There are a myriad of qualities that make up leadership. People may never agree on whether leadership arises from a set of innate characteristics (“leaders are born”) or from observable actions (“leaders are born”). It would be almost impossible to come up with a definitive and comprehensive definition of leadership. However, some basic leadership qualities seem almost universal, regardless of the leader or the type of followers they lead: good communication skills, the ability to deal constructively with diverse personalities, and the mental strength to take on responsibilities and resist criticism. Certain personality traits are also required, such as a sense of humor, reliability and interpersonal skills. I believe that the traits and abilities of a leader that are common to any leadership model are the product of one of three major knowledge bases: knowledge of followers, knowledge of followers' goals, and, perhaps the most important, the leader's knowledge of himself. A leader must know who he is leading. A leader will have difficulty getting a team to work together without first learning to work with each person individually. On any team, everyone on any team has different personality traits, professional skills, and opinions that they bring to the table. While it is the responsibility of each team member to contribute to the team's common goals, it is the leader's responsibility to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each member to see how they would best contribute to the goals at hand. reach. An effective group leader will take the time to learn about each individual and will work to maximize each member's contribution to the group. Actively contribute to group goals ... middle of paper ...... to use these abilities. However, no one can become a perfect leader right away. To become a successful leader, leadership takes time, dedication, and a lot of detailed knowledge about yourself, your followers, your organization, and the society we live in. In conclusion, leaders must know their group, their goals and themselves. A leader must know the individuals within a group before he can know what the group can accomplish. You must have the desire to lead while teaching with patience. A leader cannot let his or her own desire to lead obscure the goals of the group as a whole. An effective group leader must be able to admit weaknesses and be willing to constantly improve. Leadership is essential in a group so that the leader and his followers can move the group towards achieving and obtaining its objectives..