Leadership

Leadership is the process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.

Leadership is not magic that comes out of a leader's head. It's skill. The leader learns how to get the job done and still keep the group together.

Leadership differs with the leader, the group, and the situation.

Leaders, like other people are all different. No leader can take over another leader's job and do it the same way.

Groups are different, too. A great football coach might have difficulty leading an orchestra. A good sergeant might be a poor principal. So when a leader changes groups, s/he changes the way s/he leads.

Situations differ, too. The same leader with the same group must change with conditions. A person leading a group discussion needs to change his/her style of leadership when a fire breaks out. As a leader, you probably can't lead a group in the rain the same as you do in the sunshine.

As an effective leader, then, you must be alert at all times to the reaction of the members of the group; the conditions in which you find yourself; and be aware of your own abilities and reactions.

Becoming A Leader

There is no one way or right way to be a leader. Every famous leader has had his/her own style and their own purpose. For instance Martin Luther King Jr., Julius Caesar, Ghandi, and Mother Teresa are all widely known and widely respected leaders that fought for what they believed in and helped others in their own way. There have been many leaders throughout history, each with their own style of leading and reason for taking charge.

You can become a leader too by standing up for your beliefs and finding ways to help people work together to achieve common goals. You can become a leader and change the world around you. One way to start is by working with teachers and peers at your school to create projects that are important to you and can help those around you.