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History has provided us with numerous examples of great leaders throughout the ages. Whether they were good or bad, they had the ability to lead and inspire their people. At times they were victorious, and some eventually met their end. Some brought their nations to greatness, some brought their nations to cruel destruction. So what are the personal characteristics that make them great? One thing that I would say is intelligence. Quite simply, leaders won't survive long against enemies if they are aloof or lack all-around smarts. Along with this is military intelligence; Napoleon did not rise to a position of power, but by his leadership abilities on the battlefield.Another thing is politics. Alexander the Great is an example of this. By mixing his people with those of his nation conquests, Alexander was able to make the political aims of his conquests as those of his own. This increases the population base from which money, soldiers, and resources can be drawn.We also need charisma, or the ability to persuade. Napoleon's persuasion of troops sent to arrest him after his return from exile to side with him is a prime example of this. Read through Thucydides' Pelopponesian War, and you'll read of Pericles' persuasive ability.Another element that makes for a great leader is timing. Certain conditions ripen to allow for a leader to arise. Think of Hitler in Post-Versailles Germany. Obviously, a great leader's ability to lead does not mean that the leadership is objectively good. However, Hitler was able to rise to power and cause world chaos. What would have become of him if he were born in Germany in 1850 instead of when he was (around 1900)?So, what do you think? What are the elements of a great leader based on what we've learned from history?
I think you summed it well. It takes more then one 'thing' to make a leader. He has to have the intelligence, the personality, and the desire. But it does make a difference when his time is. There would heve been no Elvis Presley if he had been born in 1835 rather then 1935. Hitler (born 1889) and history were right for each other, it was waiting for him. People and events, time, and the road not taken, there are an infinate number of ways humanity and histroy could have gone.
I think that the time element is what we refer to as the “zeitgeist”. It is the series of religious, cultural, social, and economic events that create a particular set of circumstances which favor or disfavor certain ideas.
I revived this post after years of dormancy but it’s still an interesting question. Although it’s a simple list, I couldn’t think of any other characteristics that are very different from what I already included. Perhaps I would add “diplomacy skills”, but this probably falls under the “politics” heading. In particular, I was thinking of Augustus maintaining peace with the Parthians when he retrieved the Roman standard after the Romans had lost it at Carrhae.
