The Leader in Me

 A leader believes that failures present the opportunity for self-improvement, and that performance on the next go-round will only be enhanced through the lessons previously learned.

A leader is someone whose advice is sought frequently, but never forcefully pushed onto others. A leader is someone whose spirit and desire for excellence eclipses that of everyone else around him. A leader sees the value in others, and inspires each person to perform their best, many times allowing them to exceed even their own expectations. A leader does not point to a location, tell his followers to go there, then tell them how to accomplish a goal. Rather, the leader is at the front of the pack, forging ahead of the rest and blazing a trail. The leader demonstrates to everyone else how things should be done, and works harder at accomplishing their goals than anyone else. Whether you are striving to be a leader in your career, or simply want to be a leader in school, or your private life, there are many lessons and characteristics that will serve as a leader.

Being a "Super" Senior at Wright State University, I have be fortunate enough to be accepted by a leader in many situations. But does a specific title make you a better leader? Are you even a leader? Are you accomplishing something just to be recognized?  Can you become a leader? Personally, I have never thought of myself as a leader until recently. I have always been apart of things because I WANT to. Not because I want recognition, not because I have to, and not to be noticed. I grew as a leader because I wanted to be involved, help others, and help others around me be the best that they can/want to be. After all, others can only help so much. YOU have to put the effort for improvement. Here are some tips that I have for you to be a leader:

1. A Leader Must Have a Vision: This could be your grandest goal, or an overall sense of accomplishment. Either way, the leader must be able to visualize where he/she wants to be, where he wants his company to be, or where he wants his family to be. Everything begins with a worthy vision that provides a goal to work towards. 
2. A Leader Must be Able to Develop Relationships: Great interpersonal skills are necessary for any leader to possess. The leader builds quality relationships based upon trust, respect, cooperation, and teamwork. The leader does not ask what others can do for them, but rather what he can be doing to help others. 
3. A Leader Must be Able to Strategize: Successful leaders not only have a great vision, but they are able to develop a plan to reach their goal successfully. The leader knows what accomplishments need to be made and what obstacles must be overcome. Even if this means to ask for help. You may be a leader, but you don't have to lead alone.
4. A Leader Must be Able to Resolve Conflict: A good leader will examine conflict from all angles and be able to determine its root cause. In addition to realizing the feelings and perspectives of others, the leader will also recognize and acknowledge their own role in the conflict. 
5. A Leader Must be a Good Problem Solver: Thorough planning can help smooth out the road of being a leader, but there will be some ruts in the road that threaten to rip the wheels off of the car. A good leader will recognize this ahead of time and plan accordingly, offering a backup plan when the original one goes awry. A leader is able to think on their feet, gather all available information, decipher the facts, and use some good common sense to come up with a workable solution.

In life, leaders are not necessarily the highest ranking person, or the one who holds the most impressive job title, or the one who claims to be the keeper of the home. A leader is someone whose actions have placed them in a position of trust and authority among their peers.