Intelligence is the most important quality for a leader.
Do you agree or disagree?
Some individuals argue that intelligence is a prerequisite of a good leader. In my opinion, although high intelligence allows leaders to more likely guide their team towards the right direction, compassion plays a more instrumental role in leadership as it cultivates trust and ensures the loyalty of team members.
Proponents of intelligence being the most vital quality to have as a leader typically point to the ability to make logical decisions. Highly intelligent leaders can analyze a given situation thoroughly and assess all possibilities, thereby formulating a path that involves the lowest risks, while maximizing potential rewards. For example, in a business setting, a savvy chairman can evaluate the economic outlook, strengths and weaknesses of the company’s products to engender a strategy that helps increase profits and lower expenses. Smart leaders also gain the respect of other members with relative ease, which translates to their decisions less likely being challenged or questioned. For instance, when students who are perceived as smart become leaders in a group project, there is a stronger likelihood that other classmates trust in the leader’s choices regarding slides and presentation styles, which promotes collaboration and group cohesion.
However, I believe that empathy is the most valuable quality that a leader can possess. Leaders who show compassion and understanding toward members’ personal struggles can strengthen their loyalty to a common cause, because people feel like their emotions and contributions are acknowledged. A pertinent example of this can be observed in managers, who are willing to spend the time to attend employees’ important life events such as weddings, as this often helps foster healthy relationships in the workplace. Stronger interpersonal bonds, can lead to more open and productive discussions, and less negative reaction to constructive criticisms, therefore allowing for more effective group collaboration. A team that works well together lays the foundation for a positive working environment in which compassion operates as its core value.
In conclusion, although high levels of intelligence is necessary for leaders to guide their team towards their goals, compassion is still a more important characteristic for leaders as it establishes a healthy dynamic within a group. All leaders should strive to show empathy toward their employees to boost productivity and strengthen bonds.
🔹 B2 Level
intelligence: trí thông minh
quality: phẩm chất
leader: người lãnh đạo
agree or disagree: đồng ý hay không đồng ý
individuals: cá nhân
argue that: cho rằng
good leader: người lãnh đạo giỏi
in my opinion: theo quan điểm của tôi
guide their team: dẫn dắt đội nhóm
the right direction: hướng đi đúng
plays a role: đóng vai trò
team members: thành viên trong nhóm
proponents of: những người ủng hộ
ability to make decisions: khả năng đưa ra quyết định
analyze a situation: phân tích tình huống
assess possibilities: đánh giá các khả năng
lowest risks: rủi ro thấp nhất
maximize rewards: tối đa hóa lợi ích
for example: ví dụ
business setting: môi trường kinh doanh
increase profits: tăng lợi nhuận
lower expenses: giảm chi phí
gain respect: giành được sự tôn trọng
other members: các thành viên khác
less likely to: ít có khả năng
for instance: ví dụ
group project: dự án nhóm
trust in: tin tưởng vào
promotes collaboration: thúc đẩy hợp tác
🔹 C1 Level
prerequisite: điều kiện tiên quyết
high intelligence: trí thông minh cao
instrumental role: vai trò then chốt
cultivates trust: xây dựng sự tin tưởng
ensures loyalty: đảm bảo sự trung thành
most vital quality: phẩm chất quan trọng nhất
logical decisions: quyết định logic
thoroughly: một cách kỹ lưỡng
formulating a path: xây dựng định hướng
maximizing potential rewards: tối đa hóa lợi ích tiềm năng
savvy chairman: chủ tịch nhạy bén
evaluate the economic outlook: đánh giá triển vọng kinh tế
strengths and weaknesses: điểm mạnh và điểm yếu
engender a strategy: tạo ra chiến lược
with relative ease: một cách tương đối dễ dàng
translates to: dẫn đến / đồng nghĩa với
being challenged or questioned: bị thách thức hoặc nghi ngờ
perceived as: được coi là
stronger likelihood: khả năng cao hơn
group cohesion: sự gắn kết nhóm
empathy: sự đồng cảm
possess: sở hữu
compassion: sự cảm thông
personal struggles: khó khăn cá nhân
common cause: mục tiêu chung
acknowledged: được công nhận
a pertinent example: ví dụ phù hợp
be observed in: có thể thấy ở
foster relationships: nuôi dưỡng mối quan hệ
interpersonal bonds: mối quan hệ giữa cá nhân
productive discussions: thảo luận hiệu quả
constructive criticisms: những lời phê bình mang tính xây dựng
effective collaboration: sự hợp tác hiệu quả
lays the foundation for: đặt nền tảng cho
working environment: môi trường làm việc
🔹 C2 Level
more likely to: có xu hướng cao hơn (sắc thái học thuật)
cultivates: nuôi dưỡng / phát triển (trang trọng hơn “build”)
engender: tạo ra (mang tính học thuật cao)
cohesion: sự gắn kết (trang trọng)
pertinent: phù hợp / xác đáng
operates as: hoạt động như / đóng vai trò như
core value: giá trị cốt lõi
establishes a healthy dynamic: thiết lập một tương tác lành mạnh
strive to: nỗ lực để