What makes a person a compelling leader? In the book Ender Games written by Orson Scott Card, human life is threatened by the expectation of war with the Buggers, a technologically advanced species that has already threatened to wipe out Earth. Population control on Earth is strictly enforced and people do not have the freedom to practice speech, religion and many others. The government conducts intensive surveillance of the private lives of families and young children. The International Fleet asks young children to leave their parents and serve as soldiers/commanders to fight against the buggers. From this company was born Ender Wiggin who exemplifies the theme that being a compelling leader is about confidence and not power by earning respect and trust in his soldiers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Ender demonstrates the enduring truth about leadership. Leadership is not about being powerful but about being respected and trusted. Confidence appears to be the key attribute associated with leadership. After the battle against the Buggers on the International Fleet, Ender evaluates what he thinks of each of his soldiers, the author states: "They also knew that Ender trusted them, to do what they thought best when he gave them no orders. The fighting wasn't suited to the situation they found themselves in, Ender wouldn't have chosen them for this job. Good leaders know their followers. A leader cannot lead if his followers do not trust him. Ender has not chosen any goal for his soldiers that they cannot achieve. A leader discovers the soldiers' problems and tries to help them, but it is the trust his followers place in Ender. He made it a priority to know everything about his soldiers, their strengths, their weaknesses, their qualities and their faults. In practice, he led them hard, was friendlier, and helped each member of his army reach their highest potential. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Ender is an authority because he is a perfect example of effective leadership. It demonstrates that leadership is not just about power, but it is simply about esteem and power. By trusting his team to achieve his goals he earned their trust in return, by ensuring his team retained their skills he ensured they could adapt to what was to come and he ensured that his teams thrived and won fights that earned him respect. Surely we can learn what it takes to be a leader. We must know our people and develop confidence in our soldiers and, in return, we gain respect from them. Leaders inspire others to admire them by telling the truth, being honest with what they promise, and living seriously...