Which pre-requisite ability of a leader is more important, wisdom or intelligence? A successful person in leadership should have the wisdom rather than the intelligence. Obviously, definition of both intelligence and wisdom are different, intelligence, mostly related to academic study, can be defined as the strength of reading, writing or learning skill. An intelligence person has high IQ but may not have high EQ. EQ can be included in 1 of the definitions of wisdom. Wisdom maybe hard to define, but once can briefly describe it as the power of emotional control and good personality or clear mind. Unlikely intelligence, wisdom cannot be gained from book. But through practicing, intelligence can be possessed. Thus, people in leadership should have wisdom instead of intelligence. Several reasons can prove this statement of what a wise person will own but an intelligence person might not have.
Firstly, a leader should know how to how to make a correct decision. For examples, manpower management in a team is crucial when a leader wants to bring or lead hit team to reach the goal. Lots of books teach theory of managing manpower but the way to execute the theory is the key. Interactive skill among each other is not taught or learned by reading lots of books. The method of handing nasty or self-centered members is depended on one’s wisdom. Like a traditional Chinese idioms says, “rather no book than believe it blindly.” The theory in books cannot suit everyone because a difference can also be found in twins. Wisdom of applying it is important. A change depends on different situations and the skill to interact with people is much important then intelligence. A brilliant person might do well in individual work but may fail in group work as he does not know what teamwork is. The wisdom of getting with people is what intelligence people always do not own.
Secondly, the ability to face sudden crisis or difficulties is part of the wisdom intelligent people do not have. Briefly, this ability is more depended on the experience of running an activity or a project. Wisdom is gained from the situation or difficulties faced, no matter whether they are solved or not in the end. In addition, calming down the members and having a clear mind is what a good leader has to do when facing a sudden problem. A wise leader can lead his team get through a crisis in a short time and reduce the loss to the minimum level. An intelligent leader may not know what to do if he has no any experience with the problems.
Last but not least, a wise leader can protect every possibilities and plan well which will happen. This might conflict with the second point in above, but even a perfect man would make a mistake. What we expect from a wise and normal leader? Everything on earth is hard to predict, but having each set of backup plans can shorter the time of chaos. A wise leader can plan and maintain fluency well. The path to reach the goal will be smoother and faster when is chosen by a wise leader. This is also depended on the life time experience. The more situations faced by the leader, the wiser the leader will be.
In a nutshell, a wise leader might not be an intelligent person but he will definitely have intelligent members. To lead a team or a group well, wisdom is the key to be possessed by a leader.
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