There have been conversations lately in many of the online social circles I am in, posing questions like:
What is the best quality of a leader?
If you could only teach one thing to a young person about leadership, what would it be?
These conversations are interesting. I’d like to take it a step further.
It seems to me the hundreds of different answers all say the same thing in one way or another….Be the Example!
We know leadership skills can be acquired, and the way we learn leadership, is by emulating another. Even when we study the list of qualities of a leader from a book or a class, it is the actual examples, that we learn most from. As social beings, we learn by mimicking.
Who do you think of when you hear the word, ”Leader”?
We may think of a parent, a mentor, grandparent, teacher, aunt, uncle, a friend, a hero from the past, etc. Any of you think of yourself?!
Through out our years, we recognize a person that has has impacted us and take note. For others, we learn how to lead by not doing what was demonstrated to us. Some of us were brought up with the forceful mentality, “you’ll do this or else!” This way of being with another, can hardly be considered leading. Whether we agree or disagree with the way we were raised by our parents, the influence of adults and other people in our lives, shapes our own leadership behaviors.
For some of us, leadership happens upon us and can take us by surprise. We may land a certain position or find ourselves in a place where all eyes are on us. (OMG, I am leading this group!) And yet for most of us, leadership is something we choose into, because we want the responsibly.
In all cases, a leader is one whom is leading in their own life. They are taking responsibly for their own lives, and through being the example, it is natural for them to lead others. Naturally, a person that is living on purpose and being the best they can, setting and going for their personal goals, would be a person who is being a great example to others, aka a leader.
One of the greatest principles being taught in some schools, is asking the children, age 3+, “Are you being a good example?”
Brilliant!
We have agreed as a society that older kids should be a good example to younger kids. Because of this agreement, anytime children can be in school where they have a mix or older and younger children, this principle will naturally come into play! Love it. Or it will naturally show up where you have older siblings. Unfortunately, most schools segregate children by their age, therefore, within the school systems where children receive their structural learning, this simple, yet profound principle, is not being taught.
The responsibility of teaching leadership is left to the parents. I am satisfied, that our son get lessons of leadership at school, and also at home.
However, it surprises me that most people I come in contact with on a daily basis, do not consider themselves a leader. They reserve that right for people with fancy titles, who have loud voices, who stand at podiums, show up on TV , etc. This fact, has prompted to write this article.
Here is where I will state the obvious! If you are a parent, YOU ARE A LEADER! If there is any children in your environment EVER, you are a Leader! However you show up to that child, if only for a second, you are being an example of leadership. There is no amount of verbal communication from parent/ adult to the child, that will have the child learning the principle of leadership. Remember, we are human beings, we mimick.
Whether a parent or not, Our actions speak so loud, they can not hear a word we are saying!
It is so relevant to take a look at our actions. Our words are so secondary.
Lists of the attributes of a leader , are nice and fun to ponder, however taking one quality from the list and implementing it, is of much more value.
Yes… Be the example. Be the change you want to see in this world. (Thanks Gandi!) Show up to win, and on purpose in your own life.
You are being an example right now.
The question, Is the example you are being right now, leading people where you want them to go?
Share your thoughts about being a leader, and share your ‘everyday’ examples of leadership here. And please be sure to share for all those out there who don’t see themselves as a leader. Let’s hear it for our leaders!!
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