Meghan Musnicki: Leaders Of Change

There are many types of leaders in the world; indeed, many people have leadership qualities. When picking a leader to emulate, however, more diverse qualifications as to what defines a leader come into play. After all, many people are brave. Many people are devoted to their causes. Many people are kind and generous and hardworking. But it takes a very special kind of person to not only have many of these qualities, but to consistently exhibit and use them throughout their lives. When choosing a leader to emulate, I looked for someone who exhibited all of these qualities. Someone who not only displayed them throughout their life, but also carried them through both their public and personal lives. I looked for someone who has tried to make a lasting difference in the world not for themselves, but to improve the lives of others around them. When choosing a leader to emulate, I found Dorothy Pitman Hughes.

There have been many great leaders down through history. Leaders that have influenced change throughout many aspects of society. Great leaders have great influence. The effectiveness of a leader is determined by his leadership style. With so many styles to choose from, and the fact that not one style fits all situations, becoming an effective leader is a challenging task. One reflective note is that it is important to cultivate good leadership skills. One must evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses and consider making changes as the situation demands a different leadership style. (Origitano, 2015)

Leaders possess long-term vision and do not to let relatively insignificant matters consume their focus. These professionals manage daily emergencies while remaining focused on organizational objectives. In this spirit, the following leaders have made decisions that have improved and revolutionized organizations, nations and the world.

A leader that I most admire is Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey is from a rural area in Mississippi. She was born to a teenage single mother. Her early years she was raised by her grandmother which she taught her how to read. She was then sent back to live with her mother. While in her mother’s care she was molested as a teenager by many family friends and male relatives. She became pregnant at the age of 14, the baby died shortly after birth. Shortly after she was sent to live with her father in Tennessee. Her father was strict on education and as a result she excelled as a student. Despite her up bring, Oprah did not give up. She went to college at Tennessee State University, where she studied communications. She begun working as a radio and

Although we may agree that leaders can be made, the most effective transformational leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, our own Michael Manley and Marcus Garvey been known to produce extraordinary results possessed the innate personality traits of a great leader. Some of the most distinctive characteristics of a

Former President Ronald Reagan explained this important concept in a very practical way: “A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets rough.”

“Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a Leader to chart the course” (Maxwell viii). Leadership. This concept has created many debates throughout history. What does it take to be classified as a great leader? What intangible characteristics are inherent to the great leaders of our time? Why have so many failed when put into a leadership role? During my 27 plus years in the military and over 20 years in the construction industry, I have been exposed to a wide variety of leaders and their leadership style. These examples have demonstrated to me that there are just as many bad as good. My journey down this path of growth has enlightened my awareness of realization that not everyone can be a leader and it takes hard work to be a successful leader. Never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned where I am today.

Being a leader is something that everyone “puts their own spin on”. Everyone has a different approach to being a leader (some more effective than others). But all leaders have the same traits, whether you see them or not. One of the traits that a leader can possess is the ability to communicate with others. This is a key trait, because how will a leader plan or teach something to others if you can’t communicate with another. But a leader must consult with others before making a decision and a leader must be some-what persuasive. Another trait that a leader must possess, is the ability to put personal problems aside. By doing this, a leader can make a better choice and be a role model to others. A leader must also have commitment. No leader should ever leave his/her “followers” if something goes wrong. A leader must be focused and determined to complete the project or problem at hand. A

Effective leaders are rare. They are created through the trials and tribulations of managing or working with people in a variety of settings. Most good leaders have had their fair share of hard knocks that awakened them to the greater

Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others – John Maxwell What would the world be without leaders? Many leaders across the world have paved the way and became advocates for issues concerning race, politics, freedom, individual rights, and equality. Being a leader is more than leading a group of people, but merely guiding them to accomplish a common goal or task. In a culture of ‘inclusive leadership’, each individual is encouraged to see themselves as a potential leader and manager. The extent to which they are given the opportunity to develop and apply these skills may vary depending on their role within the setting (Jones). When you are defining the appropriate characteristics of a great leader, there are necessary skills that a manager should portray. In this case, it is vital that a good leader be equipped with the skills to know how to adapt, empower, and motivate others. My brother Kourtney Royster is an excellent leader. Not only has he expressed it in his personal life, but in his work life as well. Interviewing my brother, I was able to gain valuable knowledge about his experience as a leader and be able to learn from his lessons, and find ways in which I could apply those skills to my own personal life and career.

A good leader has to show commitment. Fulfilling your vision won’t happen overnight and you need to be able to convince everyone else that you won’t disappear when things get tough. If you make a promise, you need to keep it. You can’t just preach about achieving A, B and C, but you need to show that you are actually going to do it.

A good example of this type of leadership can be Oprah Winfrey. Oprah is beloved by many Americans, known all over the world by her first name alone and one of the most influential women nowadays. She picks a book to read and makes it a bestseller overnight, runs her own television network and has more than 14 million twitter followers. Her words can move the stock market and social issues for the better and her charisma that helped put her at the top of the entertainment industry.

Why, you may ask? Just like leaders of the past, leaders of today should strive to adapt to be the best leader for their respective business.

Leaders are everywhere and when I think of great leaders I have had the pleasure of interacting with, the first ones that come to my mind are my Grandparents, Virgil and June Watts. After my first thought, my mind floods with many other people who I consider great leaders but my Grandparents are always the first that I think of as great leaders. My Grandpa taught me about hard work, respect, the importance of family, and the ability to understand you may not always get along so you have to learn to compromise sometimes. My Grandma taught me how to love, give to others, cook, and provide for ourselves and others with what we have available. One of the most important thing my Grandparents taught me though was, to have a passion and put one-hundred percent into it. My Grandpa with his love of music and entertaining people with playing music and my Grandma with her love of sewing and making beautiful dresses and quilts.

Leaders also embody a vision for future, and a good leader possesses the quality to cope and evolve with change.