Leadership..

[tony]

What does it take to be an effective leader? Are people born with it? I've been a mod for a few months and although I haven't posted much lately I still watch a lot of what has gone on here with the new moderators and how people react to authority.

I will be honest, I wanted to become a moderator because although it is just a forum.. never had I been put in a position of authority where I had to deal with conflict resolution. I wanted to know what that was like regardless of the venue. I actually learned a bit when it comes to the notion of knowing you have the power to shut someone up but not abusing it because they have not broken the rules while offending you. Racial comments are my peeve and there are many times I wanted to ban people (and sometimes I will if its bad enough) but I had to learn there is a line between enforcing rules and abusing power.

So, back to my original question. Since being in the military in a short time I've seen leadership and the lack thereof. I think for some its a natural progression, they're born with it. While others learn through trial and error BUT it is the ability to be humbled and the response to those harsh lessons that separates the great leaders from the mediocre. Humbled being the fact that although you have authority over someone, you are not better than them, and I think that is where a lot of "leaders" fail.

I have other stuff I will add but I'll wait and see if this becomes a dead topic or if people actually give their opinion.

[Scotsman]

i think that most leaders are born with it , i mean if you break it down , everyone in the world is either a leader or a follower

[tony]

i think that most leaders are born with it , i mean if you break it down , everyone in the world is either a leader or a follower

So you're saying there are people out there that will never be leaders?

[punkr6]

So you're saying there are people out there that will never be leaders?

Absolutly...

[quickdodge®]

Being a leader of a message board is no comparison to being a leader in the real world. Not on any level. It doesn't matter if it's a mature people's board or a board such as this where the folks aren't always so adult-like. It's way too easy to "lead" over the Internet where you and your minions can say whatever you want (pretty much) without fear of revocation. Half the people you moderate on here you'll never meet and they know that. That's why you get resistance, along with how you approach the other. You tell me to shut the fuck up and I can easily tell you to fuck yourself. It's just a message board...ban me, what do I care. You know.

In the real world, where you actually interact with people, it's vastly different. People aren't as quick to snap off in the face of another. It's human nature to be kind and respectable in the presence of another because, more than likely, you're trying to obtain something. In the real world, people have to respond to authority mostly because it's their livelihood at stake. Their job. Their place in life.

So you're saying there are people out there that will never be leaders?

There are probably hundreds of thousands of people that will never be leaders. Homebodies, loners and the like that do nothing to succeed in life. The folks that just get up, go to work and come home. Everyone has the opportunity to be a leader in some facet of life. Most won't take that, though. Other people that likely will not be a leader are people with low self-esteem or easily embarrassed. You can't try to become a leader if your easily embarrassed because every leader fails at some point. Failure leads to embarrassment.

Now there ways of becoming a leader indirectly as well. Take myself and the guys at Garage Zero. Ever since I got my CVCC, there has been quite the interest in that car. Then when I and Dave got the OSJC meets going, interest has been on the rise. Now I get PMs every week from folks wanting knowledge on old school Japanese cars or locations of these cars that may be for sale. I didn't get my CVCC to impress folks. I got it for me and it took off from there.

Hopefully, I'm not leaving anyone in a state of confusion. Kind of thinking and typing fast. Later, QD.

[BobbyFresco]

I have always been one to follow my own way. My father bred me to be a leader, a free thinker, and to challenge convention at every turn. In pretty much every facet of my life, I have been a leader in some capacity or another....I'm not one to sit around and wait for instructions because truth be told, I'd rather be the one setting the tone....This is a major reason why sometime in the future, I want to be working for myself and not someone else. As far as in regards to my short time having been a moderator, thus far, I feel like I have done my best to be a leader and showing the way by example.

[tony]

Being a leader of a message board is no comparison to being a leader in the real world.

In the real world, where you actually interact with people, it's vastly different. People aren't as quick to snap off in the face of another. It's human nature to be kind and respectable in the presence of another because, more than likely, you're trying to obtain something.

Had to look up the definition of leadership; (2): a person who has commanding authority or influence.

You don't think people here have that? Influence over others decisions or what they think? Look at any thread that Pablo starts, people flock to it and respond.. same with select others here. Some members inspire others, directly and indirectly good and bad so that would seem like some kind of leadership goes on in this forum.

[quickdodge®]

Had to look up the definition of leadership; (2): a person who has commanding authority or influence.

Hmmm. I didn't have to look it up at all. Later, QD.

[ironchef]

Had to look up the definition of leadership; (2): a person who has commanding authority or influence.

You don't think people here have that? Influence over others decisions or what they think? Look at any thread that Pablo starts, people flock to it and respond.. same with select others here. Some members inspire others, directly and indirectly good and bad so that would seem like some kind of leadership goes on in this forum.

Thats one thing, but if Pablo was to say lets go jump off a bridge, how many would follow. Like QD said, online its easy, in real life, not so much.

[tony]

Thats one thing, but if Pablo was to say lets go jump off a bridge, how many would follow. Like QD said, online its easy, in real life, not so much.

I guarantee a few if he made a convincing argument.

[ironchef]

I guarantee a few if he made a convincing argument.

That would be pretty sad on those peoples parts.