Dear Journal,

Due to my interest in medicine, I apply leadership in my life from the perspective of a health care professional. For example, last year at my clinical rotation site in my health science class I had the chance to follow doctors while they worked. When I watched the doctors work, I realized two things. The first one was the doctor was demonstrating leadership by being knowledgeable about the best course of treatment for the patients. By doing this, the patients have trust in the doctor. The doctors had expert power because he or she had allowed the patients to believe that they are competent. In my opinion, I think that expert power is the most important yet the most difficult to gain. Our society is increasingly having doubts on people, leading to them not trusting each other. This is why I believe that leadership is a characteristic you develop and not just something you are born with. I question why the trait approach exists because it takes skill to be a leader that your followers can count on. The trait perspective identifies its leaders with two things: “physical factors, personality features.” (Norton 7). I do not think all extroverts are leaders. Even if someone is able to express their opinions and not be afraid to speak in front of loud crowds does not mean that they can suddenly direct a group of people to work together. Overall, the main topic of the reading emphasizes that “leadership is not a linear one-way event, but rather an interactive event.” (Norton 6). This means that in order for someone to be a leader they should have followers who support and trust them. For this reason, a doctor is a leader because he or she gains the trust of the patient. Thus, without loyal followers, a leader can not thrive. Until next time.

-Gauri