Can Millennials Make Great Leaders?
- Oct 6, 2016
- 3 min read
Close your eyes and picture a great leader. What does this person look like? Is this person young, middle-aged, or old? Is this person a man or a woman? What does this person act like? What race is this person? What is their leadership style? How do they treat others? What does this person sound like? How does this person make others feel?
Now that you have visualized a great leader, you probably realize that there might be a problem. Your version of a great leader is not the exact same as anyone else’s. They might look different, be a different gender, sound different, act different, might be a different age, or part of a different generation. The beautiful thing is that great leaders can take all shapes, sizes, and colors. It doesn’t really matter what they look like, sound like, their age, their race, or their gender. What matters are some of the traits that all great leaders share and have in common. Great leaders lead by example and inspire us, they take care of their people and others, and they elevate others to greatness.
Great leaders inspire us and influence us, changing our lives and the world for the better. Some of us pictured visionary leaders known throughout the world, like great political, business, or military leaders. But not all great leaders need to be famous. Some might answer that they pictured a parent, sibling, relative, or friend as a great leader. Others might consider their boss, manager, supervisor, coach, teacher, or trainer to fit that role. Either way, great leaders lead by example. They embody the example they set and are passionate about what is important to them. It is electrifying to be around a great leader because you can feel their intensity. Great leaders show us the right way to do things and hold us accountable to their example.
Great leaders take care of their people and people in general. I first learned about servant leadership when I attended high school at Culver Academies and it has made a lasting impression on me. Great leaders serve those that follow them and truly care about others. It is extremely powerful to genuinely care for others; we even can sense this genuineness, allowing for leaders to break down barriers and help solve problems. It is this servant leadership that allows for leaders to gain true respect and to be truly effective.
Lastly, great leaders elevate others. The best leaders are selfless and serve others, not themselves. They elevate us, help us find our purpose, and make us feel good. I don’t mean that they make us happy 24/7. Many great leaders make difficult decisions on a daily basis that aren’t always popular. But they are genuine and have the ability to make us feel the way we want to feel. Great leaders make us want to better ourselves and those around us. They inspire us to make the world a better place and create a better future, one step at a time.
So take your version of a great leader and embody it. You do not have to be in a “leadership role” or be a seasoned business, political, or military veteran to be a great leader. We can all practice leadership and learn to be great leaders. Lead by example. Inspire and influence others. You don’t need to completely change someone’s life to make an impact; the small things matter and all add up. Take care of your people and others. Help others find their purpose. This will make them feel good about themselves, people around them, and their future. We need more great leaders in all walks of life. We owe it ourselves, our families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, mentors/teachers, coaches, fellow citizens, and everyone else to pay it forward by practicing great leadership and actively creating more great leaders.
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