Being involved and engaged is key to reaping the benefits of anything. Being a leader is more than just being in charge or having the knowledge of a specific task, but experiencing it with the people you are trying to lead and making a visible difference to them. Leadership is not about being in the foreground and the “head honcho,” but about being a part of a group.
There are a lot of ways to be a leader. You don’t just have to be the president of an organization or even have an elected position on a board. You can be a leader in the classroom by consistently participating in class or helping other students who may be falling behind or not understanding the information.
A good leader knows when to follow. A lot of people in leadership positions want to bark orders at others all day or delegate tasks. A true leader knows that it is also about giving others the opportunity to lead, because your leadership was an effective example for them.