Leadership.

Ever heard of the saying "Leaders are born, not made"? Now everyone has different opinions behind what makes a good leader. As much as equality and the opinions of lesser folks concerns us, INEQUALITY DOES EXIST, some people are naturally better than others at certain things. Fishes are made to live in the sea and humans on land.  If you are born with certain traits, the ambition, desire, a strong ability to make effective and critical decisions, you are one in a million. Honing these inherited traits will naturally put you in a position of leadership.

What is the definition of leadership? Leadership is a process by which an individual utilizes his skills to influence others in order to accomplish an objective goal and directs a group or organization in a manner that is more concise, coherent and cohesive. Leadership, is not for everyone! but people can learn how to be leaders.

People who are leaders are constantly developing their skills and seeking to improve themselves, they are on a never ending process to achieve a successful outcome. They posses the ability to process information at lightning speed and accurately develop judgements that would benefit the desired goal. To be a leader is to be critical and to be critical is to know that everyone is inherently imperfect, therefore as leaders they try their utmost best to fix their shortcomings and problems before they address the needs of those surrounding them, in other words they are self-aware. Leaders are able to understand that problems exist everywhere within their sphere and that not all can be solved, however with the right amount of knowledge and action they can put their skills to good use.

The key to leading is 'EFECTIVENESS'. Being a leader requires followers. Effective leading does not come easy, one cannot consider himself a good leader unless people actually obey. Therefore communication is a vital key in marshalling followers. Communication is a two way thing and requires the cooperation of both sides, it is the fundamental pre requisite to leading. Communicating coherently in a organisation or a group is crucial to the outcome of a goal, a good leader must be able to effectively reach out to his/her follower through verbal or/and non-verbal means meaning - making a stance. Fostering good relations with your followers and letting them know that you are in charge are good ways to start. Born leaders, naturally have a sense of aura around them that communicates confidence and great power. This may naturally put off certain groups of people but it is essential for a good leader to know how to deal with different groups and adjust accordingly to their preferences of leadership. If you are able to win the understanding and trust of your followers, just like how political leaders do, you are most likely to be successful in your leadership.

The next important trait of effective leadership is planning and adapting. Effective leaders are constantly churning out ideas and goals in their heads, their busy minds are on a never ending quest to gather information and utilize them into plans and goals. These leaders are natural masterminds, seeking to create strategies and weighing them against the current situation. A solution for one problem may not always be the best for the next problem, therefore it is vital that different plans and strategies are created in the event that things don't work out, this is where planning and adaptation comes into play. Using our incredible powers of judgement and skills, effective leaders know when Plan A will fail and when Plan B should be implemented.

Discipline

Discipline in the army & Full Metal Jacket.


The core of a good soldier is discipline, discpline, in all its forms, moral, physical and mental.  The American army derives it's strength and reputation through their soldier's strong sense of discipline and patriotism. Full Metal Jacket, encompasses the essence of the American army and reveals how discipline is used by them to achieve their purpose in Vietnam.

Normal citizens enlist into the army as boys, learning lessons such as punctuality, tardiness and respect. Such lessons thou trivial it may seem, are actually what discipline is all about. With these lessons, these men are able to be commanded and unleash their full potential as the training they are put through makes them competent and ready for the challenges of military warfare and life.

Discipline is also knowing right from wrong. In the army it is shown that right, is fighting for your country and fighting for your people therefore what you are doing is the good thing and that your fight is the good fight. It is very important to know that you are fighting for your country and that you have the discipline to stay focused and constantly be aware that you are doing this for the greater good of your country. This is seen through the Viet Cong's battle with the Americans, both side maintained military discipline by carrying on their duties to fight for their country. However because of the lack of discipline displayed by several American troops, with their engagement in prostitution and their over confidence, they eventually lost the battle against the Viet Cong.

Ultimately we must give credit for the discipline showcased by the Viet Cong, despite being outnumbered and far less militarily equipped than the Americans. Their strict discipline and jungle guerilla warfare eventually led to their triumph over America in the Vietnam War. Young, disciplined and focused fighters like the girl from the last scene were able to take on fully grown veteran fighters and despite her inevitable doom, she remained stoic and patriotic towards her death. That there is true discipline, and what we should inculcate in all of our soliders.