What is the Leadership Quality That People Overlook?

What is the Leadership Quality that People Overlook?

The leadership quality that is overlooked is Rationality.

Human beings are defined as the Rational animal. It is Reason that gives us everything that is uniquely human:

It is human reason that give us our language, mathematics, music, science, history, art, literature, philosophy, politics, ethics, technology, production, trade and economics.

Reasoning is deductive, inductive and creative.

• Deductive reasoning is the art of applying existing knowledge to new instances (for example, medical diagnosis is a deductive science).
• Inductive reasoning is the art of discovering new knowledge by observation and experimentation (for example, the CERN particle accelerator is attempting to discover new subatomic phenomena).
• Creative reasoning logic is the art of invention using the imagination logically in order to create new products and services (for example, Steve Jobs created the iPhone which revolutionised the world).

Reason is also a code of ethical conduct; we owe it to ourselves and others to treat all people reasonably. If we don't treat people reasonably then we are treating them unreasonably and nobody wants to be treated unreasonably.

Reason is the base that underpins good mental health. To the degree to which people "Lose their Reason", and become illogical and irrational, is the degree to which they suffer mental health problems. When people lose their capacity to reason, they become disconnected from reality. Consequently, they feel more confused are less able to function successfully.

A rational mind is a healthy mind.

Rationality is Leadership's Missing Link.

Most leaders ignore the skill of Rationality.

The majority of leaders focus their attention on stirring up peoples' emotions and getting them to act in accordance with their vision.

But what vision?

If we have irrational leaders, who are able to stir-up people's emotions and make them act in accordance with an irrational vision, then all hell breaks loose.

Examples of irrational leaders include Napoleon Bonaparte who was a power-luster, and Adolf Hitler who held irrational ideas about the superiority of the Arian race.

On many measures, both men were effective leaders, but they were IRRATIONAL and, consequently, they created death and destruction.

Today, all over the world, we see the collapse of reason and logic in favour of naked ambition, emotionalism and blatant irrationality.

Currently, the emotions of fear and naked ambition dominate the planet.

Until we restore reason and logic to its proper position in government, in economics, and in society, then we will continue to chase illogical goals advocated by irrational leaders, and many people will continue to "live lives of quiet desperation" as Henry Thoreau said.

Leadership and Management Training

Corporate Coach Group want to help the world run on reason and our Leadership and Management Courses have been created to help managers do just that.

Definition: Rational leadership

Rational leadership is a business skill where a leader uses clear thought and logic to guide choices and people. It joins deductive, inductive and creative reasoning; it puts facts above raw feelings; it explains reasons openly to build trust; and it treats every person with fair, consistent logic.

Article Summary

Rational leadership puts clear thought before raw feeling; leaders who blend deductive, inductive and creative reason guide teams to trust, growth and ethical success that emotion alone cannot secure.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Did You Know: Key Statistics

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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