Most people have probably heard this iconic line from Mel Gibson’s Braveheart– spoken by the main character, William Wallace: “Men don’t follow titles, they follow courage.” Standing as a testament to true courage, Wallace displays various qualities of a strong leader.
A leader is courageous–not always in the sense of going into battle, but by showing the people around them what needs to be done and taking as many as they can with them. Even if everyone is against them, the leader knows and does the right thing.
Many people see leadership as a daunting task and tell themselves that they don’t have what it takes to make an impact on the world around them. In light of this general feeling of trepidation I decided to bring the idea of leadership closer to home. I interviewed a few students within the University of Dallas and considered what they had to say about the topic. From that I hope to bring people together who want to take the step to make this community a better place.
What are the qualities of a good leader? The majority of the answers I received on this point were relatively the same, and included courage, initiative, honesty, generosity and patience.
The initiative of a leader is important. Sophomore Rachel Carter said, “If you wait for someone else to step up, you just waste time.” The leader has to be willing to stay strong in the face of setbacks.
He is also honest, not only in always orienting himself towards the truth, but also in light of what he as a person is capable of. Naturally, a leader who wants to change the world, starting with those around him, will accomplish all he desires.
However, they are still a man with limited resources, time and energy. So in order for a leader to lead well, it is critical that he knows himself in order to lead.
Matthew Petroff remarked, “I think confidence is the first thing you need because it conveys authority and respect.”
The leader has to be willing to make mistakes, but he also must have the confidence to view those mistakes as necessary steps to accomplishing change. Oftentimes, people are afraid to admit that they are wrong because they are afraid of how people will perceive them– however, the leader who can admit a mistake and show a willingness to learn is more likely to gain the respect of the people.
Another common answer I found was that the one who strives to lead must first be a servant.
When talking about this aspect of leadership, Claire Miller said, “Growing up I had many opportunities to act as a caretaker in my home. I needed to learn to see what had to be done. If you are looking to be a leader, it can take many different forms, but the most important thing to remember is a leader puts the needs of others before themselves.”
So often people can misuse positions of authority and leadership to their advantage, but it is important to remember that selflessness as a genuine test of what leadership is about.
So, how does one put leadership into practice, specifically at the University of Dallas?
Some of the suggested answers on this front were as follows- taking initiative in clubs, immersing yourself into the projects which it offers, offering study groups, setting up times and places for classmates to meet and prepare for assignments and exams, raising your hand in class, helping to start a meaningful intellectual conversation and putting on events, which is generous and requires a lot of extra effort.
In short, as John Quincy Adams expressed, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”