Journal One

What leaders, past or present, do you admire most? What is it about them that you admire? What can you learn from their leadership?

The leader that I admire the most is my own mother. She has been the best example of what a leader entails for me and I admire everything about her. My mom leads by example, and I think that is the best way to go. She is honest, genuine and trustworthy. All things that are very important in order to be a leader. She has never been afraid to be her own person and go her own way. Another great thing that I admire the most about her, and why she is a great leader is that she can admit her faults. I think that in order to be a great leader, you have to be able to admit these things. Since she admits her own faults, she is able to relate to people better. It is difficult to be a great leader, when you pretend you are perfect, and the average Joe is either intimidated by you, or they are afraid of you.
Another reason why I think my mom is the best example of a leader is because she knows the importance of having support from her friends. She can ask others for help, or for their opinions. She listens to everyone intently and takes what they say and tries to apply it. She not only is looking out for her, but she is always looking out for everyone else. She is very compassionate and looks at “we” and not “I”.
I enjoyed the readings for this lesson very much. I especially enjoyed reading “The True North” article. I like the whole concept behind a person’s true north, being an internal compass that guides you throughout your life. There are times where I have felt a bit of pressure, or where I can just tell that something I am doing is not right. I think that is when my true north has been pushed in the wrong direction and I am trying to get steered back into the right spot. I think that a good leader needs to have a pretty good grasp of their true north. It takes time to learn and know who you are and be true to yourself. One great book I try and follow is called “All is Well.” It teaches people to have positive thinking and to know what you want in your life. It teaches you to free things from the past and live a worriless life. While they may not be possible, I still enjoy the readings based around this information.