How to be a Leader

Every organization or group of people needs a leader; Someone who holds a superior position to their coworkers that allows them to oversee a process of events and make decision that will benefit the goals of the group. Leaders come in many forms, and the majority of college students have held at least one leadership position throughout their life. Whether this means organizing other students for a group project or running a large campus or professional organization, a leader's role is to influence a group of people in order to reach their goals.

In order to be an effective leader, one must understand the difference between leadership and management. While they sound like similar terms, there is actually a large distinction between the two. Leaders run the risk of being ineffective if they  manage and dominate others they are working with too closely. In order to avoid this, there are several things a leader must first understand. For one thing, a leader must recognize that they are a part of a team. While they might hold superiority over others that they work with, each member of a team is needed in order for group goals to be completed. An effective leader has to understand that they are just a small piece is a large machine, and that taking other team members for granted can have some potential negative consequences.

Another key element that leaders must understand is that all of their team members want the group to succeed. Whether success is determined by receiving an 'A' on a class paper or making a sales profit out in the corporate world, the majority of people are highly motivated by growth and development. They want to perform their job to the best of their abilities in order to complete the assignment and achieve the group's goals. Leaders who understand this must stray away from simply managing those subordinate to them. It is not enough to simply dictate every move of your team members/coworkers. Instead, leaders need to allow group members to complete assignments in their own way using their own resources. By doing so, they are providing room for growth and improvement that might never have been possible if every team member's was micro-managed.

Good quality leaders are honest and nurturing. They create environments where everyone can succeed and group goals are achieved. So whether the next time you are a leader is when you are motivating classmates to complete a group project or leading a team in your next job, remember that successful leaders don't just manage others, they influence them.