Dear Mr. Hussain,
Excellent queries. Perhaps you might have read ARTICLES, BLOGS, BOOKS, watch VIDEOS/MOVIES to understand the LEADERSHIP and its associated TRAITS.
WHO IS A LEADER?
To start with, lets focus on the word LEADER. The basic meaning available in the google and various dictionaries says
1. One that LEAD or guides.
2. One who goes first and LEADS by example, so that others are MOTIVATED to FOLLOW HIM. This is a basic requirement. To be a leader,
3. One who is in charge or in command of others.
Example.
A) One who heads a political party or organization.
B) One who has influence or power, especially of a political nature.
- Henceforth, LEADER is a "UNIQUE PERSONALITY" and "RARE BREED" and does unique things which we don't find in common man.
- LEADERS are Creative, Smart, Directive, Participative, Open/Broad Minded and lot more, they can take any amount of risk to achieve their goals.
- At at times, they don't even care to put their lives at STAKE.
Do all Leaders need followers ?
As i said earlier, LEADERS are either BORN or CREATED or SELF MADE. All those who are CREATED and SELF-MADE, they definitely follow a GOOD LEADER as him MENTOR or COACH or GURU. Though he may not reveal much about his GURU/LEADER but he knows that, he learned much from his LEADER/GURU directly or indirectly.
BORN LEADERS are inherited personalities. LEADERSHIP is in their BLOOD. They do learn various things as they grow.
Can Managers be called leaders ?
MANAGER is a DESIGNATION that comes with certain RESPONSIBILITIES. Also they are given AUTHORITY as they need to manage various things. It is mandatory for one to have basic experience before taking up MANAGERIAL POSITION.
LEADERSHIP is a TRAIT, PERSONALITY. Not every MANAGER can be called as LEADER unless he embraces the QUALITIES OF A LEADER. In the sense,
a) Did he succeed in making his team members FOLLOW him?
b) Did he succeed in getting things done through his team members without commanding them to do anything? LANGUAGE OF REQUEST works much better.
c) Did he succeed in winning their hearts?
d) Did he succeed in understanding MENTALITY of their TEAM MEMBERS?
e) Did he succeed in nurturing his TEAM MEMBERS to develop adequate skills/talents/competencies
f) Did he succeed in UNLEASING his TEAM MEMBERS HIDDEN TALENT and promoting their TALENTS for various factors?
There is lot more i can write but this is just to explain and differentiate between MANAGER and LEADER
No wonder we can call MANAGERS as LEADERS only if they possess LEADERSHIP SKILLS. A Manager can seek feedback from his TEAM MEMBERS to rate him and declare whether he is GOOD LEADER or just a MANAGER.
Is being "A Leader" an achievment or way of life?
This is purely associated with the kind of environment we are living in. Also proportional to the fact whether we are a "BORN OR CREATED OR SELF MADE LEADERS".
We find LEADERS everywhere, it is not mandatory that, they should be educated one.
"It becomes an ACHIEVEMENT followed by WAY OF LIFE" or it can even be considered as "WAY OF LIFE where we had achieved by the virtue of our SKILLS/TALENTS/TRAITS(LEADERSHIP)"
Are Leaders one level above than followers?
Definitely LEADERS are ONE LEVEL above FOLLOWERS. Followers learn manythings practically from their LEADERS. They implement practically in their LIFE and one fine day, based on their ability, courage, facts, they start demonstrating their LEADERSHIP SKILLS, thus its an ACHIEVEMENT as they had transformed into a LEADER. This is also known TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
Also make note of a point.....There may be a group of people who trust a personality and supports the same individual to become a LEADER. There are various reasons supporting him to qualify to become a LEADER. This is an example for "CREATED LEADERS"
Why do people take pride in being called "A Leader" rather than being a follower?
1) I am sorry, i don't promote this factor. I don't think so, its a healthy sign for a LEADER to take pride in calling himself as LEADER. Yes, its a EGO FACTOR being SUPERIOR/LEADER and LOT MORE. I would prefer if he can challenge to demonstrate his LEADERSHIP rather being proud of what he is. Infact his FOLLOWERS should be PROUD OF WHAT HE IS.
2) ACHIEVEMENTS OF LEADER should never be associated with PRIDE/PROUD FACTORS. It can be celebrated positively.
3) Whether we are a LEADER or FOLLOWER, why should we consider PRIDE/PROUD FACTORS?
4) EXPERIENCE plays a VITAL ROLE in becoming a MATURED LEADER. A GOOD/TRUE/MATURED/EXPERIENCED LEADER will never take UNDUE-ADVANTAGE of situations/circumstances unless it is deemed necessary again based on SITUATION/CIRCUMSTANCES for getting certain things done POSITIVELY without causing any harm to any individual.
I hope i had clarified your queries. I had just shared my knowledge and i am not BORN GENIUS. If you have any queries left behind, please do feel free to ask.
With profound regards