What Makes a Leader?

Posted on Jul 06 in Trishaby TrishPrint

Last night I was reading a book and one of the characters was talking about what makes someone a good leader.  He was a leader because he was smarter or knew more than other people.  Another character was a great leader because he had the respect of everyone around him.  He was the natural leader that everyone chose to follow.

So I started thinking about being a leader.  I have always been a take charge kind of gal.  I don’t mind being the leader, and I often have been a leader.  Either in school activities, church things, etc.

In high school I was assistant captain, and then captain of our colorguard team.  That worked out well for a while, and then some drama happened to where at the end of my senior year no one would listen.  Our season was over and there wasn’t much to do anyways, so I turned the leadership over to the assistant captain.  I was too busy taking AP tests and wasn’t in class half the time anyways.

Looking back at it, even though I was in charge, I was no longer their real leader.

Now, in my life, I want to be the kind of person that people can look up to and ask for help.  I don’t mind sharing what I know.  I guess, in a way, that could make me a leader.  I want to be the right kind of leader though.  I don’t want to lead a group simply by force.  I want to be more like a mentor, or a caring leader.

I’ve noticed lately, however, that I have been more of a follower.  I think it’s because I’m still getting to know people in my neighborhood, and online.  I think it’s easier to follow along and observe things right now.

Sorry if this is not making any kind of sense.  It was just something I was pondering about last night and decided that I needed to write it down.

What do you think makes a good leader?  And why do some people tend to always be the leader, while others just follow?  Any thoughts?

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One Comment

• Sara Bonds says:

  July 6, 2009 at 8:16 pm

  It’s a very interesting topic. I have always been in leadership roles. Every job I ever had, when I wasn’t working for myself, I was the manager. When I was a waitress in high school, I was the head and training waitress. When I worked at retails stores and gift shops, I was the store manager. In high school I was the president of things. In college I was the founder and president of a student organization.

  My parents tell me that I have always been a very strong and confident leader at everything I did. I think some people are just leaders and others aren’t. I think it takes someone empathetic, patient, honest, humble, ethical, understanding, and intelligent to be a leader. It’s not enough to be educated in what you are the leader of either, if you lack those other traits you become the ‘boss’ that everyone hates.

  When I managed Bath & Body Works we took a lot of classes and whatnot on how to be a good leader. I also began school for my MBA after I went to college for Graphic Design, and in business school they talk about traits to lead to success. One thing I learned in both is that you have to be both ‘business’ and ‘human’ to be a good leader. When you are too much of either, you fail at being a leader. If you become all business, no one feels comfortable with you or feels like you understand and care. If you become all human, they lack the respect and fear (sounds weird but in some leadership roles fear is necessary) for you.

  It’s all very interesting. This post is just the sort fo thing I LOVE to think about and learn more about. Good stuff!

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