Here's a short little article/essay that I wrote up in the last few minutes about leadership for a class of mine. In my tired state of mind, it looks good, so I'm posting it for your enjoyment. :) Or unenjoyment as the case may be.

Good leadership is a precious commodity these days. There are always things to lead, but many people don’t know what it means to be a good leader. Leadership isn’t always something that can be learned simply through experience, either. Many people who are in leadership positions don’t know what to do to make themselves effective. And there are many people who do well leading from nondescript positions within a group. What can a student do to become a more effective leader? I’ve got three simple things that you can do to help you be a more effective leader.

First, find something you’re passionate about. Nothing turns of followers faster than someone who doesn’t care about the topic at hand. If you like sports, find an athletic team that you can be a part of, or look into the intramural program at your school. Like music? Most schools have opportunities available to more than just their music majors. I really enjoy Ultimate Frisbee, so I sought out a team that I could be on. I also regularly go to the practices and try to find ways to become a better player and to help others become better players. Passion is contagious, so seek out opportunities in areas that you’re passionate about.

Second, be relational. Leaders undeniably have influence, but you can’t influence people if you aren’t interacting with them. People need to see you, to sound your character, to come to their own conclusion of whether or not you’re worth following. The easiest way to influence people is to be with them. Talk with them, find out their interests. Encourage them in the things that they do. My friends are the people that I can count on to help me out when I have a new idea. They’re the ones that will tell me if I’m crazy, or if my idea will work. They’re also the ones that will be the first to support me in something that they think is a good cause. Connect with them on emotional and intellectual levels and they will be willing to help you.

Third, take ownership for your actions. It says a lot about a person if they’re willing to take responsibility for both the good and bad things that they start. People like integrity in a person. The guys on my floor know that I’m not perfect, and they don’t expect me to be perfect. However, they also know that when I do something, I’ll take responsibility for it if it flies or if it flops. It instills a confidence in others when you aren’t afraid to take responsibility for your actions.

Now, understand that leadership is far more complicated than these three things. Leaders also do many other things: empower, encourage, plan, initiate, take risks, develop and communicate a vision, and more. However, these three things are solid things to stand on when you’re trying to move from being an average leader to a good one. So remember: Take responsibility for being passionately relational with other people, and they will be more willing to invest themselves in following you.