Martin Luther King: The Qualities Of An Effective Leader

Whenever asked what they value in a leader, people generally respond with something along the lines of courage, confidence, and coolness. However, most prodigious leaders might have these traits, but it is only displayed in bursts. A person cannot be courageous, confident, and cool all the time. It would become exhausting, not to mention monotonous. For example, Abraham Lincoln did not have the deep, bassy voice of a leader that we usually depict him as. Instead, he spoke in a higher pitch, similar to that of a tenor, and held a thick Southern drawl. That’s not an exceptionally “cool” trait, but that didn’t stop him from being a leader or from us viewing him as a leader. Martin Luther King Jr. attempted to commit suicide at the age of 12

Rather, they have to know how to speak to various groups of people in equally varying setting. This communication skill goes hand-in-hand with being empathetic as each trait benefits off of the other. A person who is empathetic is generally better at communicating with others as they understand facial, vocal, and body cues along with the overall mood of whoever they’re communicating with. Lastly is self-understanding which is perhaps the most underrated leadership quality there is. Self-understanding means exactly what it says. To truly be a leader, one has to understand themselves before going out in front of others, projecting an idea, and leading a change. A leader knows where they stand within their core. They have the drive innately built within them. They understand that drive and utilize it to spark change, whether it be in the world or just within their community. In the words of Sheri L. Dew, “True leaders understand that leadership is not about them, but about those they serve. It is not about exalting themselves, but about lifting others up.” This understanding could only come from the internal realization that they are not the center of their cause, but that the people they are working with