Relational Leadership qualities of Colin Powell and how he represented Essay

Relational Leadership qualities of Colin Powell and how he represented them - Essay Example Colin L. Powell was born in Harlem in 1937 and was the son of Jamaican immigrants who were very much involved in his education and personal achievement .Colin manifested both these qualities of a bright young man and a high achiever throughout his academic career. He was well aware of his humble beginnings and he makes some interesting reflections about that in his biographical accounts. "In the preface to his autobiography, My American Journey, Powell describes himself as "a black kid of no early promise from an immigrant family of limited means." The audiences who pay dearly to hear Powell speak these days understandably believe that the man who rose from such unpromising beginnings to become one of the most admired public figures in the world must have grasped the secrets of leadership early on. He clung to them dearly as he became the youngest general in the Army, then found his way to the seventh floor of the State Department. "When I go out and speak," says Powell, "I don't talk about the chairmanship and all that stuff. I talk about being a young second lieutenant at Fort Benning, Ga. Most of what I learned about leadership I learned in my first two months there."1 Colin Powell with his vision of success and promoting the ri... In the year 1986 he left Washington to serve as commander of the Fifth Corps in Germany and when he returned he became the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs in Reagan's era. His excellent leadership qualities his 1991 service as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made him a figure of national importancee during the successful Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm conducted to to expel the Iraqi army from Kuwait.He declined the opportunity to run for president in the year 1996. and has focused his efforts on his organisation ,America's Promise,since then which is an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for today's young people.This shows how his leadership has been instrumental in encouraging the youth population and also in paving the way for inspired young people. Powell's leadership His political views have been moderate and he has earned great respect with the American people as an inspiration towards all.As has been pointed out in the book "Exploring Leadership"he inspires people with his actions like a good leader should. Serving as the Secretary of State in the Bush administration, Powell was popularly perceived as moderate. Powell's great asset was his tremendous popularity among the American people. He has played a pivotal role after September 11,in the management of America's relationships with other nations in order to secure a stable coalition in the War on Terrorism.He has been a tactful leader and has paved the way for more moderate views amongst the Bush administration.He refused to go to the Iraq War unless the international community supported this decision and continued to be the saner voice