Leaders stand out in a crowd, rise to the top and accomplish significantly more than their peers. Some of the characteristics that make leaders different are vision, goals, clear purpose, self-discipline ability to communicate persistence and a positive attitude (Chu, 2003). Leaders have a clear picture of what they see their group becoming or doing in the future. There is a difference between eyesight and vision. Vision is the ability to get meaning from eyesight. Effective leaders have vision. Leaders know where they stand, where they are going and how they are going to get there. They realize that no one ever accomplishes anything of consequence without a goal. They also realize that in order to fulfill their vision, they need to set a series of goals that will help them to do so.
Effective leaders are goal-directed. Leaders know why they exist, what they believe and what their values are. …