Leadership and influence (links to 'Describe a good leader')
IELTS Speaking Practice — AI-Powered Feedback
Part 3 discussion questions
Play each question, then record one continuous answer covering them all.
- 1
What qualities do you think a good leader should have?
- 2
Are leaders in business very different from leaders in politics?
- 3
Do you think leaders are more effective when they are strict or when they are friendly?
- 4
How much influence do leaders really have over the people they lead?
- 5
Why do some leaders lose the support of their followers?
- 6
Should young people be trained to become future leaders?
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Model answer (Band 8-9)
Part 3Original model answer written by our team for practice — not an official IELTS answer.
1. What qualities do you think a good leader should have?
I’d say a good leader needs a clear vision, emotional intelligence and, above all, integrity. Vision gives people a sense of direction, but without honesty and consistency, nobody will trust that vision. On top of that, strong communication skills and the ability to listen actively are crucial, because leadership is really about aligning different personalities around shared goals, not just giving orders.
2. Are leaders in business very different from leaders in politics?
In principle they face similar challenges, like making tough decisions and managing conflicting interests, but their incentives are quite different. Business leaders are usually driven by profit and market competition, so they’re judged on measurable results. Political leaders, on the other hand, have to satisfy diverse groups of voters and stakeholders, which pushes them towards compromise and short-term popularity. So their style and time horizon can differ a lot.
3. Do you think leaders are more effective when they are strict or when they are friendly?
Neither extreme works well on its own; the most effective leaders strike a balance between the two. If they’re only strict, people may comply out of fear but won’t be genuinely motivated or creative. If they’re only friendly, standards can easily slip. The ideal is what people call “firm but fair” leadership, where clear expectations are combined with empathy and genuine support.
4. How much influence do leaders really have over the people they lead?
Leaders can shape culture, priorities and morale to a surprising extent, especially in the short term. Their decisions and behaviour set the tone, and people often mirror that, consciously or not. However, their influence is not unlimited; it’s constrained by things like organisational structures, social norms and economic conditions. In the long run, followers’ values and interests can push back and even replace ineffective leaders.
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