Many of us are taught from a very young age how to be…..

… a good sport
… a good friend
… a good student
and even….
…a good leader.

Around the age of 6, we teach our children to make their own choices and to lead by example.  Around the age of 12, we teach our boy scouts leadership qualities so they can be a guide to younger scouts.  At the age of 18 we encourage our children to engage in leadership development opportunities to prepare them for the future.  Does this mean they will be leaders of the future?

Children involved in school sports, clubs and church groups are all given opportunities to learn leadership skills.  Time after time children are given opportunities to engage in moments of leadership.  However, not all children seize those opportunities for various reasons.  Does this mean these children will always be followers?

Adults are also often put in positions that permit leadership development to take place.  Promotions, team projects, community groups, and new jobs can all provide opportunities to either demonstrate or develop leadership skills.  Does having a leadership title make you a leader?

Many of us spend our whole life preparing to be a leader; taking advantage of all opportunities to acquire, develop, and perfect our leadership skills.  However, only a few actually make the transition into becoming a good leader.  Why are so many trained but only a few advance to become distinguished leaders?

Some people are born with a natural leadership persona allowing them to be a natural leader.  Leading others is comfortable and comes naturally to them.  Others take their learned and acquired leadership skills and use them to learn and practice becoming a leader.

• A good leader, however, must withhold a certain or special characteristic about them.
• A good leader must be able to accept and work well with others.
• A good leader must be encouraging enough to show people the difference they are making in their positions.
• A good leader must be motivating enough to guide their employees through the toughest times.
• A good leader is able to communicate in the most difficult situations.
• A good leader must be able to stand strong even when things around him appear to be falling down.
• A good leader is a role model and team player.
• A good leader above all follows his trustworthy instincts when making decisions and leading his team.

Leadership skills can be taught and developed over time, but good leaders must have something that cannot be taught – the will and intuition that allows them to use the acquired skills and knowledge to lead their team.