding and difficult at the same time. In today’s society, “the kind of leadership necessary to move social movements forward is very different from the type of leadership required in a military setting, especially on the battlefield. A more sharpened focus on leadership processes versus individual leader traits and behaviors deepens our understanding of the complexities and interactive nature of leadership” (Komives, Lucas and McMahon 2013, 46). My goal is to understand how to face the complexities in life as a leader to communities, universities, organizations, the workplace and the world. As a leader,

She worked to advance what she called "group-centered" leadership long before a belief in the importance of internal and participatory democracy within our progressive organizations was widely shared. She was a coalition-builder. Principles were essential, but she was rarely if ever tactically rigid. She understood that the way individuals lived their personal lives could not be divorced from their political activities.

Clinton, J Robert. The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership

In the Leadership Challenge, 4th edition, it is Kouzes & Posner (2007) intention to present a road map for individuals to follow on their leadership journey. The authors stress that “leadership is not a gene and it’s not an inheritance.” Leadership they assert is “an identifiable set of skills and abilities that are available to all of us” (p. 23). They make clear that the “great person” theory of leadership is “plain wrong.” Leaders are our everyday heroes who do extraordinary things on a regular basis (p. 23).

Leaders have been around since the beginning of history in which their decisions and actions molded today’s society. From George Washington’s command to victory during the revolutionary war to the triumph of Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent equal rights movement, there have been leadership qualities that have been evident throughout history. Society depends on the abilities of leaders in order to progress in the right direction and finish a specific task. There are many forms of leaders in which different skills are required. Each person has a different view of what a leader and leadership is, however, everyone is influenced by the leader they choose. An efficient leader is someone others turn to for guidance, direction, and inspiration in order to complete a goal. One who possesses leadership qualities is able to influence and persuade individuals in order to attain a desired end. Everyone has the power to be a leader and make a difference in their community. The leaders on Long Island are an important aspect of society because they influence the futures of teens and help them to discover their abilities.

Being the oldest of six children to a single mother has naturally spurred me to shape and build my leadership skills. Over time, I have gained the ability to lead in situations that I deemed necessary. Consequently, I have become an active member of both the National Honor Society and the Female African American Scholars organization (a group geared toward creating a motivational community among the academically successful African American students in my school). Additionally, I have become captain of John Glenn’s varsity tennis team and I have launched a nonprofit business to guide teen mothers through the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. All of my obtained leadership skills have proven useful to me on many occasions.

While lots of theories of leadership have been projected, characteristics of leaders have been endless over a period and around the world. Leaders are individuals with vision and he/her view the future different from the commonly accepted view. A leader can influence change and communicate his/her vision to other staff and gain the support, and acceptance in order to implementing the vision. Leaders have established values which offer a basis for vision and passion to attain individual and organizational goals. Influence is vital to attaining change and to be grounded based on knowledge through formal schooling and proficiency (Yphantides, Escoboza, & Macchione, 2015). The influential leader how is a pioneer in her field is Rebecca Onie who is instrumental in creating a company for communities in poverty and have become an advocate for these individuals to be heard and acknowledge by society (Michaels, 2011).

When reflecting throughout America’s history, two people in particular exemplified the essence of true leadership traits, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. While others displayed a vast variety of traits, Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Nelson Mandela displayed traits of leadership that stood the test of time, and while today, their traits still influence, as well as affect people in today’s society. Throughout his time as political activist, as well as South Africa’s first African President, Nelson Mandela’s

Political leaders are everywhere, but there are few “true leader.” Barack Hussein Obama has numerous qualifications that make an outstanding leader. I selected this type of leader because he has the “Traits Associated with Leadership.” Obama is a leader with ambitious and determination. For instance, in the article, Barack Obama Biography.com, stated, “On November 6, 2012, Obama won a second four-year term as president by receiving nearly five million more votes than Romney and capturing more than 60 percent of the Electoral College.” This quote signifies that Obama is ambitious and has a strong influence on the American people that helped him to become president of the United States. Overall, Obama won two terms, and he was the first president Afro-American in the United States.

For decade’s individuals, companies, and organizations have spent an unprecedented amount of money on researching, molding, modeling and working to define what a leader is and what characteristics make successful leaders. Despite all the research, there is not a quick answer or even full agreement as to what makes an individual an effective leader. The definition of a leader is “someone who can influence others and who has managerial authority.” (Robbins, Decenzo, Coulter, 2015. P.370)