BUS 5411 - Written Assignment 1 Written Assignment 1 BUS 5411: Leading in today’s Dynamic Context University of the People Dr. Chris Lorenz Marcelo (Instructor) SEP/13/2023 Ghieath Aldaher BUS 5411 - Written Assignment 1 Introduction: this paper, I will discuss leadership traits that Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathari (Rikskringkasting, 2004), A native of Kenya, Maathai was the visionary behind the Greenbelt Movement, an organization dedicated to advocating for environmental conservation, particularly the preservation of forests, as a means of sustaining livelihoods in Africa (The Greenbelt Movement, 2021). Notably, she authored four influential books and achieved the distinction of being the first woman to earn a PHD. in the field of science. Two traits are identified in Wangari Maathai's speech. Within Wangari Maathai’s speech, numerous traits are evident. In this discussion, I will focus on two specific traits that vividly demonstrate her potential for leadership, elucidating how they were manifested in her address. Firstly, the trait of 'Empowering Leaders and Fostering Opportunities' stands out. This quality entails enabling individuals to take charge of various projects and assisting them in acquiring new skills that can ultimately benefit the wider community. In her speech, Maathai emphasized the importance of community leadership development and emphasized a shared set of values akin to those upheld by the government. This signifies her encouragement for people to assume responsibility for their communities, and to democratically select leaders who would be accountable for the welfare of all, including the environment. The second prominent trait is her adeptness in communication. It is widely acknowledged that effective communication is paramount for success, and a truly exceptional leader must possess excellent communication skills to ensure that team members comprehend the objectives and BUS 5411 - Written Assignment 1 rationale behind actions. Maathai underscored in her speech that "without being a good communicator, no successes could yield results." Throughout her various addresses over the years, it was evident that she excelled as a communicator (Bluesteps, n.d). Missing trait identified and how it’s applied to the situation. The trait that was notably absent from Maathai's speech can be encapsulated as: "Empowering the Potential of Individuals." This principle advocates for leaders to entrust individuals with tasks and responsibilities, offering support and guidance in times of missteps or failures. Throughout Maathai's tenure as a leader, there were instances of errors and misjudgments, yet these were not acknowledged in her speech. Over the span of 30 years with the Green Belt Movement, these setbacks were notably omitted from discussion. However, recognizing and taking responsibility for such missteps provides an avenue for growth and advancement. True leaders stand ready to assist their teams in surmounting challenges and learning from mistakes (Bluesteps, n.d). Evaluation & Conclusion Maathai's speech and its delivery serve as a testament to her status as a highly esteemed and commendable leader. She articulated her address with a profound sense of respect and dignity, fully meriting the accolades and the Nobel Prize bestowed upon her. Maathai embodied nearly all the attributes of an exceptional leader, including the ability to inspire her followers, offer encouragement, and dispense valuable counsel. Her aspiration for communities to assume responsibility and select their own leaders, alongside her call for heightened mutual commitment, conflict resolution, poverty alleviation, and the enhancement of overall quality of life, reflects her empowering words as a visionary leader who placed great value in collaborative efforts (Nobel Lecture, Oslo, 2004). BUS 5411 - Written Assignment 1 References: Bluesteps,( n.d). What makes a great leader. 12 Key elements of leadership success,(n.d). Retrieved from: https://www.bluesteps.com/blog/what-makes-great-leader-12-key-elementsleadership-success How to build the next natural wonder of the world. (2021). Retrieved from: http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/node/959 Nobel Lecture, Oslo, (2004). Wangari Maathai – Nobel Lecture. Retrieved from: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2004/maathai/26050-wangari-maathai-nobel-lecture2004 / Leadership Theories. (n.d.). Leadership-Central.com. https://www.leadershipcentral.com/leadership-theories.html#axzz4clkUEVG7 Rikskringkasting, N. (2004). The Nobel Prize, Retrieved from: https://www.nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/?id=867
