Personal Leadership Statement

Is a leader as defined in the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, merely one who leads - synonymous with a boss? Or something more? I believe that a leader is much more than that and can be defined in any number of ways. In attempting to define a leader personally, I will use both myself and others as examples.

For many years, I have been told by teachers, family, and friends that I am a good leader. Until fairly recently, I had never truly thought about what it means to be a good leader and just took it as a compliment. Leadership is an intangible concept which cannot be properly outlined in a dictionary, but one which must be formed and explained only through one’s own philosophies and experiences.

Perhaps the most important qualities of a leader are passion and motivation. Especially when leading a group for a particular cause, a leader must be personally attached to that cause. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for example, is a legendary leader because he fought for a cause that directly affected him. had he not been pushing for a personal reason, his actions would not have been as passionate. This would have caused a lack in motivation, another essential leadership quality. A leader faces many roadblocks and opposition and thus, must be motivated to continue fighting and leading. A leader’s attitude and opinions are valued by the group and therefore, if a leader is motivated, the group will be, too. The continued actions and successes, no matter how small, which move the group closer to its goal also help its motivation and drive.

Other attributes of a leader are selflessness, knowledge, organization, humility, and trust. Perhaps the most difficult part of being a leader is knowing that each decision you make will h...

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...s being responsible for my world visions, I am responsible for my supporters as a leader. In order to lead successfully, one must have a strong group of supporters. The supporters will all believe in the goals of the leader. When leading, you are responsible for making sure the group is moving in the right direction to meet its goals. Your supporters will trust you to make proper decisions in the path forward. Knowing your power to radically change the world is a great responsibility, which at times can be almost frightening. In the end, though, it comes back to trust; trust of oneself and of others.

When faced with roadblocks or difficult decisions as a leader, I know that I must remain confident and retain all the qualities outlined earlier as well as countless others. Only then will I be able to effectively take action and make change in my leadership role.