What Makes a Great Leader?

Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones wrote an article, “Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?” that was published in the Harvard Business Review in the September-October 2000 that described four qualities that not all leaders were aware of. According to Goffee and Jones, effective leaders should incorporate these four qualities in order to lead effectively. “Leaders should selectively show their weaknesses, rely heavily on intuition to gauge the appropriate timing and course of their actions, manage employees with tough empathy and reveal their differences” (Goffee & Jones 2000). Goffee and Jones have spent over twenty-five years doing research on effective leaders and their styles. Goffee and Jones have researched many effective company leaders over many years and many companies and believe they have found the best ways for leaders to be effective. All four qualities that Goffee and Jones list are important in leadership and I agree with the qualities, however I disagree with some of the supporting data given as to why the quality is needed.

The first quality is revealing your weakness. Per Goffee and Jones, “exposing a weakness to your employees helps to establish a trust and thus makes them want to get on board and it allows for solidarity between leaders and followers” (Goffee & Jones 2000). I agree with showing followers a weakness. I believe effective leaders who show weaknesses and promote their human side will be effective leaders. Followers who know that their leaders are willing to listen to their concerns and can relate to the situation are more apt to want to show their support to that leader. I disagree with the concept that Goffee and Jones discuss about “exposing a weakness offers a leader protection, being as observers may invent one” (Goffee & Jones 2000). I realize rumors start and make their way around places of business, however I do not agree that this should be a reason to show a weakness or that one is human. I also disagree that if you do not show a...