The question, “are you a leader?” was posed to me. Deep down, I thought the answer was yes, but according to society’s idea of leadership, I was not so sure anymore. We are programmed to believe that a leader is a public figure making a name for him and his brand. For some, they may be okay living in the mind trap thinking this world can only accommodate a certain number of leaders, and they just are not big enough to fill those shoes. But for me, I am not willing to sit idle and let time and opportunities pass me by in this life. I did a quick Google search of the definition of a leader. I read through a few, and to be frank, they stunk. The ideas various dictionaries suggested were limiting and small-minded. It took scrolling through a small business blog to find a definition I could get behind and support. “Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal.” This a good starting place, but ultimately, I think defining leadership for ourselves is what must be done. The impact we make matters far more than the size of the contribution we give. Having power does not make a person a leader; how a person chooses to implement power determines the ability to call them a leader. If you do something just for the sake of holding a title or getting special recognition, you are not a leader. I am willing to propose that leadership can be derived from humbleness and extraordinary outcomes can be first planted by ordinary people who just so happen to have inner-leader waiting to blossom. The characterization of a leader can be challenging, but for me, I see a leader who is willing to do and guide efforts that what will lead to making a difference for the better. For me, I found my first position in leadership during high school. There was a lot I did not know, but I knew enough to at least start and be able to say I tried. Being in high school influenced the types of activities we were able to do and the outcomes of those actions. This was my first glimpse of understanding that big is not always better, and that thoughtfulness and comradery would leave a lasting impression over the fanfare others were able to do. You see, it is not about enforcing a power trip. Showing meticulous care as a leader allows for a bond to form, and when the job was too big for one person, a leader can recognize the strengths of team members and distribute the load. My first year as a leader, I thought because we were not doing things big, we were not doing enough. I learned that building trust, commitment, and doing our best was more important than the funds we raised or the fanfare. My age had nothing to do with the type of leader I was able to be; being willing to do a job and helping others reach their best potential had everything to do with being a leader. As the years went on, my leadership style transformed. I learned from mistakes yet grew into new positions. With maturity, our contributions matured with us, but the take away from my years in that leadership position is that it started small, and it did not matter because those efforts were accomplished with meaningful leadership. A leader is a leader no matter the size. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2019
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