Question-Week ending Sunday 11/09/03:
Which group of leaders today are MOST PERSUASIVE in convincing you to believe in them and what they profess? Please read our Poll Commentary before taking this poll.
Pre-Poll Commentary:
Unless you lead by force or fear, it's difficult to be considered a GREAT LEADER if you cannot persuade others to believe in you, your mission, and what you profess. A leader's ability to persuade others is dependent on many factors. The great leader should be honest, trustworthy, credible, knowledgable, experienced, and have a successful track record. When one's excellent reputation precedes them, they will have an easier time persuading others to follow.
Unfortunately, many contemporary leaders today have somewhere in their past tainted their reputations. They did not come through on their promises as they bob and weave around their commitments. This makes it more difficult to get others to believe in them. That's why it's so important to build an excellent reputation on a sound foundation of respected principles. Everything you do in life counts for you or against you. There are no exceptions to this rule. The art of persuasion is definitely a learned skill. However, to be belived and trusted over a long period of time takes more than just the skill of persuation.
Let us know what you think in this week's poll, which group of leaders today are MOST PERSUASIVE in convincing you to believe in them and what they profess. This poll will end on Sunday 11/09/03, when the results will be displayed.
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Results:
- 51% of voters chose Business CEO's as the group of leaders who are "MOST PERSUASIVE" today
- 17% of voters chose The Bush Administration & Cabinet as the group of leaders who are "MOST PERSUASIVE" today
- 15% of voters chose U.S. Senate & House Leaders as the group of leaders who are "MOST PERSUASIVE" today
- 10% of voters chose Democratic Presidential Candidates as the group of leaders who are "MOST PERSUASIVE" today
- 07% of voters chose Religious Leaders as the group of leaders who are "MOST PERSUASIVE" today
- 00% of voters chose Military Leaders as the group of leaders who are "MOST PERSUASIVE" today
Post-Poll Commentary:
Our respondents chose most overwhelmingly, Business CEO's as being the most persuasive group of leaders in our poll this week. Corporate CEO's enjoy a great deal of media exposure today and have in many cases reached a celebrity status. They write books, appear on the cover of business magazines and can be found in the headlines of all major newspapers and internet news media websites. On any given weekday, you will see several interviews of CEO's on Business TV shows such as CNBC. They are in the face of the public like never before.
Part of the job of a CEO is to promote their company's products as well as their future success. Living up to this responsibility would be very difficult without possessing the skills of a Persuasive Leader.
Each and every day, we are all called upon to be persuasive in one role or another. This is a critical skill for everyone to DEVELOP and not leave to chance. However, persuasiveness is part of a total package of leadership qualities and is not a standalone skill.