Rising Leadership: More Than Just Traits
By Brooke Woodall '21
When it comes to defining leadership characteristics, most people think of specific attributes a good leader possesses. Some say a leader needs to be honest and kind. Other people say a leader must have a vision and be driven to achieve it. While all of this is true, being a leader is a whole lot more than just a bunch of traits.
Proverbs 20:28 says, “Mercy and truth preserve the king and by loving kindness he upholds the throne." In other words, leading with mercy and truth brings a king to his throne, but he keeps his throne by serving through love and kindness. A good leader doesn't just possess the traits of mercy and truth. It is more about holding those traits in your heart and letting your character drive your decisions. Only then will you inspire others and "keep the throne."
Developing and finding your character can be hard because everyone’s values are different. The important thing is to be honest with who you are and who you surround yourself with. Ultimately, who you hang out with reflects who you admire and what you value most.
Values are what leaders live by and hold in their heart, and they are always revealed in our choices and actions. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you do in life -- we all have the chance to inspire and lead others. Whether it’s out on the field, on the stage, or in the classroom, we can all lead in our own way.
We can lead with encouragement by supporting our teammates on the athletic field.
We can lead by example when we show up to rehearsal on time.
We can lead with bravery by asking questions in class.
We all can lead; we just have to be courageous and recognize the opportunity when it lands at our feet. As a Valor student leader, I encourage you to not only look for those opportunities to lead, but to take advantage of those opportunities. And when you do lead, lead with your heart and with your character.