How to be a great leader?
Have you ever thought about something you would like to do at school to improve it? Maybe you think it is a great idea, but you´re not sure if everyone else would think the same way.
Well, then you need to improve your leadership skill. First of all, you need to be confident, you need to be sure that what you´re planning to do is for the sake of the whole community. You will have to take into account other´s opinions; you can even make a box or a blog where every student will be able to leave their comments on how to improve the school in order to create an "Action Plan". For example, if you see that your school does not has trees at all, it’s hot, there´s a lot of dust and everyone is concerned about the situation, then as a leader you can launch a project to plant trees around the school where everyone is invited to participate. At the end, you will see that by taking the initiative, many students will be willing to follow and support you. You must remember that you need to do something to cover all of the requests and involve people, respect everyone’s opinions, and teach people to do the same things, be responsible and keep all of your promises.
Good luck!
Now, not only leaders need tips to improve, but also followers need them.
1. Be judgmental: The key to be a good follower is that you must know the difference between a directive that a leader gives on how to proceed that you don´t agree with and a directive that is truly wrong. Good followers must take direction only if the instructions, rules or directions given are proper and ethical.
2. Work ethically: A good follower must be a good worker, dedicated, committed, diligent and responsible.
3. Be honest: As mentioned before, you must follow directions only if they are proper and ethical, therefore, being honest and giving good constructive feedback to the leader makes you a good follower.
4. Have courage: Being a good follower involves courage because you need it to be able to tell the truth about your concerns of the leader´s decisions or to confront the leader if he is doing something wrong.
5. Be loyal: Followers need to be loyal to their team members and to the leader. Is particularly important when there are conflicts, in that way, you will stay true to the main goals of the team.
6. Manage your ego: You have to manage your ego in order to avoid conflicts. Every goal that you have accomplish is not only yours, but it is an achievement that belongs to all the team, the same tip goes for the leader.
Without followers, there wouldn´t be leaders, so remember that is not bad to be a follower because every person can get his or her opportunity to lead if he/she wants to. If you practice the steps given above, you can even become a great leader with time.
Being a follower doesn´t mean that you´re inferior, because being a follower or a leader is a choice, not a rank. Instead, followers help leaders in becoming great with their constructive feedbacks, ideas and their good work.
You cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow, too.
-Sam Rayburn.
Camila Solórzano & Sara Cantillano.
Totally true. Leaders and followers are not separate groups, rather, it's the other way around, leaders and followers collaborate with each other as a whole, that are continously helping one another to learn and improve, thus, both roles play a significant part in the development and success of a team.
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