Are you Leading or just Taking a Walk?

Often in young people you get the whole range of self-perception. There are those who others naturally look up to, but do not necessary see themselves as leaders, all the way to those who think they should be the leader, but are not well-received by their peers. Leadership is a very broad topic. There are many types of leadership styles, and there are many different ways to lead (example, vocal, etc.). Leaders need the respect of those around them. You cannot demand to be a leader and be successful. And, as you can see in some of my previous posts on leadership, a successful leader thinks about those they are leading and puts them above themselves. 

Too often a strong personality tries to assume the role as leader. They rub others the wrong way. They belittle those around them instead of building them up. They do what is in their personal best interest instead of the best interest of the team. These types of leaders need to stop and take a look behind them. A leader has followers; if no one is behind you......you are just taking a walk.

I Can

Two simple words, "I can." Both words show up on a kindergarten vocabulary list, but there is nothing elementary about the two words when they are placed side by side. So often we put too much thinking into something we are trying to accomplish: athletic goals, academic success, work, and/ or family responsibilities. The more things linger in our mind, the more we seem to fixate on why we are not, or cannot, achieve what we want to accomplish. Keep it simple. "I can," when said enough times becomes "I CAN!" Set your self on the path to accomplishment. Focus on your strengths and allow yourself to travel down the road leading to success. And, with every step and every obstacle on the way.....say, "I can."