Lifelong Learning Blogs

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The Leader in Me




As I was surfing the internet which I usually do every night, I have come across a saying from John Quincy Adams that says, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” It occurred to me what kind of leader I want to be. Leadership to me is a passage of discovery, not only for myself, but a discovery of other person’s potential that I also may learn from them. As a teacher, I want to instill to my students the hope for success and a belief in them, empowering them to accomplish their goals, and helping them manifest their highest potentials while they toil towards a vision that adds value to the world at large. I want to use this opportunity to make a positive difference in society and to give guidance to those that will follow, the younger generation. As a mature individual and as a mentor, it is my responsibility to be sensitive to their needs and make an important impact in their lives so that it will also flow through the lives that they may lead in the future.

I want to say over and over again that leadership is not about position, but action and quality of your character. Character is about self-leadership. Once you lead yourself well, others may want to follow. It is the foundation on which leader's life is built. It all starts with the character, because leadership fastens on the basis of trust. If people don't have confidence that is trust based in you, they will never follow. Doubts will creep to them like a robber and steal the only chance for them to pursue a better direction – following that is essential to leading.