Leadership thoughts

On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, my thoughts drift towards the term leadership and what makes one a great leader.

Leading by example. Setting the standard by which those around you should conduct themselves. Doing the right thing when no one is looking. Taking the extra step when an easier but less ideal path presents itself. A leader must have strong conviction to their ideals and always practice what they seek to draw out of others.

Having unique thoughts or ideals that differentiate you from the accepted norm. A leader must not be afraid to share these ideas with those that may disagree with them or might challenge them. A leader can not be defined by simply maintaining the status quo or continuing “as-is”, but reacts to the challenges around them and presents unique thoughts or ideas that others can rally behind.

Lead not through force or coercion, but from a common goal or outcome that each individual can benefit from. Being a great leader is not about making rules, or policies by which everyone must follow, but rather by making each individual want to do the thing for which the rule is intending to correct. Teach others to make good choices, don’t make the choices for them and expect them to be great decision makers in the future.

Leadership can not be taught or assigned . Leadership is a characteristic that a person has and is willing to share with the world. We are so lucky for our leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as they have changed the world in such meaningful and positive ways.