How To Recognize a Leader

My perception of a leader is someone who has the courage to embrace and carry a vision that outlives them. Leaders are visionaries who make choices and decisions that affect generations that follow. Leaders typically generate movements that outlast them. Leaders might appreciate the question, “Will my efforts die with me?” Accordingly, leaders tend to see themselves within a larger construct and as a necessary component on a continuum for progress. Because leaders understand that the effectiveness of their efforts depend on future generations, leaders work hard to inspire others to catch their vision. However, it is important to point out that true leaders are more committed to the vision than their own personal legacy. In this sense, real leaders will not compromise the vision for the sake of popularity. In other words, a leader will walk alone for their vision, before they allow the vision to become vulnerable to ideological heresy.

It is worth noting that leadership qualities work on large and small scales, yet ultimately produce the same results, inspiring others to continue the work– establishing legacies – breaking trends, and progressive movement. For example, in my family, I am the first person to attend college. That alone, does not qualify me as a leader. However, I have survived physical and sexual abuse, teen pregnancy and dropping out of high school. As a leader, I provide mentorship, safety, direction, and inspiration for my children, extended family, and my community. My mother was a teen wife and mother, my family has a history of alcohol and drug abuse, and typically my family worked as laborers. Today, our family functions are dry, wholesome, and predictable. My daughters are both graduating – one from college and another from an independent private school – my mother has gone back to school and is pursing her Master’s degree in English Literature and I am a law school graduate preparing for the Ohio bar. My mother indicated that she was inspired by my decision to go to school. Furthermore, my children deem it unusual that I dropped out of high school, because they understand that education is a bridge away from poverty, and a tool for access and enlightenment; my children appreciate this because my life demonstrates this truth. Today, when I attend family functions, education is the topic of choice, and most of my extended family has plans or desires to attend college.

Moreover, my children have a model and a framework to rear future generations. Because I embraced my role as a leader, our lineage and ultimately our community will benefit. Additionally, my experiences have created opportunities for me to mentor, and speak to young women with similar backgrounds who also desire change for their family legacies. The hard work that I have put into my life has fostered relationships with people who can bring resources and raise awareness about sexual abuse, poverty, and teenage pregnancy. After I pass the bar, I will further my leadership role by using my license and training to build and support legislation that protects children. I will use my position in public service to speak and provoke powerful people to take issue with the neglect of children in our community. I will use the power of my testimony to encourage activist and other leaders to keep our children on their radar. I will work with legislators, courts, and social or government institutions to drive policy that helps young parents.

Ultimately, my life is evidence of leadership on a relatively small scale. On a much larger scale, well-known leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, and President Barack Obama both embraced visions, inspired others, broke trends, established legacies, and have created movements that, in the case of Dr. King, has – and for our President – will, outlive them.

Moreover, sincere leaders often see their call in life through a lens of humility. They also see their calling as a blessing and a burden; this is because true leaders are willing to die for their vision. True leaders; never stop aiming for their objectives. They are able to focus without getting distracted, and seem at ease with delayed gratification. Leaders are strategic in their efforts so having to wait for a goal, usually does not cause them to waiver. In addition, leaders have followers; they have people who will walk with them to achieve their vision. Genuine leaders prepare and train others to carry and protect the vision after they are gone; genuine leaders are more committed to the vision than their own sustainability. It is important to remember that not everyone in a leadership position is a true leader. Temporary things like popularity, dogma, intimidation, luck, or money do not provide enough substantive girth to create real leaders; leadership qualities are universal and eternal.

Furthermore, leaders are skilled at recognizing leaders in the making, and the true leaders encourage and cultivate upcoming leaders. True leaders are not frightened or intimidated by future leaders, because they appreciate that the vision must go on after they are gone. Another reason leaders are not concerned about future leaders is that the insightful leader understands that his or her path is exclusively for them; in other words, true leaders understand that only he or she can walk their path. In this same spirit, future leaders are typically mindful and deferential to proven effective leadership.
Finally, real leaders care about the world they leave behind, not just the one they occupy.
© 2010 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED