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How to Become the Leader

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Submitted By Mama03
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Pages 7
How to Become the Leader I Want/Need to Be
Jami Fedro
Rasmussen College

Author Note This paper is being submitted on May 28, 2016, for Michael Schneider’s B492/MAN4143 Contemporary Leadership Challenges online course.

Leadership is a very broad term and has many definitions depending on the situation. If you ask anyone what it means to be a leader, you will likely hear something unique every time because everyone has his or her own idea of what leadership is. Even though the definitions may vary, the general sentiments remain the same: Leaders are people who know how to achieve goals and inspire people along the way. Leaders will have a vision of what can be achieved and then communicate this to others and evolve strategies for realizing the vision. They motivate people and are able to negotiate for resources and other support to achieve their goals. Many people view management as leadership but it is not. Leadership comes from influence and influence can come from anyone at any level and in any role. Being able to help lift others up and work together toward a common mission will build influence. True leadership comes when those around you are influenced by your life in a positive way (Helmrich, 2016).
Leadership is about positively impacting others through example and enabling a continuous rippling effect. To me leadership reflects in everyday actions and behaviors. Being a leader is not a one-time thing, it is a life-long commitment. Leadership is service empathy and clarity of vision. Being a leader is the ability to not just have a vision but to act on the vision and engage others on the team to act on it successfully. Leadership means changing and challenging yourself for a purpose you believe in. A leader needs to inspire action and inspire by example. Leadership is empowering others to become something greater than themselves.

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