Becoming a Leader

In a comprehensive review of leadership, Ralph Stodgill concluded that there are "almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept." Leadership, it seems, means different things to different people.

For our purposes, let's define the concept as such: Leadership is proactively applying your unique strengths and experience toward a shared outcome in such a way that inspires others to do the same.

By this definition, anyone can be a leader but it must be earned; leadership must not be confused with position, power, or title. Leadership can be shared. Each individual should lead in his or her unique way.

Would you like to be a leader in your course, your student club, your place of employment, your home, your place of worship, your...? Consider these principles of leadership.

1. Live Authentically (lead by example)

2. Value Every Person (empathy, diversity, empowerment)

3. Inspire a Vision (where are we going? more importantly, why?)

4. Take bold thought-full action (learn, strategize, act, reflect, learn, strategize, act, reflect...)

5. Be(come) who you are! (let your light shine)