Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Submitted By: Lorianne Fedée
Submitted To: Blake Lambert
Course Code: AHSS 2310 - 01
Due Date: Thursday, March 15th, 2012
A Leader of Respect:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
There are various leadership traits and behaviors which make up an individual’s definition of an ideal leader. While some leaders may often possess similar leadership traits and behaviors, they do not necessarily acquire equal acceptance and likeability, thus, affecting how they are perceived by others and the level of respect and admiration they may receive. Personally, a leader of great respect is one who exemplifies the definition of leadership while maintaining inspiration and a positive moral development. Leadership is defined as the influencing process of leaders and followers to achieve organizational objectives through change (Lussier & Achua, 2010). A leader who could be argued to have achieved such a role is that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a product and an exemplar of black culture and tradition, and his vision gradually transcended southern particularism to assume national and international implications (Baldwin, 1992). Not only did Dr. King demonstrate the five key elements of leadership – influence, organizational objectives, leaders-followers, people, and change (Lussier & Achua, 2010) – throughout his American Civil Rights movement of thirteen years, until his assassination, but he had successfully done so while maintaining a charismatic and ethical style and behavior of leadership. Throughout the remainder of this essay, the movement of Dr. King will be discussed, as well, the traits and behaviors in which he displayed throughout his movement will be analyzed following the analysis of pertinent leadership theories.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who possessed great courage for his moral commitment and determination to achieve social justice for the African-American community. Dr. King made use
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