What do you think makes a good leader?

[Micro]

Just something I've been wondering about for a while, off and on. I'd really appreciate you guys' views on it! I won't be sharing my opinion just yet because I want to see what you all think! :)

Other than traits and stuff, you could also name real people or people from movies, books, etc. who you felt were good leaders, just please let us know why!

 

[Amysaurus]

A good leader, whether their intentions are good or bad, is simply someone who can inspire others to follow them.

They know how to make others envision changes that they want to see, and convince them that their guidance is the best way to reach these changes. Of course, to do this, a leader also has to be very charismatic, and passionate about what they believe in. These are just a few traits, of course.

 

[Bizarre Monkey]

Me.

Okay, joking aside! Well the leaders in my games are always pretty goofy and nonjudgmental. But as for a leader, Amy's right, a drive is needed and a charisma to boot. I like to think I have pretty good charisma, and radical enough ideals that I believe in to earn me some sort of following, which has been the case.

 

[MinisterJay]

Leaders are not the same as managers. There are different types of leaders. In positional leadership, the people below you do what you tell them to do because they have to. The ranking of the military systems work like this. This is also how many businesses and organizations are run. It is actually one of the lowest forms of leadership. There are others that have high charisma. They just have a way with getting people to do what they would like them to do, no matter how crazy it may sound. Adolf Hitler had great charisma.
The greatest form of leadership is when you have been given a big vision. The vision is so big that is above you. You get excited about the vision. You start believing it before you see it. It is so big that must surround yourself with people that have greater talents than yourself in different area. What this leader does is help fulfill the goals and dreams of his or her team FIRST. This form of leadership often involves self-sacrifice for the benefit of the team and vision, taking care of others FIRST. People follow this kind of leader because they know he or she cares about them, and has a large vision. In the long run people become the most loyal to this kind of leader, and strive to perform better.

 

[Bizarre Monkey]

You're right Minister. I certainly see what you mean about the difference, and I'm actually in the second sort. I used to pay my employees, but this became too costly on my end, and the CCC remains a non-profit organization, recently I discussed that I may no longer be able to pay my better 15, and they said that's fine, they'll still make stuff, and they have kept their word on that!

What drives them to follow me, then? It can't be charisma alone, nor can it be the self-sacrifice part because I'm very rarely the sort to give out of my self, but what does make me a solid ground for many is these things.

Even without them, I could make games, it'd just take longer and the end result would be less pretty and less epic. They know I can get stuff done, and my past and present evidence that. So it not only gives them a way to hone their skills and face new challenges in their field, but they also get prominence and renown through my release of games, because I'm a stickler for proper attribution, and will always clarify when someone did an amazing job on this or that.

They also know I'm not a quitter when it comes to making games.

So in the end, they gain something, and I do too. Thus why I refrain from calling us a company except when making brief introductions, we're more of a collective of creative interest, I may be the lead designer, but plenty of ideas we have come from my better 15.

 

[Macro]

A good leader in my opinion is someone who shares my values and communicates with me without trying to belittle me. They are able to notice what I'm best suited for and are able to best choose my role effectively within the team.

A person that understands no one can be perfect all the time (seems to be a running trend though sadly) is important too. That's not saying they shouldn't point out errors and help improve their team. I work best with leaders that work hard, but still on a human level (nothing over the top that it will run you down to get sick).

I see myself as a good team member, something like a co-leader, because I love to support a good leader. A definite requirement of a good leader is strong communication with the entire team, both verbal and written. The job apps that mention you must be strong in both annoy me, because I think not everyone is exceptionally good at both of those requirements.

 

[MinisterJay]

@Macro . I agree about what job apps ask for. Sometimes the person putting the job advertisement does not even realize that is a difference between managers and leaders. Large successful corporation will alternate between having managers and leaders to run their organizations. A manager is good when you want stability, when you need someone to keep things the the way they were and are to be be. A leader is good when you want to venture into a new direction, fresh ideas, etc. The manager type tends to be based on position, position, position. The leader type tends to be focused on fulfilling goal and creating new fresh goals.

 

[Macro]

Yeah, realistic goals too. When they spout unrealistic goals I get aggravated. "Great job team, you finished a 2 hour job in 1 hour, tomorrow let's make it 30 minutes!" when the work was finished faster both in part because we had a smaller workload and the next day we expected 4x the work coming back.

 

[MinisterJay]

When goals like that are used, you are dealing with a manager type most likely, not a leader type. Leader types give different rewards for the completion of tasks. Now, this reward, if verbal, can indirectly lead to better production results.

 

[Macro]

Yeah, guess they do not fit the title of "Team Leader" then. The only reward that we get is more hard work that's expected to be done in less time, which in turn increases our turnover rate (it's high as it is) since people can't keep up with the unrealistic demands. It also causes people to care less about increasing their productivity (though I always try to improve).

I stick around mainly because I don't have a choice at the moment. My co-workers on the other hand deliberately work slower to avoid more work, and expect people like me to pick up their slack, which in turn causes me to also lose my own team spirit. It's a very unpleasant cycle.

 

[MinisterJay]

My co-workers on the other hand deliberately work slower to avoid more work, and expect people like me to pick up their slack, which in turn causes me to also lose my own team spirit. It's a very unpleasant cycle.

That is why that type of "Leadership" does not work; it is anti-productive in long run.

 

[Macro]

The thing I fear most is that just yesterday they said they are going to harshly hold people accountable for unacceptable work, and focused on my team's shift the most. The worrisome part is that the night crew comes in and completely wrecks everything I do. When I'm back in the morning, it's a disaster all over again. It's going to be a stressful new year. :(

 

[MinisterJay]

Giving me retail flashbacks. Opening shift upset at closing shift. Mid-shift upset at opening shift. Closing shift upset at mid-shift. Management upset at everyone...

 

[Micro]

I really like the discussion going on here and agree with all of you.

I for one love leaders who will inspire, motivate and teach me new things. A leader is someone who is usually (well, no one is perfect!) graceful, kind and helpful. someone I can rely on if I'm having troubles or questions... but most of all, I love a leader who treats me like an equal and never uses their title to abuse, intimidate or belittle others.

a leader is someone who possesses all of these qualities--someone I can truly respect and look up to and use as a guide for myself, how I want to be in the future.

 

[Bizarre Monkey]

I'm what some may call a fairly unorthodox leader. I wouldn't say I'm always graceful, or kind, nor very helpful. But I am chill and pretty lax about things, unless they are important.

Most who I lead know deep down I'm a really cool person and that my heart is in the right place, due to recent financial strife I had to cut funding across the board, but my collective didn't care, they said working for me is a joy in itself.

At that point I knew I was more than an employer to them, I was a leader, an aspiration... it's hard to explain how that even feels.

Though the lot of us, we've done some really cool stuff, together. We've fought beside each other in cyber wars with forums who were seeking to devalue us, all those who have openly challenged us, we've collectively thwarted, some so far gone, I don't even have the evidence to show what remains.

I tend to attract people who like my chaotic way of working and doing things. Like the last two years we've just had no drama at all in the CCC.

I'm so proud of my collective and the fellas I have working for me words can't describe it. But there is good reason I refer to them as my better 15.

Firstly, it's just an awesome way to greet associates, but they are also all great people, who have been there for each other and for me during harder times, we're more like a family than a group of friends, really.

 

[Micro]

But I am chill and pretty lax about things, unless they are important.

I think I forgot to mention that this is also hella important! people who are super sticklers about rules and nitpick about every little thing drive me crazy haha.

sounds awesome that you have gathered such a close-knit group of people =)

 

[Macro]

Leaders who speak their honest opinions and offer solutions to problems that most people ignore.

I really think leaders need to have very thick skin and not let insults get to them.

Speaking of leaders, my manage fired someone without even giving them a chance to defend themself. They simply took someone's word for it! Even the HR manager was against it. Lots of corruption at my job. I just keep my head low...

 

[MinisterJay]

@Macro, if you have a group of people that fear losing their jobs because their manager is going to fire them, for the littlest of reasons, then you are dealing with manager that has very poor self-esteem, and is managing from a position of power. In the long run this will result in poor employee retention. Poor employee retention is a sign of a poor manager. I do not consider these types as any form of leader.

 

[DarcHiro]

@Macro I feel like a good leader doesn't necessarily have to have a charismatic attitude either though... A leader could be someone who is quiet and doesn't stand out much, but has good ideas and gets noticed for them. People follow who they want to follow, and sometimes it's easier for people when someone doesn't talk as much. I mean, they'll have to speak a little bit... but not enough to blow your ear off.

 

[Macro]

True that, a good leader doesn't always need a lot of charisma. Though in many chases it is very important, especially in public positions. Sometimes, the other more quiet ones could be mistaken as "too quiet" (I've been called "too quiet" a lot, but also a good leader).

People just need to know that their leader is serious about their role, and that they care about that role, and to see to it that they all succeed in whatever it is that needs to be accomplished.