Have you ever wondered why the Nobel prize winners won the prize? Martin Luther King Jr., Theodore Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama are some instances of those people who have won this prestigious award. On the other side, those people are not just the winners of this award, but they are leaders who make a movement and impact humankind to make the world a better place to live by voicing their opinions and giving their actions.
Now, what do you think if you hear the word “leadership”? Leadership is a very important trait. Leadership can also be interpreted as social influence, in which there are leaders and followers who work together to achieve a goal. A leader not only has a responsibility to lead themselves, but also to lead a group of people who have different traits, and the leader will look for ways to unite the opinions that come from various different brains of its people and make a conclusion that is good for everyone. In everyday life, we are accustomed to leading and being led. Without leadership qualities within us, it is difficult for us to make a change, because there is no motivation that drives action for a goal that we want to achieve. For me there is no standard to be a leader, because every leader has their own style of leading others. From my interview with Connor Barton on March 6th, let’s see what leadership means from his corner?
What leadership activities are you involved in?
I am the ASB president and one of the captains of the high school soccer and basketball teams. Last year I was also Junior Class President and National Honor Society President. I have also been a Link Crew Leader the last couple years.
How do you define the word “leadership”? I would define leadership as an innate quality that is cultivated through experience. Leadership is the ability to unite, bring power to, and compel those around them through service.
Why do you think leadership skills are important?
Leadership skills are important because they translate to every single aspect of life. They are skills that will only become increasingly rare and useful in society.
Can you tell me about your experience being a leader?
I have had the fun opportunity of being placed in leadership positions both in school and in sports. Through these, I’ve been able to make mistakes, better myself, and realize that there is always more to learn. Leadership is so cool because there’s no recipe for success when it comes to being a leader – people have to make mistakes and learn from their failures in order to become
the best leader they can be.
Who is your favorite leader and why?
My favorite leader is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and a few other companies. He is an innovator who sets extremely high goals and is always aspiring for heights that others view as impossible. He has the ability to motivate and inspire his employees while giving them projects that are easy for them to get excited about.
What qualities do you think are very important for a leader to have?
Important qualities for a leader to have include: selflessness, confidence, courage, respect, self-control, and love. As a leader, how do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts and obstacles? I try to lead by example while being as real and authentic with people as I can. I feel like if people see their “leader” as someone they can relate to, they are more likely to emulate or be inspired by that person. I respect everybody as well, and people find it easy to stay motivated if there is a mutual respect present in whatever environment they are in.
How have you developed your leadership skills?
I would say I’d developed my leadership skills just through experience and putting myself out there. I’ve had a lot of cool opportunities to lead and have tried to take advantage of all of them.
What a great chance to be able to hear Connor’s perspective about the importance of leadership. I hope this interview can help give you new insight that being a leader and having leadership skills can lead you to improve yourself in whatever you do and wherever you are.
“Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence and inspiration.”
-Robin S. Sharma.