A leader never loses his temper except deliberately at the place and time of his choosing, in order to achieve a specific purpose or air. Only those who are emotional and excitable, lose temper easily and instantly. A quick tempered person will prove to be highly irritable and difficult to get along with. If your temper is aroused and you let the other fellow have it or tell him a thing or two or give him a piece of your mind, you may get a brief relief, obtain some satisfaction or even have a fine time unloading your pent –up feelings. But apart from this trifling and transient satisfaction, you will gain nothing tangible or useful. On the other hand, you will find your way to leadership seriously blocked because of your quick and sharp temper. You may tell off others all right but you will never get what you want. You will never get their willing and wholehearted cooperation, you make a large number of enemies because of your sharp and uncontrolled temper and at every turn you will find these enemies seriously hindering your progress. Ultimately you will find, leadership slipping out of your hands.
In the words of Abraham Lincoln:”It is an old and true maxim that a drop of hones catches more files than a gallon of gall. “So with men, if you would win a man to your cause, first convince that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of hones that catches his heart, which, say what you will, is the great high road to his reasons.” If and individual’s heart is burning with hatred, filled to the brim with ill –feeling and ranking with hatred, he or she could never be persuaded to agree with all the logic and reasoning in the world. Shouting, scolding, unfriendly and hostile attitude will never make their opponents to change their view of shift their stands. To be a leader you have to win people to your way of thinking, you have to motivate others to cooperate with you, you have to make friends and avoid creating enemies. A sharp, unguarded, quick temper causes you great harm and no good whatever. It makes you vulnerable and weak. You should, therefore, never give way to your temper. When you feel like telling a thing or two, check yourself. When you feel that your wife, children, parents, friends, colleagues have not done as they should have done, don’t blow off your head instantly on the spot.
On the other hand, exercise patience. Relax and smile. Try to understand why others have behaved in the way they have done. Put your self in their shoes and ponder. You will learn what had induced them to act in that way.
Often we are unable to take it out on our superiors. In most cases we just cannot afford to do so. Therefore, we try to take out on our subordinates and dependents. If you observe an individual suffering from inferiority complex, you will find him behaving in exactly a similar manner. To become a successful leader you must control your temper and guard your tongue. You must never act in haste. A smile and friendly approach will fetch you cooperation and success.
