| Before you even got to college, you probably | | | | or a friend. If you know someone whose opinions |
| concerned yourself with demonstrating some | | | | and actions you respect, emulate them. |
| capacity for leadership. Maybe you were in student | | | | Play To Your Strengths |
| government. Maybe you started a band. Maybe you | | | | In what areas will you lead? That depends. What are |
| were a tutor, or perhaps you were/are a patient and | | | | you good at? What do you love? If you have a |
| loving older sibling or cousin. | | | | passion for politics, go to work for a candidate you |
| At one time or another, all of us have been called | | | | respect and become a leader of volunteers. Or run |
| upon to display the leadership skills we possess. | | | | for student government. If you love theater, |
| Perhaps the situations above or similar ones are | | | | become a director. Everyone has different strengths |
| familiar to you or maybe your brush with leadership | | | | and weaknesses. When you identify what you're |
| was more fleeting. Maybe you can recall a time when | | | | good at, what makes you special, then you've |
| you were asked for your opinion, and though it | | | | identified an area of your life that you have |
| would have been easier to save feelings and tell a | | | | leadership potential in. |
| white lie, you were brave and told the truth. | | | | Play Well With Others |
| Even if you don't think of yourself as a natural leader, | | | | There's a business aphorism that a manager is only |
| you can probably think of a time when circumstances | | | | as good as her people. The same is true for leaders |
| demanded you demonstrate some leadership skills. | | | | of every type. To be a great leader, you have to be |
| How can you draw on what you did in those | | | | able to motivate and inspire those around you. You |
| moments to go on to assume a leadership role in | | | | have identified the area or areas in which you should |
| college and beyond? | | | | lead -- they are areas that you care deeply about |
| Talent Imitates; Genius Steals. | | | | and feel confident of your abilities in. To lead |
| Think about the great leaders you personally know. | | | | effectively, you must convince the people around |
| Perhaps thinking about what they would do in certain | | | | you that they should be just as passionate about |
| situations inspired your leadership moments in the | | | | getting your candidate elected, electing you as their |
| past. Great leaders have great leaders for role | | | | student representative, or participating in the |
| models. Maybe your role model is a parent, a teacher, | | | | production of your play. |