Enlisting Leaders by Functions and/or Qualities?

I discovered the book, Becoming A Community of Salt and Light, by Peggy Prevoznik Heins (Ava Maria Press, Notre Dame, Indiana) while I was researching our (Galindo and Canaday) soon-to-be-published book, Organizing for Christian Education Formation: A Faith Community Approach. The author makes the point that leadership is an issue of skill development, and that leaders not only need to be able to address the functions they are called to, but must possess certain leadership qualities. She calls attention to eleven leadership qualities in a chart in her book. These eleven qualities are listed with slight modification below.

1. Risk-Taker: If you have come to terms with your own death then you can take risks. This coming to terms is done by dealing with the death of someone close to you or with mini-deaths, disappointments, and grief experiences. These experiences make some people stronger while others collapse. Being in touch with your death can change your action. You don’t have to be liked because you have nothing to lose.
2. Healthy Anger: The root of anger is angr which means grief, or loss. Thus anger stems from loss of what was (memory) or what could be (vision). A leader is in touch with his or her anger, reflects on it, works with it, and channels it to positive ends.
3. Possesses a Sense of Humor: An effective leader has the ability to maintain perspective, to sit back, look, and laugh. A healthy sense of humor enables the leader to enjoy his or her work, and find a balance between cynicism and self-righteousness.
4. Courageous: An effective leader is willing to accept challenges and take risks. As the saying goes, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
5. Agitator: An effective leader stirs things up. People will not be the same after being with this person. You can’t get clothes cleaned without an agitator!
6. Self-Aware: An effective leader is clear on his or her self-interest; only then can she or he appreciate the interests of others. Because of the clarity, the leader can compromise, negotiate, and make commitments.
7. Vision and Values: Effective leaders are clear about their values and have some idea about what they would like the world to be. A group leader is willing to stand up and work to make those values and that vision become a reality.
8. Accountability:An effective leader is able to hold others accountable to their commitments and is willing to be held accountable by others. An effective leader lives up to commitments and is interested in reciprocal relationships.
9. Trusts People: Effective leaders trust that given the opportunity, people tend to do the right thing. A good leader share power and responsibility and encourages others to develop their talents. She or he allows people to make mistakes and abides by the “iron rule”: Never do for others what they can do for themselves.
10. Cares for Others: Effective leaders are curious. They get inside people’s skin. Successful leaders meet others because they care about people.
11. Possesses Imagination: Effective leaders rely on their imagination to identify issues that are hidden or obscure, and to find effective responses to issues that have never been tried before.

It is clear that effective leaders must be chosen based on their ability to carry out certain functions, but we may need to include other considerations as well when enlisting leaders.

Questions to ponder:

1. Do you agree that the eleven listed leadership qualities are crucial for effective leadership? Which are and which are not and give your reasons why they are or are not.
2. What additional leadership qualities would you add to the list?
3. Is a leader’s ability to carry out specific functions or possess specific qualities more important for effective leadership?