MEANING OF LEADER, TYPES AND QUANTITIES OF A LEADER

MEANING OF LEADERSHIP 

Different people see leadership in different perspective. But the sum total of it all is that leadership is the ability of a leader to influence that motivate his followers to perform some tasks. It must be admitted that leadership could not the ability to get things done with the assistance and cooperation of other people within and institution, organisation or a society.

An effective leader is the one who is not only able to make his subordinate one to do what they have to do, but also recognise that they have to do so, and ensure that they must be motivated to ensure meeting of goals and objectives. In other words leadership is a process of influencing, directing, controlling and motivating people to achieve the set goals. Meanwhile, it is important to state that leadership refers to the position and process of achieving set goals through a leader. Therefore, a leader is a person that occupies a leadership position.

TYPES OF LEADERSHIP

There are various forms of leadership or process of becoming a leader. This process and  forms are described as the type of leadership. They also indicate the kind of role the leader play to his followers.

• TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP : traditional leadership is the kind of leadership that is based on the beliefs and custom of the people. It is a product of the culture that has been with the people for a long time. For example, a king is the traditional leader. He is in control of the cultural norms and practice of the people. The process of emerging traditional leaders in most african countries, especially in nigeria, is by birth. Popular example of traditional leaders in nigeria are the oni of ife, alake of egbaland. 
• CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP : this is the kind of leadership that a match based on the special outstanding features of an individual. Such leader emerge naturally. In nigeria, chief obafemi awolowo is an example of a charismatic leader. Even though, the late politician did not become the nation's president, many politicians in southwestern Nigeria still see him as their role model. They still claim that they are following the steps in order to win elections. Other example of charismatic leaders in africa are Nelson mandela, late dr nnamdi azikiwe tafawa balewa, professor wole soyinka and so on. 
• SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP : spiritual leadership is the type that control and attend to the religious life of the people. In other words, spiritual leaders are religious leaders. Therefore, the pastor in the churches, the imam in the mosque and the chief priest in the shrine are example of religious leaders. Popular example of spiritual leaders are pastor enoch adeboye, dr lateef adegbite, and so on
• POLITICAL LEADERSHIP : this is the type of leadership that has to do with the government. The leaders in these categories at the president, senate president, speaker of the house, governor, state house of assembly members, local government chairman, and so on. The following are example of political leader in Nigeria : president goodluck ebele jonathan, david mark, senator ibikunle amosun, raji fashola and so on. 
• CORPORATE LEADERSHIP :  these are leadership in government and private organisation. Example of leaders in the corporate sectors is the managing director of an organisation and so on.
• COERCIVE LEADERSHIP : these are leadership by force. Military rulers are coercive leaders. The forse they are way into power. The first people to obey them. Late general sani abacha was an example of a coercive leader. 

QUALITIES OF A LEADER

1. HONESTY : as the saying goes, honesty is the best policy. A good leader must be a honest person. It is the honesty nature in him or her that will make him or her not to be bias in taking decisions. It will not be financially reckless or corrupt. It will make him or her to be transparent. He will not hide anything, because whatever he or she does will be transparent. Therefore, he or she will gain the confidence and support of the people.
2. DISCIPLINE : another important quality of a good leader is discipline. It is the quality that enhance the leader to caution him or herself in all his dealings. It has some subsets such as financial discipline, moral discipline, and social discipline. A financial discipline person will not spend recklessly. A morally disciplined person will not engage in bad habits such as an adultery act or fornication. A socially disciplined person will conduct himself or herself with the quorum in the public. If a leader talks  in an uncouth manner, he or she is bound to lose the support of this followers.
3. PUNCTUALITY : as the saying goes, punctuality the soles of a business. A leader must always be punctual at work. If a leader does not come to office always, his followers will consider him or her as unserious. Such a person will gradually lose control of the organisation or the nation.
4. SELF CONFIDENCE : it is essential for a good leader to have personal conviction, belief and ability to convince others to accept his or her views. Self confidence and has a leader to interpret is our vision to the followers and convince them to support it. Barack Obama is an example of a leader who had self confidence. In spite of being an african american, he was able to convince his followers, and ended up being the first president of the united states of america that is an african american. 
5. VISIONARY : a good leader must have vision. This is the ability to bring innovation that will bring changes. Vision will make differences. If a leader is not visionary, is our then you will not be remarkable. It is the vision that make the leader to improve on the existing condition of his or her people.
6. EMOTIONS AND MENTAL STABILITY : the quality of being emotionally and mentally stable makes a leader to be firm. They make him or her not to change his or her view easily. If that changes his view easily, it will be adjudge to be inconsistent or weak. 
7. GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS :    a good leader must be a good speaker. He or she must be able to use the power of speech to motivate and reinvigorate his followers. He or she must be a good listener. The ability to listen critically will enable the leader to gather information which will shape his or her response. The leader must be able to write effectively and read comprehensively.