Leadership - Thoughts About Leadership

Leadership implies that there is someone or some thing to lead

. There are leaders and followers. Sometimes people can go quickly from being one to the other. Both positions have their pros and cons. Leaders are often held responsible for the success or failure of an endeavor. So if a venture is successful, a leader might be promoted to an even higher position. If a venture fails, a leader can be demoted or fired. Leaders are also rewarded and given credit when everything goes right. Some people enjoy the responsibility that comes with being a leader. Followers may enjoy not having to make decisions. Followers may enjoy the simplicity of laboring on tasks versus deciding what tasks to do, why, and how to do them.

Being a leader takes certain kinds of skills. Someone in a leadership position must make decisions and decide how, when, and where things will be done. Followers generally go along with the leader's decisions. Followers may not always agree with what the leader wants to do. Followers help achieve goals but may not be recognized by promotion or pay raises. Followers may not be as likely to be fired if the leader is held accountable for his or her choices. Are people born leaders? People can learn skills to function as better leaders. Many people have instincts or an urge to take control. Other leaders are offered and choose to accept leadership opinions. Some leaders are voted into a position. Others take a position by force.

Leadership appears in everyday life, whether on the playground or in the boardroom. Guiding yourself or others involves determining priorities and making choices. Over time, everyone develops some form of leadership skills and become examples to their peers. Children are generally considered followers. They do what their parents tell them. The parents making the decisions are the leaders. Eventually, children begin to make choices and develop their own leadership skills.

Leadership involves making both easy and very difficult decisions. At first, a child may simply choose whether to have a piece of fruit instead of a candy bar. Later, that same child may have to choose whether or not to do drugs. As a team captain, a kid may have the choice or responsibility to choose a team. That leader can choose his or her friends. Or that leader can choose members who will help the team achieve its goals regardless of friendships. The ability to make a decision and stand by it is an important quality for a leader.

by: Jerry J Spangler, Jr

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