“Power isn’t control at all–power is strength and giving that strength to others. A leader isn’t someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength to stand on their own.” Beth Revis
I have always been called a “leader” and accepted it. I never really thought anything of it. It was a compliment; I knew that, and I would go around and tell people that I was one but could never explain why or how. I took the title without even knowing what was in the job description.
As I got older, I began to understand a little more. A leader helped people. A leader got others to do things they normally wouldn’t do. There are good leaders and bad leaders. Growing up, I went from considering Superman the best leader in the world, to President Obama. I evolved, as did my understanding of the topic.
It wasn’t until high school that I really realized what leaders were. You don’t have to be famous or rule over a large group of people to be a leader. You can be a leader just through encouraging others, and by being an example to follow. As a leader, you don’t want a people to follow you; you want people to look at you while you are being kind or doing something productive and go off and do it themselves, not because you did it, but because it is the right thing to do.
Leadership is not about control; it’s about influence and inspiration. You don’t have to be this larger-than-life character to be a leader. You can just as easily be the girl who raises her hand before speaking or says yes ma’am and no sir. You can be the one who tells your friend “Hey, you’ve been drinking. Don’t get in the car.” Being a leader means caring about others and doing things to protect them or make sure they’re okay.
One time, a teacher told me that you must follow before you lead. This is a very true and important statement. In order to be a leader, you have to pick up on the needed characteristics of another leader. You must watch, listen, and be inspired by someone else. The way I see it, you cannot be a natural-born leader. Being a leader is something you get genetically. You have to work at it. You have to learn the art of it. Another thing that teacher told me was that some people are perfectly happy being followers, and that is quite alright. Leading isn’t for everyone. Some people don’t want to handle such responsibilities, but I feel that everyone has the potential to lead. Some just prefer not to.
Leaders are very important. Many of us rely on leadership in rough times, especially within teams. There needs to be one person who can consider every opinion, make a decision, and make sure everyone is on the same page. Without leaders, there is chaos. Society would be completely dilapidated without them. I mean, really think about it. If the world was just a bunch of indecisive, naive followers then nothing would ever get done. The world would be bare. We wouldn’t have any technology, shelters, even farms needed leaders. Someone needs to call the shots.
Now, as I previously mentioned, there are good leaders and bad leaders. Hitler, for instance, was manipulative and a liar. Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t perfect, but he stood up for a good cause. He inspired people and was honest with the people he led. He did not stand for the harm of others. He showed kindness, respect, and good qualities of leadership. Gandhi had a lot of the same ideals. Good leaders want what is best for everyone, not just what is best for them.
I have been called a leader for most of my life, and now that I fully understand the concept, I am proud to be considered as such. I try my best each day to present myself with the qualities that describe leadership because I truly believe that without leadership, good leadership at that, there would be no prospering. I’m glad to say that I help the world prosper.