Part 1

I really enjoyed this first section in the book! There were several components which I could agree and/or relate to. First off, the notion that all passionate leaders are willing to suffer, is a concept that I believe deems so true. I think that if you want to be a successful leader, you need to acknowledge the fact that being a leader means working towards improving something as a whole, and focusing on the something much bigger than ourselves. It means to be willing to give up leisure time or time out with friends to put in more effort, and work towards making this thing that you are so passionate about all it can be. If you are completely dedicated to something, I believe that you would be willing to give up a lot of time and are willing to suffer in order to make sure this thing is as successful as it can be. I can relate this to my feelings about my Greek organization. I am so determined to become a leader and to help my organization improve and thrive. Due to this desire to make my Greek organization and individual experience flourish, I have made Phi Sigma Sigma an upmost priority. I go to any and all sorority events or meetings, mandatory or not, as well as engage myself as much as possible in anything Greek. I ask questions, talk to other sisters about positions, and offer up my time and commitment to this organization. I want to play a part in making my organization all it can be, and I know that means giving up a lot of my time and putting in all my effort, but this is okay with me because I want to help my organization excel as well as help myself progress and work towards leadership.

 

“The best leaders are teachers” is a belief that I totally can agree with! I think teachers are given the greatest opportunity to lead, because students look to them for guidance and knowledge. A teacher is responsible for helping you learn things in the classroom, but I also think they extend their efforts out into the community as well. They teach life skills, morals, and so many other things that in hindsight we didn’t even realize they were instilling in us! We start listening to teachers at such a young age, and I truly think that they are some of the biggest and most influential leaders in our lives!

Another concept in this book that is so important is the significance of the people on your team! This is something that is always an important part of leadership. It seems to be of popular opinion that many may feel unappreciated or overlooked for the work they have done, and unfortunately sometimes this could be true. An important part of being a leader is to appreciate all of those other team members who are working alongside of you. What I feel many people forget to realize is the people working with you have the same aspirations as you and wish to make this project or certain thing become as successful as possible. Appreciating those who you work with helps you and your team because the more they are praised and acknowledged for their hard work, the more valued they will feel. Feeling important is one of the best means of encouragement, and this will inspire people to keep working hard and helping accomplish the goal you are working towards. A little appreciation goes a long way, and giving it out to those who deserve it will likely benefit the whole project or organization.