On Leadership.

What does it really take to be a good leader and one whom you respect and will follow?
For me, the key ingredient really to command respect is to be one who speaks clearly, who doesn't get agitated and one who really bothers to take the time to explain things.
Without these attributes, the leader is really just an executor of daily tasks and an impulsive decision maker.
Some leaders are great, excellent even at running their own jobs and portfolios but they may not be able to manage others as well. Seldom do we get leaders who are good at managing but fail at their own jobs and that just shows how important the team is to the leader.
You HAVE to work hand in hand or things just crumble.

Communication is everything but there's such a fine line between being 'friends' with your subordinate and commanding the attention and respect that many tend to fail at getting the best of the relationship.
I've always been of the belief that it's perfectly possible to be good friends with your manager/supervisor, teacher or boss. Doesn't it help to facilitate communicating? Doesn't it make both parties see things from each other's point of view?

How do we go about achieving that then when everyone is so busy, so caught up with their lives and so 'occupied'?
How do you prioritise your life such that there is a social and work life balance? Yes, the perennial question. So many of my friends are still fresh in the workforce and i'm certain each of us is fighting fires each day, struggling in our individual challenges. Each of us is involved in a different type of challenge, one that we chose as the path we're heading down in our professional lives. Some are more fortunate than others, some have better welfare, better pay, better work environment, better food? haha.. but ultimately, each of us are in it on our own and we've only got each other to keep us going, if not for ourselves.

I'm still wondering how ppl can have such active lives apart from their work. To me, it honestly seems a miracle. Perhaps they end work at decent hours each day? Or does that passion simply suffice as the one main driving force to not only keep them going in their regular jobs but also motivates them to return to that social group and engage in fun activities during the weekends. i wonder...