Which Leader Do You Admire?
- Who would you choose to speak about? Why?
- What would you say about the person?
Describe a leader you admire cue card
Describe a leader who you admire (for example, in sport, business or politics)
You should say:
- who this person is
- how he or she became a leader
- what this person did (has done) that you admire
- how you know this person or know about this person
and explain how this leader's qualities impressed you.
Describe a Leader You Admire Cue Card Answers
Describe a Leader You Admire Answer #1
Well, there is someone who I've always been impressed by and that is Sir Edmund Hillary.
I first learned about him when I was at primary school. At that time, we had lessons about famous people in our country's history and there was a picture of Sir Edmund Hillary on the wall in the classroom.
The teacher also told us stories about his journeys to explore Mt Everest. She said he was one of only three people ever to reach its summit without using supplementary oxygen (or something like that).
And she said it's not easy because you have to carry all your food, fuel and other equipment yourself, including two oxygen tanks! And it's nearly 6km high!
I was fascinated that someone would do such a thing, remember I was very young still.
Later, I searched the internet for some more details about his adventures and managed to find some stories about his climbs and also some pictures.
I was shocked! He climbed Mt Everest 8 times and K2, the world's second-highest peak five times. That's amazing!
I think he must have been a good leader because his actions were tough and he achieved something most people thought impossible.
What impressed me most about him was when he climbed Mt Everest without oxygen. I saw the picture of him standing on the summit and smiling and it's like, he was conquering this mountain which is a part of our planet earth.
How amazing that he was able to go up there and see what nobody had seen before. Also, going up in very bad weather conditions with little oxygen supply ...that must have been epic!
I know some people who follow his example by doing lots of endurance sports such as running long distances or cycling races. Others say they respect him so much because of the way he worked hard for what he believed in (to raise money for cancer research). He climbed several times to raise funds for various charities - very inspiring!
IELTS Speaking Topic Leadership Discussion Questions
Describe a Leader You Admire Answer #2
I'd like to talk about Steve Jobs. I think he was a very important leader for some time in history.
Like many famous leaders in the past he changed the way we see things and do things through his innovation and creativity.
Some people may think he just invented the Apple Mac computer and a phone, but the invention or device which really changed everything was the iPhone.
It made people rethink what a phone could be and should be and as we can now see it has been the catalyst behind much of the smartphone technology and developments since it was first launched.
Current smartphone technology now makes online shopping even easier and accessing any kind of information online which has fundamentally transformed our daily behavior.
Maybe if he hadn't launched the iPhone, someone else would have done something similar eventually, but he had the vision and the creativity to do it first and that always makes a difference.
I don't think he planned to become a world influencer or business leader, he simply had a company which innovated something that impacted on the daily lives of many people in a big way.
The qualities that he had; being an innovator, being able to see things in a different way and conceptualize other ways of doings things, some people would call it being visionary are what impressed me most about him.
He changed the way we interact with each other through mobile devices and that has had a tremendous impact on modern life and the other technology developments that have followed on the back of it.
The world will never be the same as it was before the iPhone came along.
Describe a Leader You Admire Answer #3
Due to my nature as a person, I lean more towards those people who seek peace and do good, therefore the leader that I admire most is the Dalai Lama.
I consider the Dalai Lama to be a person with a very strong ideal, which despite all the obstacles he has encountered in his life, has continued to struggle to achieve it.
He seeks peace in his land (Tibet) and although he has been exiled for many years he has continued to try to find it.
He travels, visits other countries and also promotes the unity of religions, not as a single religion but its acceptance among themselves and the knowledge of all to be understood. He is a visionary person, a fighter and without fear to express his thoughts.
I think he is a person who became a leader and was not necessarily born a leader. He was probably born with certain characteristics to be a leader but was prepared to become the future Dalai Lama since he was 2 years old, to take power in the future.
I still believe that he is a leader that was made, or rather he was formed, to be the head of an independent region of China.
I can’t really imagine the life of this type of people, full of meditation, trial and error, and the search for inner peace and transparency; these types of religion, in particular, are extremely spiritual, therefore he must have gone through many more improvements than many of the other modern leaders.
I consider that people immersed in such a spiritual life and in the pursuit of perfection at that level, are probably more deeply analytical than a person who does not follow such a religion.
The Dalai Lama, just as any human being, had to have gone through a lot of changes in his life to get to improve his person the way he has done. The important thing about this is to recognize the mistakes and really change and work hard to not commit them again or at least that each time is on a smaller scale.
Most people can be everything they set out to be, but for that, you have to really believe it, and also not rest until you reach your goal and then propose another and so on.
I have always believed that I can achieve it, but the most important thing when it comes to setting goals, is to look for those that are attainable because otherwise, we end up frustrated.
I would really love to find that spiritual peace that such people achieve and be able to teach other people to live that way.
How to write about a leader you admire?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you write about a leader you admire. First, think about the qualities that make this person a great leader. Then, describe how this person demonstrates these qualities in their everyday life. Finally, explain why you look up to (admire) them and what they mean to you.
When you write about a leader you admire, be authentic and honest. Rather than simply listing generic qualities, focus on specific instances where this person has inspired or impressed you. Be sure to share your own thoughts and feelings about the leader as well. After all, the best way to show your admiration is to write about a leader you admire from the heart.
Top 10 Leadership Skills to Describe a Successful Leader
A leader who wants to be successful must have the ability to:
- articulate a clear and inspiring vision for the future
- effectively communicate that vision to others
- gain the trust and respect of others
- motivate and inspire others to achieve common goals
- provide strong and effective leadership during times of change
- make difficult decisions promptly
- delegate responsibility and authority appropriately
- build and maintain positive relationships with others
- resolve conflict in a constructive manner
- create an environment that promotes creativity, innovation, and continuous learning
Top 10 Personality Attributes/Skills of Successful Leaders
- Empathy: Leaders need to be able to understand and share the feelings of those they are leading.
- Patience: Leaders need to be patient to allow their team members the time necessary to grow and develop their skills.
- Decisiveness: Leaders need to be able to make decisions quickly and confidently.
- Adaptability: Leaders must be adaptable and able to change their plans if necessary to respond to new challenges or opportunities.
- Integrity: Leaders need to be honest and have strong moral values in order to be credible and inspire trust.
- Communication Skills: Leaders must be able to articulate their vision and goals clearly, and listen attentively to others.
- Visionary Thinking: Leaders need to be able to see beyond the present and envision a better future.
- Strategic Thinking: Good leaders can develop long-term plans and take actions that lead them towards their goals.
- Problem Solving Skills: Leaders must be able to identify and solve problems quickly and effectively.
- Team Building Skills: Leaders must be able to bring people together towards a common goal and create a collaborative environment.
Most In-Demand Leadership Skills by Employers
Examples of In-Demand Leadership Competencies
1. Strategic Thinking: Leaders need to be able to think strategically about the future of their organizations. They need to be able to develop long-term plans and objectives and identify opportunities and threats that could impact their organizations.
2. Change Management: Leaders must effectively manage change within their organizations. They need to be able to develop plans for implementing change, communicate the plan to employees, and execute the plan successfully.
3. Communication: Leaders need to communicate effectively with employees. They need to clearly articulate their vision and objectives and provide employees with the information they need to do their jobs effectively.
4. Employee Engagement: Leaders need to be able to create an environment where employees are engaged and motivated to do their best work. They need to create a culture of trust and respect and provide employees with the resources and support they need to be successful.
5. Organizational Knowledge: Leaders need to understand the inner workings of their organizations. They need to know how their organization functions, how it makes money, and how it can be more efficient and effective.
7. Financial Management: Leaders need to effectively manage the financial resources of their organizations. They need to be able to develop budgets, track expenses, and make sound investment decisions.
8. Political Savvy: Leaders need to be able to navigate the political landscape of their organizations. They need to be able to build relationships with key stakeholders, influence decision-makers, and manage conflict.