The Definition of Leadership

Being a leader doesn't necessarily mean to be the most skilled or the smartest. It is a word reserved for those who guide both themselves and others. Situations come up where individual accomplishments can’t always be done, because the target goal is one that is bigger than a single person. In such a case, a leader is not just a helping hand, but also a hand that keeps chaos from occurring.

While having long and short term plans are important, humility is the best quality in a leader. A leader must recognize when he or she is wrong instead of keeping their pride. Those with their pride sometimes don't want to admit when they are wrong, so they just stick to what they've been doing and allow a bad situation to grow worse. This unhumble trait must not be permitted in any leader. Instead, a leader must be a person continuously growing and learning from their experiences with others.

Leaders should act as a mediator between their people and the obstacle(s) that must be stopped. They are ordinary people that others find inspiration within. As a result of being role models, they do their best to mentor others and share their personal wisdom. With their guidance, others are taught how to achieve individual goals, as well as being leaders of their own.

Attitude is everything in leadership. Sore losers and quitters are not ideal leaders. The leaders that history remembers are those who took their losses without giving up or throwing a tantrum. Having the right attitude is extremely important because it sets an example for those who look up to the leader. Positive attitudes are vital to any cause, as they contribute to optimism and give others hope for a better future and a path to follow.

Throughout history there have been many different types of leaders: the good, the bad, the sweet, and sometimes the downright evil. There are many who have led wicked causes, but also those who have led righteously. Both kinds of leaders have the power to change the world and the individual’s viewpoint.

Martin Luther King was an inspiration the day that he announced his dream for the world. His speech is the best-known speech in American history and many who heard him speak can recount exactly where they were when he said the words that gave a generation hope. His words resound today and continue to impact even my generation. His eloquence and his dedication to the cause of equal rights set the wheels in motion for racial equality.

Drugs are a growing problem in today’s society. A woman who founded my high school is also responsible for several drug clinics in Las Vegas. Sometimes a few of the teenagers affected by drugs would visit the school and share their stories. They all led difficult lives and are taking charge of their lives today by showing impressible high school teenagers that drugs ruin lives. I was so impressed by these leaders in making that I took initiative to start a community service project for the drug clinic. In order to make the drug clinic a warm place for addicts on the way to recovery, I had my graduating class come together to create inspiration for these future leaders. I set up for our whole class to paint words of hope on canvases to hang in the drug clinic. It not only helped the clinic become more beautiful but the contribution gave my class a small voice to these kids who might come in someday and teach other students about saying no to drugs.