Leadership: a 90s kid's point of view

There has been an unresolved debate going on for ages about leaders; are they born or made? Actually it’s both – but more of the latter. Although there are certain qualities that predispose other people to become a great leader someday, if they aren't nurtured then those qualities just stay stagnant inside that person thus never actually putting it to good use -- in other words, useless. 

So how do we wake these certain qualities that are deep within us? Training, Education, and sheer Will and Determination can go a loooong way. Want to become the next big thing in leadership but don’t know where to start? Well read on.

If you think you have what it takes to be a great leader today or maybe sometime in the near future then that’s great! The first step to success is always believing in yourself. And if you don’t think you can do it then you better start changing the way you think. Big changes start small, if you want to change the world, start by changing yourself. 

I’m not a world leader or anything of that sort, but I am one of the people that will change the world someday – the youth. We keep hearing and reading about Leadership from successful adults that have made their mark in society, but we rarely hear from our generation.

Since I made it clear that I don’t have the credibility to rant about what you should or should not do to become a successful leader, I’m going to stick with the basics and remind you what to consider when you are (or plan to be) a leader. Namely: Leader, Followers, Situation and Communication.

Leader – as a leader you must know your skills and limitations. Remember, it’s the followers that decide whether you’re a great leader or not. If you want to be respected then you must respect your followers. If your followers feel threatened and rigid around you then there’s something amiss. As a leader you must also be versatile and open for new ideas and suggestions from your followers. Remember, 2 heads are better than 1. 

Followers – without followers, one cannot become a leader, this is where your versatility comes in handy. Everyone is unique, and different people need different kinds of leadership styles and guidance. Others may need more motivation than most. So it’s very important that you know your people! You must know how they tick, what makes them work and how they work.

Situation – every situation is different, it’s not every day that things turn out how you want them to. Thus you must know how to make the best of what you have. Versatility paired with good judgment will let you overcome this hurdle. 

Communication – one of the most important attributes you must possess in order to become and exceptional leader. Good communication skills lead to motivation, inspiration, trust and respect between leaders and their followers. When leaders communicate with their followers, they start to motivate them into working into a team in order to have higher chances of success. Having continuous communication and checking up on followers keeps them more inspired and motivated thus pushing them harder to work and raises the rate of productivity.

With these four basic concepts in mind, you are one step closer to becoming the exceptional leader you ought to become. 

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