Recently, a buzzword on college campuses is "leadership." Professors are often encouraging you to get involved. Future employers want to know about the leadership positions you have held. Needless to say, leadership is becoming more and more important in our lives. Last semester I took a leadership seminar where one of the first questions asked was: "What are qualities of a good leader?" A common theme in my classmate’s responses was “success”. The examples they gave were of people who were successful from a wealth and career standpoint. Somehow, this seemed a strange to me, and got me thinking about what being a good leader means. Is it really only about being an example on how to get ahead? Because I hold several leadership positions myself, I struggled with this notion a lot and often wondered if I was doing it wrong. Throughout the semester I reflected on this question and tried to understand how it fit into my life. Throughout the semester I had a few difficult moments in these positions, however through those moments I stared to get the answer I needed.
I used to think that in order to be a strong leader one needed to be in control of everything. Growing up (and even now) I was kind of a control freak. This continued as I entered college, following me into my leadership positions. I thought that by knowing everything and by making sure everything was always “perfect” I would be a great leader. After many stressful moments, I challenged with the idea that perhaps leadership is less about being in control and more about being a support and guide to the people you are leading. Maybe, it’s recognizing that your actions effect people, and using that to positively influence others. Being a leader is about caring about what you are doing and the people you are influencing. It is inspiring them using your own passion and talents. Along with not having to control everything, conviction is crucial when you are in a position of leadership. I mean, why would someone follow you if you do not believe in the goal? There is a big difference between telling someone to do something and inspiring them to do something. A leader should be able to recognize the strengths of each person and empower them.
In the end, leadership is more about the other people than it is about yourself. If you are more focused on your personal own personal success, your leadership abilities suffer. You are less focused on the people you are leading and the goal you are working towards. I am not saying this is always easy or the answer for everything however, it is a good foundation. The methods you use as a leader will always depend on the situation, people, and the goal. Using your talents and attempting to empower others will always enable you to a great leader.
