A question for you all, no matter what type of GLO
 

In your opinion, what makes a great leader in a chapter? Or, even in the college community.

Someone who is involved and knows when to take charge, but is not overly dominant...he/she can be supporting yet neutral and is someone others can trust.

All that LeslieAGD said, plus well-known/connected on campus always helps.

No Bullshit. Someone who tells it like it is.

Also, someone who practices what they preach. Being a good example is important.

Perfect. Lead by example. Can't really go out on Friday, get a DUI, and then go to Sundays meeting to yell at the pledges for underage drinking, can ya?

In addition to all the great comments, I think a great leader would be someone who is not afraid to step up when times get tough.. instead of just disappearing when a chapter needs it's members the most.

I'm dealing with this in another organization I'm president of...

A great leader is someone who is unafraid to make decisions -- even unpopular ones -- for the benefit of all.

A great leader needs to be able to see the big picture.

A great leader needs to be gracious.

A great leader needs to be woman enough/man enough to admit when she/he has made a mistake, and to face whatever consequences that arise as a result.

A great leader needs to be able to relate to everyone within the organization, even if it's a skanky you-know-what who you can't stand the sight of. ;)

That's all I can think of right now.

I think leading by example is very important. Especially when they give lectures.

I also think they need to be tolerant and flexible in how they work with people. I'm kinda hyper, and I also am head strong, and our president does not know what to do with me. half the time she treats me like i'm three (even though i'm older) and like i'm stupid, (in the house 1 1/2 yrs longer). She can't deal with how to tell me anything so she whines about me. it is really frustrating, the kind of situation that you want to quit over. Who wants to be yelled at for EVERYTHING you do?

All of that... plus a leader has to know how to delegate, and accept that the person you delegate responsibility to won't necessarily do things exactly the way you would.

Can you tell I'm having exactly this problem with someone at work right now...

A leader MUST have a positive attitude NO MATTER WHAT! Members of any organization or group look to the leader to measure the health of the group as a whole. If the leader is frazzled, the members get anxious. Even through the biggest tragedies, I always try to show that things can and WILL be taken care of.

You said it! I also think the positive example trait is important, as well as what erica812 said about being positive.
-Michelle

A GREAT LEADER?

HMMMMM?

Lead by example, yes

Be active on campus, yes

Delegate Authority, yes

Make sure that those responsable do their jobs, yes


Be the king, no

Try to do everything, no

Be the best friend to Brothers/Sisters all of the time, no


One individual cannot do it all like I did back when!

It takes all of the members to do it! The question is: how do you run the fine line?

I visited last weekend with an Alum who flat told me that if it was not for me, we would not still be there! True, BUT, it has taken a lot of Brothers to do did and still do to be on campus right now!

Maybe I am just the Stupid Glue!:rolleyes:

Hell, I never could be told NO! That word sucks!:D

Thought just crossed my mindlessness, if I Associated today, would I be Initiated? OOPS, ,maybe not!:)

I agreee withe everything you all said here but I can still add more.

A leader must be fair and equal.

Be able to set personal feelings aside.

Have an open mind.

Have an open door.

Realize that they represent the chapter as a whole.

Make decisions with the best interest of the chapter in mind.

Be a Brother/Sister above all else.

I'm sure the list can go on and on.

Everything that has been said so far is on target, and I'll add a few more:

A good leader has vision -- a clear idea of where the chapter should be headed -- and doesn't just hold things together. He or she can communicate that vision to the chapter and get people to "buy in."

A good leader brings out the best in other members of the chapter. He or she recognizes talents, entrusts tasks to people with the right talents, builds up the confidence of members in their own abilities, and encourages everyone to be the best they can be.

A good leader knows it's not "all about me." It's about the chapter (or the larger community, or whatever).

Someone who cares about what the group achieves, rather than who gets the credit.

Ivy

Someone who is humble. When it is the chapter who has achieved an honour, they should recieve the recognition, not the president. Likewise, glory should be the least of their concerns. The well-being of the chapter and the brothers and sisters that comprise it should always come before personal gain.

Someone who is honest. If a leader is not trustworthy, he or she is useless. Why follow someone who will lie to you? Honesty is an important part of Greek ideals.

Someone who is realistic. Pie-in-the-sky ideals are wonderful, but they only matter when you have the knoweldge and wearwithall to back them up.

Someone who is honourable. A president is the representative of the entire chapter. They must behave accordingly at all times, no matter if they're in badge, letters or just jeans and a t-shirt. This means the president must be accountable for his or her actions, able to admit a mistake, willing to take the moral high ground even if it doesn't suit his or her interests, and above all strives to fulfill the goals and expectations of the organisation.

Someone who is political. A leader is well served to know how the wind is blowing and what would be the best move to keep the chapter sailing. Being able to navigate campus and Greek politics will keep life a little more stable for any chapter.

Someone who is charismatic. Being a good brother and sister is meaningless if you cannot communicate effectively, win friends and influence people. Leadership does often boil down to making decisions and making them stick. Being able to do it with honey instead of vinegar helps.

Leadership is tricky, and I'm almost relieved I've not been called upon by my chapter to serve in a leadership capacity. It takes real love and dedication.

In addition to the other stuff that's been mentioned, a leader shouldn't just sit around giving orders. If there's work to be done, the leader should be helping if at all possible, especially if it's difficult, dirty, or thankless. For example, my company added onto its office space last week and the new area had to be painted. We couldn't afford professional painters, so the employees had to paint it. The boss was with us the whole time, brush in hand. :)

In addition to most of the other comments mentioned, in this forum, a leader must have at least 3 minimum characterics: be strong (admit when wrong), and encourager (sp?), and lead by example.

I like SisterMadly's ideas. I'd like to add this, from our Creed:

"...the responsibility to do my best in whatever I undertake, always remembering that leadership requires confidence tempered with humility, and courage blended with tolerance...."

A good leader should not have too many committments outside the organization s/he leads, if so s/he needs to step down from the position.