To be a good leader, you have to practice daily and learn as much as you can. In many ways, it’s also a “learn on the job” situation. Read books about leadership and influence to develop your leadership skills – but don’t procrastinate diving in and embracing your role.
Here’s a well-kept secret: the best leaders are not necessarily the people seeking out the role. Just because you don’t feel like you should be a leader doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it on. The pro-life movement is made of tons of introverts who overcome timidness to take a stand for life.
When in doubt, ask yourself: if you don’t take that first step to make a difference, who will?
Traits of a Good Leader
Character – Who You Are
True leadership begins with the inner person. People can sense the depth of character.
Relationships –Who You Know
You are a leader only if you have followers, and that always requires the development of relationship – the deeper the relationships, the stronger the potential for leadership.
Knowledge – What You Know
Information is vital to a leader. You need a grasp of the facts, an understanding of dynamic factors and timing, and a vision for the future. Knowledge itself won’t make you a leader, but you can’t become a leader without it.
Intuition – What You Feel
Leadership requires more than just a command of data. It demands an ability to deal with numerous intangibles, One of the main differences between manager and leaders is this very factor. Leaders seek to recognize and influence intangibles such as energy, morale, timing, and momentum.
Experience – Where You’ve Been
The greater the challenges you’ve faced as a leader in the past, the more likely followers are to give you a chance in the present. Experience doesn’t guarantee credibility, but it encourages people to give you a chance to prove that you are capable.
Past Success –What You’ve Done
Nothing speaks to followers like a good track record. As a first-time leader, you may not have much of a track record, but extend yourself at every opportunity and provide more reasons for others to trust your leadership ability.
Ability – What You Can Do
Followers want to know what you are capable of. They want to know if you can lead them to victory – that’s the reason they will listen to you and acknowledge you as their leader. When they believe you no longer can do that, they will stop listening.
*Based off of John Maxwell’s “21 Laws of Leadership”
Watch David Bereit of 40 Days for Life talk about the importance of good leadership: