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Writing an Effective Leadership Essay: Tips and Examples

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Whether you’ve led a horse to water or led your team to a victorious championship, you’re probably more of a leader than you give yourself credit for. It turns out, college admissions officers want to hear about that horse and/or championship in your application essay. The leadership essay is one of the hallmarks of college essays, but what’s the right way to do it?

What Is a Leadership Essay?

A leadership essay is a subset of college application essays that help college admissions officers understand your previous experiences as a leader. While that might seem extremely specific, it comes with the understanding that leadership looks and feels different based on the person and situation.

To give you a real world example: The president is ostensibly the leader of the United States. However, the president has a whole cabinet of other leaders for every other aspect of running a country. You might not be a leader of foreign policy, but you might be a leader on the football field or within your community volunteer group.

Leadership Essay Ideas and Topics

While you might see a few variations, almost all leadership essays go back to two main forms:

• What is your leadership style?
• Describe a moment when you showed leadership.

There’s inherently a bit of overlap with both of these. You’ll likely give an example of a leadership moment when talking about your leadership style, and you’ll probably talk about your leadership style when talking about a leadership moment.

In either case, the school will want you to use anecdotal evidence that demonstrates the idea. Go with what feels right, whether that’s leading a club or team in school or leading some ducklings across a busy highway. Even if your experience sounds cliché, it’s unique because it involves you.

How To Write a Leadership Essay

Probably the biggest trap that people fall into is “Well, I’ve never been a leader.” Even if you’ve never held some sort of leadership position at school or had an official title, chances are pretty high that you have exhibited some form of leadership at some point in your life. Beyond that, the actual writing of the leadership essay is fairly straightforward.

Formatting Your Leadership Essay

Your leadership essay will include an introduction paragraph, one or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Depending on the word or page limits, you can almost treat this like a five-paragraph essay .

• Introduction - Capture the reader’s interest, define good leadership in relation to you, and directly address the given prompt
• Body paragraphs - Give some background information using anecdotes to describe your leadership style or moment
• Conclusion - End with a compelling statement about your leadership qualities and how you hope to apply them to your education, career, and the world in general

How Long Should a Leadership Essay Be?

The length of the leadership essay depends on what the college or application system says. Thankfully, this is the one part of the essay that you don’t need to question. Nearly every school will provide a word limit, typically ranging from 250 words (for supplemental essays) potentially all the way up to 1,000 words.

In the rare event that you don’t see an obvious word limit, stick to a maximum of about 500 to 600 words.

Tips for Writing a Leadership Essay

Unfortunately, we don’t know your personal life, and we certainly don’t know moments where you exhibited leadership. So we can’t write your essay for you, but we can give you some tips to at least guide your writing process.

Define Good Leadership Before You Start

Before you begin writing your essay, think about what qualities make someone a good leader, at least in your opinion. What great leadership qualities do you have? What makes a “good leader”? Make a list before you begin writing your essay. 

Leadership qualities can include:

• The ability to motivate others
• Personal integrity
• Placing a value on relationships with team members
• Prioritizing the larger good over any individual

Review your list and choose the qualities you want to highlight. Write your own definition of what makes someone a great leader as it relates to the quality you chose. It should be one or two sentences long. Use that definition as the backbone of your essay.

Tell a Story About Your Leadership

It’s time to turn that list of potential leadership qualities into something meaningful and interesting. The best way to do that is with an engaging narrative.

You should obviously state good leadership qualities, but that shouldn’t be your entire essay. Tell a story about your leadership.

• Did you face a specific challenge?
• How did you overcome that challenge?
• How has your leadership style changed over the years?
• Was there a specific moment or experience that caused that change?

Really ask yourself questions and dig into the concept of leadership as a real thing that has had real effects on your life.

Write With Your Own Voice and Style

Although you shouldn’t be super informal in college application essays, they are also designed to help you display your own voice and personality. College admissions officers want to learn about you, and your writing style is inherently a big part of that, whether that means using humor or puns, maintaining a unique level of sincerity throughout the essay, or being invitingly verbose.

Don’t Be Down On Yourself

Whether it’s your personal statement , a supplemental essay, or this leadership essay, avoid being too down on yourself. Admissions officers want to hear about all your successes, trophies, and kittens saved from trees. They really don’t want to read a whole essay about you saying you’re a bad leader.

Humility is definitely an important leadership trait, but there’s a fine line between being humble and being hurtful to yourself. Even if you’re normally prone to some self-deprecation, try to keep it at a minimum for this essay.

Leadership Essay Example

If you’re not sure where to start, take some time to brainstorm ideas. Even the weirdest idea can blossom into something neat. If you need inspiration, one of the best things is to look at other examples of leadership. That could be from your favorite show, a good nonfiction book about sailors, or the essay below.

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Leadership Essay Introduction Example

The introduction should pull the reader in while directly answering the prompt. When in doubt, try to start with something concrete over something abstract. Or as writers and writing teachers like to say: Show, don’t tell.

The room was filled with the gentle hum of microphones and video cameras, cut only by the occasional cough or cleared throat. It was easy to feel out of place in this room full of wood furniture, leather seats, and powerful men capable of changing not just my life, but an entire sector of television programming as we knew it. I had never thought of myself as a leader, but I also knew that this was about something bigger than me, something that I could actually influence.

Leadership Essay Body Example

The body is where you’ll get more into the details of your narrative and connect it to ideas of leadership. Try not to get too hung up on the exact wording of what makes a leader. That can get far too abstract. Let your story speak for you.

I took a deep breath and began to talk. I wasn’t known to have a particularly commanding or powerful voice, but people always seemed to listen, including these men with their name placards and tall seats. They had been ready to cut funding for public broadcasting, which included programming that they had never seen. I was simply someone who lived in a neighborhood and cared about children’s education, beyond just math and reading. All I could do was be honest.

Leadership Essay Conclusion Example

Your conclusion considers the broader effects of your leadership. How might your leadership evolve or change? How can you apply that leadership to your education, job, or community?

To me, leadership is about connection. I know that I have a voice and an immense dedication to emotional intelligence in children. My ability to focus on other people goes hand-in-hand with my ability to speak through a tiger puppet. Both are about closing gaps and bringing people closer to a basic understanding. I hope to use my leadership abilities within the field of psychology to build more connections between people and communities.

Leadership Essay

27 August, 2020

12 minutes read

Author:  Richard Pircher

As a college student, you must write essays on a regular basis since the latter is one of the most common types of home assignments. All this means is that in order to get good grades and be successful with writing the papers, you need to have a sound understanding of the structure. Additionally, what you should never neglect is the variety of essay types. Indeed, your essay will significantly differ from one type to another: description essay will most likely have a structure that is slightly different from an argumentative one.

What you may have already encountered in your academic life is the work on a leadership essay. Although it sounds pretty complicated and vague, it is mostly possible to master an essay on leadership. Below is a guide for you to get an insight into this particular essay type.

What is a good leadership essay?

A good leadership essay is the one in which the essay writer has fully covered the topic of leadership and understood its core ideas. More specifically, to end up with a flawless leadership essay, you will need to indicate what makes a person a good leader. For achieving the latter, you will most likely need to conduct research and trace how a particular person reaches his or her goals. In other words, the task is to discover which actions the person undertakes, what their followers say about him or her, and how the person organizes the work. So, a leadership essay implies providing real-life success examples and further revealing them.

Above all, a good leadership essay is the one that follows a precise, clear, comprehensive structure. Structuring your essay about leadership in the most coherent way leads to a win-win situation: you have fewer troubles and barriers to writing a brilliant essay, and your teacher is able to comprehend the essay easily. This guide is what you will need to refer to to get an insight into how the flawless structure for a leadership essay looks like and how it will let you take a benefit.

How to write a Leadership essay?

To write a leadership essay that stands out, you first need to brainstorm all the ideas that you have and come up with a topic for your essay. If you are struggling with this step, you may think of some of the most influential people, read about them, and find out what makes them unique. Or, you can pick any topic which is mentioned at the end of this article. After you have chosen an issue, it is time to structure your essay appropriately.

As you already know, an essay constitutes three essential sections: introduction, main body, and conclusion. Below is the more detailed description of each of the parts.

Introduction

Of course, your leadership essay introduction will always vary depending on the topic of the essay. However, you can always begin by stating your vision of leadership regardless of the topic. Additionally, to motivate the reader and instantly catch his or her attention, you may use a quote of a famous leader, or simply a quote which you find relevant to the topic. Be aware that you should avoid outlining the essence and the role of the leadership in your introduction; leave it for the body paragraphs.

What you may also do in your leadership essay is ask a question, which will most likely intrigue the leader. Or it will at least give your reader an overview of what you will dwell on  in your essay.

Body Paragraphs

You will need to divide the main body into 3-5 paragraphs to make the structure more comprehensive. What you have to do at this point  is  give your reader a sound understanding of your ideas. Therefore, try to fit each idea in a single body paragraph so that you do not confuse your reader. Do not hesitate to indicate your examples to strengthen your arguments. For instance, you may explain a fact that makes a particular person you are writing about a real leader.

Also, always stick to your thesis statement and don’t forget that the body paragraphs should reveal the parts of your thesis statement.

As you may already know, you need to restate your opinion and briefly summarize all the points from the main body in conclusion. For instance, if you wrote your essay on qualities of an effective leader, state the most fundamental qualities and indicate why they matter the most. Besides, try not to copy what you have already written in the body – it is better to restate your opinion using different words. And, of course, beware adding any new and extra information; indicate only those points that you have already outlined in the text. Finally, keep in mind that it is always favorable to keep your concluding remarks short.

Leadership Essay Examples

Writing a leadership essay requires some research and time. In case you feel the necessity to go through an essay example, below is a leadership essay sample you can refer to.

Is leadership an inborn or an acquired feature?

Is everyone capable of becoming a leader, or is this ability innate? A lot of researchers have been struggling to answer this question. One assumption about leadership implies that the leader is the person who possesses particular characteristics. Another assumption claims that leaders are capable of acquiring specific features over their life span. As the evidence shows, leaders own many features that distinguish them among others and make more and more people become their followers. These might be cognitive abilities, psychological traits, professional qualities, and a lot more, and all of them will be either acquired or innate. Based on the importance of leadership qualities, such as commitment, stress resistance, and the ability to make quality decisions, it is reasonable to claim that leaders are made, not born. 

One can deem commitment as one of the top fundamental qualities of the leader. In essence, such a feature indicates that a person is passionate about the common goal, strives to be a team player, and makes every effort to reach a shared goal. As the history shows, none of the successful companies was uncoordinated by an influential, committed leader: Apple, Amazon, Microsoft – all of these companies are examples of dominant teams led by a dedicated leader. A committed leader also inspires his or her team to achieve common goals and put more effort into the shared activity. Besides, commitment is unlikely to be an innate feature; it instead comes with experience. This is so, since commitment implies dedicating oneself to the shared task, and one can reach it only via learning and continuous self-improvement.

Stress resistance is another incredibly important feature that every good leader should possess. This is because only a stress-resistant leader has sufficient capabilities to overcome any complexity and not let the anxiety and stress prevent him or her from making proper decisions. Besides, such a leader will most likely have a positive influence on the team, as long as leading by example will motivate the team members to attain the same emotional stability. What is so far familiar about stress resistance as an effective leader’s feature is that it can be either innate or attained. However, although some researchers admit that emotional stability is something one is born with, it is not entirely true; many people still put a great effort into self-improvement, changing the attitude to unfortunate situations, and so on. Therefore, being resistant to stress can be mostly attributed to a personality.

An ability to make high-quality decisions most likely determines the chances for an enterprise’s success. In particular, such quality is incredibly fundamental for a company of any size and professional orientation. Additionally, it is one of the top tasks of a good leader to make final decisions. What he or she should do implies brainstorming, discussing various opinions in the group, making forecasts, analyzing all the pros and cons. However, the leader is the one to make a final decision. Thereby, he is in charge of researching the market, discovering all the hidden truths, and analyzing the organization’s potential and capabilities to result in the most effective decision. As it flows logically from the latter, an ability to make sound quality decisions is purely a professional quality. This leads to the conclusion that one has to work hard to become a genuine leader and master the skill of making effective decisions. 

Overall, the leader may possess a multitude of different skills and master them perfectly. However, what has so far become transparent is that any leader, regardless of which team he leads, must possess three essential qualities. These qualities are commitment to the common goal, ability to handle and resist stress, and, finally, an ability to make effective decisions. All of the three qualities are most likely to be acquired over a lifetime. The statement below leads to the conclusion that even though some qualities can be innate, most are not the ones that leaders are born with. Hence, this answers an essential question: leadership feature is acquired, and not necessarily inborn.  

20 leadership essay topics

When coming up with your next leadership essay topic, it is imperative to brainstorm ideas and think of what leadership might be related to. If you are struggling with a topic of the importance of leadership essay or any relevant type of essay, you may quickly take a look at some of the possible topics we prepared for you:

• What are the main qualities of the leader?
• Successful Time Management as a feature of an effective leader
• The role that rhetoric plays in leadership
• The most exceptional leader in the history of the 20-th century
• The role of female leadership
• What are the challenges of the leader of the 21-st century?
• How college helps students develop leadership skills?
• Qualities of the leader that motivate people to follow them 
• Top things to avoid doing to become a team leader
• Examples of effective and ineffective leadership in the history
• Top techniques for developing leadership skills
• The interconnection of creativity and leadership 
• Is a university’s role fundamental in developing leadership skills?
• Dictatorship as an anti-example of leadership
• Liberal vs Authoritative leadership: which one works better?
• The influence of the leader’s role model on the followers’ mindset
• Main difficulties that the new leader may face in a new team
• Leadership of today vs leadership of the past: what has changed?
• Reasons why I want to become a member if the leadership program
• The role of cognitive abilities for the leader 

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• How to Structure a Leadership Essay (Samples to Consider)

Leadership is a complex concept, but it’s essential for boosting your career. That’s why a leadership essay focuses on applying the theoretical models and concepts of successful management to real-life situations. 

If you don’t know where to start writing such a paper, please read on for professional tips!

What Is Leadership Essay?

A leadership essay is a paper that analyzes leadership concepts and their application to real-life situations that may involve everyday business management, crisis situations, and other scenarios. 

Every essay on leadership is about defining a concept. Then, it’s either comparing it to similar management tools or proving that it’s useful (or not).

While some students enjoy writing such papers, other learners hate them. The below samples will come in handy, no matter which group is yours.

What Does Leadership Mean to You? (Essay Sample)

It is one of the most popular topics for a leadership essay. If you need to write a paper like that, ask yourself:

• Who is a good leader?  
• What style do they use?  
• What are the situations when they might switch styles?

You may take a more personal approach to such an essay if your professor allows you to. In the example below, you will see the academic approach to this topic. It analyzes three leadership styles to discover which one corresponds to the meaning of leadership if one thinks of it as guidance and support.

Why I Want to Participate in a Leadership Program (Essay Sample)

It’s another example of a popular topic. Such papers often have a meaning beyond the classroom since they may decide whether you plan to participate in a specific program. It’s critical to make them as effective and compelling as possible.

A personalized approach is the best when it comes to essays like this. In the example below, you will see the paper that relies on individual beliefs and a personal life story to explain why it’s so important for the specific student to participate in the chosen program.

How to Write a Leadership Essay

Like every other essay, this paper has an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion summarizing your thoughts. (1) The most important part of the introduction is the final sentence,  aka  a thesis statement. That’s where you state your claim to prove or develop in your leadership essay.

Each body paragraph should correspond to the purpose of your essay. To ensure you don’t stray from the aim you’ve established in the thesis statement, write the topic sentences for all your paragraphs in the outline . In simple words, write the first sentence of every paragraph to define its development in advance and see if you cover everything you need.

And now, to the conclusion:

Its most essential element is thesis restatement or the first sentence of that paragraph. It’s not just paraphrasing your thesis; it’s also considering the new information you’ve discovered while writing the essay.

Structure :

• Introduction (End it with a thesis statement.)
• Body paragraphs (Each one starts with a topic sentence.)
• Conclusion (Start it with a thesis restatement.)

Understand the purpose of a leadership essay

When starting to write, think about why you’re creating this paper. Before you sit down and type the words, think about the ideas you want to convey and their meaning in your life:

Can this essay teach you to take responsibility? Or maybe will it help you understand how to be a leader in crisis situations? When you’ve answered the “why” question, begin outlining.

Build a strong thesis

Always start with your thesis statement. It will help incorporate your answer to that notorious “why” question into your essay. Once done, you can plan out the rest of the paper and start working on the body paragraphs as soon as you finish the introduction.

There’s another important tip —don’t rush into writing the conclusion before you finish everything else!

It might seem like a good idea to create a thesis statement and thesis restatement right off the bat. However, you’ll find yourself with more refreshing ideas after completing all the research and thinking necessary for the introduction and each body paragraph.

Decide on a structure; format accordingly

Even if your essay about leadership seems not so formal, and you can use personal pronouns, you still need a clear structure.

The best way to write any academic paper is to keep your introduction and conclusion as short as possible. (But no shorter than three sentences and four lines of text). 

Another important tip is to try making all your body paragraphs equal in length. That way, you’ll give the same attention to all the vital points of your essay.

Ready to Write Your Essay on Leadership Now?

Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the most critical elements of a leadership essay. 

Remember the structure, grammar, and appropriate academic style to create a top-level paper. Please don’t forget to answer the “why” question and remember  why  you’re writing. Then you’ll impress everyone with your results!

References:

• https://lsa.umich.edu/onsf/news-events/all-news/directors-blog/writing-leadership-essays.html
• Essay samples
• Essay writing
• Writing tips

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Essays About Effective Leadership: Top 6 Examples and Prompts

Effective leadership is an essential trait that all people should strive to develop; here are 6 examples and topic ideas essays about effective leadership .

Many qualities make an inspiring and effective leader, such as vision, focus, and motivation. Like other skills, effective leadership can be innate or learned and practiced. When writing about leadership, include the strengths of an effective leader and how these qualities positively impact their team. You can also discuss weaknesses that can make a poor leader and how to combat these issues.

Here are 6 examples and 10 essay prompts to get you started on your next essay.

1. What Makes an Effective Leader? by Tony Gill

2. a guide to becoming an effective leader by yashi srivastava , 3. leadership: 5 practices of effective leaders by yvette gyles, 4. 6 characteristics of an effective leader by lauren landry, 5. six leadership lessons by order of the peaky blinders by andrew denton mbe, 6. leadership and the quest for certainty by keith grint,  1. what is effective leadership, 2. what does effective leadership look like in the corporate industry, 3. what to avoid to become an effective leader, 4. habits of an effective leader, 5. studying the mindsets of effective leaders, 6. effective leadership and its benefits to an organization, 7. indicators of strong and effective leadership, 8. poor leadership vs. effective leadership, 9. real-life examples of effective leadership, 10. how perception creates effective leadership.

“Work at using leadership styles that do not come naturally, styles that you find difficult. By becoming a well-rounded leader, it is easier to adapt your leadership technique for different situations.”

Gill uses a research-based approach to answer the central question of his essay. He looks at various sources that tackle the topic of effective leadership and stitch them together to make a comprehensive guide to effective leadership.

“Leadership is not a mystical quality, and anyone can become a more effective leader by developing some important skills.”

The author, Yashi Srivastava, defines what differentiates leaders from managers first. Then, she provides some dos and don’ts of an effective leader and how people could apply them in different situations. 

“Whereas as leaders, we need to be concerned about creativity and innovation, making positive changes, and seeking to challenge and push boundaries.”

Gyles specializes in leadership training for companies, so her approach to the essay is geared more toward company leaders. Nevertheless, it’s highly educational for all those interested in learning effective leadership meant for dealing with various people and guiding people to a direction or goal.

“Effective leaders don’t avoid the hard truths. Instead, they take responsibility for their decisions, maintain optimism, and focus on charting a new course of action.”

Landry’s essay focuses on her six top characteristics of an effective leader. Some of these characteristics are what you’d expect to see in an essay like this. Entries like transparency are less common but equally important in practicing effective leadership.

“Rolling your sleeves up with everyone else not only sets an example, it makes people want to follow you.”

Fiction mirrors life, and it’s one of the best sources to learn lessons that are otherwise too complex or vague to see in real life. Despite his penchant for crime and violence, Thomas Shelby is undeniably one of the most influential leaders on TV. This essay details the leadership skills used by a 1920s gangster character and how you can use them in modern life to become an effective and inspiring leader.

“Leadership is often associated with certainty; indeed, it is sometimes reduced to the decision-making process such that anything which smacks of uncertainty is categorized as weakness or a failure of leadership.”  

Grint’s essay on leadership explores the factors around leaders’ certainty or confidence. Of course, not all leaders have a clear answer to a problem, which is fine. The important thing is that they have a mindset to look for solutions and a modicum of honesty about their lack of uncertainty.

10 Essay Prompts on Effective Leadership

It’s your turn to express and explore your view of effective leadership. Use these prompts to work out your approach or steps to effective leadership. Here are ten prompts about effective leadership to help you get started on your essay.

Defining effective leadership is one way to explore your understanding of the idea. Remember that your definition of effective leadership could vastly differ from the other essays you’ve read. It’s also a great starting point for new people who want to warm up to the habit of writing essays about leadership.

Essay writing tip: If you’re new to writing essays, consider simplifying your essay. Try shortening it down to a five-paragraph essay .

You can find many leaders in the corporate industry, but some are more effective than others. Use this prompt to work out how you envision effective leadership in the corporate world. You can also apply the same idea to other fields, like at school, among friends or peer groups, or in the family. Consider carefully the field or organization you’d like to use for the essay.

You may have personal experience with a person who could have been an effective leader if not for their bad habits. You might have been that person and realized how your bad habits had held you back from practicing effective leadership. This is your chance to write about your experience, whether via observing someone else or through personal growth.

Practicing effective leadership goes beyond having direction and a vision for the organization. Becoming an effective leader also takes time and patience. Use this prompt to discuss the habits of great leaders and how these habits make them effective in their leadership.

Get into the mind of a leader and explore how such a person might become more effective in their leadership. This topic may involve discussing various people, whether real-life persons or fictional characters. Research how they think, handle their role and manage the people they lead.

Understanding the benefits of effective leadership is one of the best ways to drive someone to practice and adopt it. Use this prompt to detail how an effective leader boosts morale, productivity, motivation, communication quality, and confidence in the people they lead. It applies to all organizations, like businesses, teams, and networks.

How do you know whether a person’s leadership style and approach are effective or not? Use this essay topic to discover the different methods of measuring effective leadership. Read about the different measurements and indicators of leadership used in corporations and organizations.

Leaders can be good, mediocre, or bad in their leadership approaches and styles. This essay prompt will push you to compare bad leadership and effective leadership. You can also add methods of improving one’s leadership style to become more effective.

You can find a lot of excellent leaders throughout history. This idea focuses on discussing different leaders, their leadership styles, and levels of effectiveness.

Interpersonal skills are vital to great leadership. Perception of others’ feelings and thoughts can help you become an even better and more effective leader. Discuss how intuitiveness positively affects one’s leadership style. 

Check out our list of great essay writing topics for students for more topics to improve your writing.

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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How to Effectively Demonstrate Leadership in MBA Essays

May 14, 2021

UPDATE: This article was originally posted on April 12, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

Sitting down to compose your MBA admissions essays, you may be wondering what you should write about in the first place. While there are many different strategies that can lead to an effective essay , there is one thing that you definitely need to include: a will and capability for leadership .

Leadership, more than almost any other single quality, is one of the top things schools look for in their candidates. Some schools have even decided to dedicate an entire essay to their value of strong leadership. Take Kellogg’s essay A prompt, for example, which reads:

“Kellogg’s Purpose is to educate, equip & inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Tell us about a time you have demonstrated leadership and created lasting value. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn?” (450 words)

Other schools, on the other hand, specifically ask about leadership as an element of essays or understand leadership to be an implicit part of the answer they are looking for, like Chicago Booth’s essay 2 prompt: 

“Chicago Booth immerses you in a choice-rich environment. How have your interests, leadership experiences, and other passions influenced the choices in your life?” (250 word minimum) 

This means that it is absolutely imperative that you clearly demonstrate your leadership capabilities in your essays . 

Your essay may be a masterful piece of writing, but only with the element of leadership is it likely to be successful and land you a spot in your top MBA program. 

Why is demonstrating leadership so important for elite MBA programs?

All business schools value leadership in their candidates. However, leadership has many different facets and forms , a fact that becomes clear when looking at schools – and what they value – in depth. 

Berkeley Haas, for example, connects leadership with their value of innovation . Specifically, Berkeley’s full-time MBA program features four Defining Leadership Principles . These include Confidence without Attitude, Question the Status Quo, Students Always , and Beyond Yourself . Berkeley sees each of these as an integral part of good leadership.

London Business School , on the other hand, sees leadership as an inherent and essential value for a global outlook,  one of their most important values. They write : 

“We nurture our students to challenge the status quo, to question the norm and to develop the skills to become the world’s best business leaders. Over the years we have adopted a truly global outlook tackling challenges faced by international businesses and their leaders.” ​  

For LBS, the qualities of leadership and having a global mindset go hand-in-hand.

This list goes on and on. IESE sees leadership as an essential prerequisite for impact , one of their greatest focuses; Wharton specifically offers training for global leadership capabilities through their Leadership Ventures ; Booth – a school heavily focused on community – views leadership as a fundamental element of that value . 

Given the different forms of leadership that each school values, how you showcase your own will change depending on which application you’re completing. So be sure to choose stories and lessons learned that align with the school you’re applying to. 

Of course, not only do these schools look for leadership in their candidates, they also offer explicit opportunities for developing and polishing leadership skills in their students. 

It is clear that leadership is extremely important in MBA programs, the work you do post-MBA, and of course, to the MBA admission committee. 

Leadership comes in many different forms

As you can see from above, there is no one definition of leadership that schools adhere to . In fact, because leadership can be tied into so many different values, there are many different ways to demonstrate it effectively in your MBA admissions essay. 

Here are some ideas about how to show leadership:

1. Innovative ideas

Leadership can be shown through an ability and desire to innovate . This can be coming up with a new product at a company, developing a new idea for a business, or helping an existing company capture a market opportunity that may not have been obvious before. By coming up with a creative new idea, you can show that you took the lead to help a company become more successful. 

Take a look at this example. Here, in his essay for Harvard Business School , our client Bruno demonstrated his capacity for leadership by applying data: 

“While working on a marketing and sales project for a large telecommunications company in Brazil, I was responsible for translating all the knowledge we had created with machine learning into segmented offerings, client retention actions, and up-selling initiatives. Combining industry expertise with the insights generated, I identified a 10% margin increase in the company’s mobile business, a market that is highly competitive and usually seen as margin-deteriorating. This experience made me realize that corporations need people who can guide them to make intelligent use of data.”

As you can see, identifying an opportunity to grow a business can be used to help show off your potential as a leader, especially as an entrepreneur. 

2. Helping others

This can be applied to both personal or professional situations. Maybe there was a time when your family was struggling financially, so you stepped in to offer your support? Maybe you had a colleague who couldn’t get their work done on time, so you helped them organize their priorities better and grow as a professional? Both of these instances show how you guided others through challenging experiences by relying on your leadership skills. 

This value can also be strongly related to impact and community , ideas that are becoming increasingly important within MBA programs . In many instances, leadership skills can be connected to a professional endeavor that helped a company create value for others. This is a great way to show how helping others revealed or helped you train your own leadership skills. 

Take a look at this example from a client’s application to Wharton last year:

“To escape Rio de Janeiro’s perilous, impoverished favelas, education and employment are the only way out. During university, I came to understand this while mentoring a group of underprivileged students. Despite wanting to attend school, my students often missed class due to active shootouts between gangs and police, on top of the many other challenges of living in favelas. Through this experience, I became aware of my role in society and how I could directly impact other’s lives.”

Here, our client Conrado used his experiences of mentoring others to understand his ability for impactful leadership. Not only does this help you underline the impact of your achievements, but also reveals a deeper aspect of your personality.

3. Taking initiative

Showing your desire and ability to be proactive can easily overlap with either of the two suggestions above. Often, recognizing a problem – either in your personal life or professional environment – and deciding to do something about it is a great way to demonstrate leadership. 

This is especially true if the problem was something nobody else had identified – or even blatantly denied existed. Here, your will to take the steps to fix it might be the perfect way to show your potential as a leader and self-starter while highlighting your drive and motivation.

4. Community and teamwork

A sense of community and working in teams is an essential value for many top MBA programs. Highlighting your leadership role does not mean you were working individually or only at the head of a team. Leadership can be also demonstrated through your ability to promote teamwork and collaboration. 

An important part of teamwork is being a team member who is not afraid to speak up, proactively solve problems, include others, or put new ideas on the table . 

By taking on a leadership role, even a minor one, within your community or team, you help further collective success and often multiply your impact. This is an awesome quality to demonstrate in your MBA essay. 

This can be a great opportunity to utilize extra-professional examples in your MBA essays. Take a look at another strategy Bruno used in one of his Columbia Business School essays:

“We’ve just stopped to catch some air, a scarce resource above 6000 meters. All members of the expedition are feeling mental exhaustion, but we fight it with team spirit. I nod heads with each member, making sure signals are clear. Each and every one of us is responsible for encouraging the others not to give up and for knowing when to tell a teammate to stop because going forward might risk their life. Lucky for all of us, now is not that time.”

Here, Bruno does an excellent job utilizing storytelling to help show how he is a leader within the group. As you can see, leadership can be evident even in stories of personal and group achievement.

5. Taking a leap of faith

Good leadership is not just about making data-backed decisions. Much more, it entails taking risks and using your intuition to navigate the complicated worlds of interpersonal communication, timing, and networking. 

This can not only highlight your courage but also your ability to push the envelope and create new solutions and possibilities.

For example, you could demonstrate leadership by telling the story of how your confidence in a subordinate helped them grow to become a more mature professional and enrich your team as a whole. It may also manifest itself through the idea to start a new business, despite not knowing if you will reach success. 

6. Getting out of your comfort zone

Leadership can also be recognized in the desire to get outside one’s comfort zone. Adcoms are looking for individuals who are ready to take full advantage of their MBA programs, which requires a willingness to learn and grow. This is an especially good tactic if you want to show attributes of global or international leadership, a characteristic that is especially valuable for European schools like LBS, INSEAD, or IESE. 

For example, spending a year in a foreign country can help you understand intercultural connotations of business in ways you could never have experienced before or how to communicate in completely new ways. 

Demonstrating leadership by getting out of your comfort zone can be expanded to experiences about polishing foreign language skills, helping international colleagues understand your home region, or expanding a business internationally. All of these can reveal and train global leadership skills and intercultural competencies – something all schools are looking for in their candidates. 

7. Straightforward leadership positions

Of course, we cannot forget the most obvious way to demonstrate leadership. If you have taken on an explicit leadership position within your company or organization, this is a great way to express this value to the admissions committee. 

Professional leadership positions can include leading teams, guiding clients through transformation processes, presenting results to senior leadership, or taking on a senior leadership position itself. If you have had experiences like this, be sure to include them – and the challenges you faced – in your MBA admissions essay. 

These ideas not only help you demonstrate leadership in your MBA essay, they might also give you bonus points for connecting leadership to other values a school might share, like community, innovation, teamwork, creativity, and a drive to make an impact. 

Tips for demonstrating effective leadership

Naturally, just explaining one of the above situations in your essay will not cut it. There are a few other things that you should keep in mind and try to apply when focusing on leadership in your MBA essay. 

Use the STAR method

Telling a story that thoroughly highlights your leadership role does not automatically mean it will be compelling. Often, candidates fail to show how leadership was necessary – in other words, what the problem was that required them to take on a leadership position in the first place.

That is where storytelling – and specifically the STAR method – comes in. The STAR method will help you highlight not just the problem that you faced, but also your specific role in solving it that led to success. 

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action , and Results . If you want to make your story about leadership convincing, you must include all of these elements. This translates to:

Situation – clearly presenting the context for your story.

Task – demonstrating that there was a problem to be solved or a challenge to be faced.

Action – showing exactly what you did to solve that problem or overcome that challenge.

Results – the outcome of your actions. This can range from personal growth to helping other individuals to producing company-wide results. 

In this example, our client Karen effectively used the STAR method in her Kellogg essay to show leadership initiative at her mother’s store:

“I learned the value of hard work early, as a child helping in my mother’s gift shop, serving customers and wrapping gifts. (Situation) Once the boom of social media started, I saw the opportunity to leverage this technology to improve our business – this could attract more customers, increase revenues, and keep our financials organized. Simultaneously, I realized I wouldn’t be able to help in the store once I left for university (Task) , so I taught my mom to use the computer to manage our Facebook page and financials (Action) . The fulfillment of providing my mother with the tools and skills necessary to run and improve her business – increasing sales by 10% – is indescribable (Results) .”

Using STAR is a great way to make your leadership role very clear throughout your essay and utilize storytelling strategies successfully. 

At Ellin Lolis Consulting , we believe that one of the keys to a compelling essay is effective storytelling. This technique transforms your example of leadership from a stale image that adcoms have heard a thousand times to a colorful journey that highlights you as unique and valuable to their community.

Highlighting your role

Your MBA essay is the place to discuss your personal achievements . Don’t sell yourself short in your essay! Telling a story about leadership that does not thoroughly explain your part will not be a good demonstration of leadership. 

This means that it is important to show the admissions committee what you specifically did in your story. Just saying that you were part of a team that produced fantastic results will not achieve this. Instead, you must show them how your work – what you did and how you did it – was essential for collective or individual success. 

Even if a success was only possible due to the work of your entire team, it’s still important to show how your actions complemented those of your colleagues. Not only does this allow the readers to see your contributions, but also demonstrates your capacity for collaboration!

Combining personal and professional examples

We have already established that leadership can manifest itself in many different forms, and that admissions committees see it that way, too. 

This means that the adcom is not only looking for your professional leadership experiences – or that they will condemn you for demonstrating leadership in your personal life. In fact, a good mix helps the adcom understand that you have a well-rounded, flexible understanding of what leadership means. 

For example, last year, our client Thais wanted to show leadership via the theme “grow by growing others”. To do so, she included the following stories in her Berkeley Haas essays :

• Teaching fellow children how to read as a child
• Mentoring younger students during university
• Professionally mapping NGO efforts to coordinate the distribution of their impact more evenly throughout Brazil

Don’t be afraid to include personal examples of leadership – this may help to reinforce your multi-faceted capabilities as a leader even more in your MBA essay. This is also a great way to show a clear pattern of leadership.

Show a pattern of leadership

When writing your MBA essay, it is good to not just show a single instance of leadership, but instead to demonstrate how your tendency for leadership is part of your brand using multiple stories. 

Of course, this only applies to prompts that do not ask for only a single experience (unlike Kellogg’s essay B!)

For example, you could show how you led a school club as a teenager, started a project at an NGO during college, and went on to lead recruiting initiates at your current consulting firm. This way, the adcom has a number of examples to go on to understand that you will make for a good leader in the future. 

Often, the greatest way to demonstrate a pattern of leadership is by establishing it via your central theme .

Leadership and theme

A theme is a great way to connect your message to your reader. A theme is a central topic that is reinforced throughout your essay via one or more stories. If you are curious about how to effectively apply a theme in your MBA essay, check out this article .

Many candidates decide to use leadership as their central theme in one or more of their essays. This is a great strategy and is definitely a winning possibility. However, you can also choose a theme with a bit more subtlety and still create an effective argument for leadership. 

To demonstrate, let’s take another look at Kellogg’s essay B. Their question specifically asks candidates to talk about a (single!) past leadership experience.

Last fall, our client Carolina began her essay with: 

“While the choreographed movements of a ballet dancer are polished and graceful, the journey to reach this result is full of setbacks. Although I no longer practice ballet, I have benefited from the discipline and determination I developed as a ballet dancer, applying these strengths to my professional and personal life.”

Here, Carolina uses ballet to help the reader visualize discipline and determination. She goes on to explain that she later used these traits to successfully demonstrate her leadership capabilities to overcome hurdles while implementing a membership program at her company. 

She ends her essay like this: 

“Although the membership program was successful, it required overcoming many setbacks through a rigorous execution process. Like ballet dancing, the completed project shows little of the work that went into it or the learnings I acquired along the way. Ultimately, it gave me the opportunity to lead a very diverse team, learn about a new industry, and strategically collaborate to achieve impressive results.”

As you can see, she uses the theme ballet to focus the reader on specific leadership qualities (discipline and determination) that helped her succeed in her career.

This strategy will work for other schools and essay prompts just as well. If your answer to Stanford’s What Matters Most to You and Why is quality leadership, you may be able to express that best with a metaphor. 

Our client Isabella, for example, began her essay like this: 

“What matters most to me is watering plants. Not any plant, but the ones that insist on growing, even when lacking nutrients and sunshine.” 

She continues her essay by explaining how, by overcoming bias and obstacles in her own life, she was able to grow into a leader who helped others overcome their own obstacles as well, thus “watering plants that insist on growing.”

As you can see, it is possible to demonstrate leadership in your MBA essay indirectly and implicitly – and even in unique, creative ways. Choosing your theme like this may even help reveal a new side of your personality that the admissions committee might not have otherwise been exposed to.

Don’t be afraid of conflict

In life, we work hard to avoid conflict as much as possible, yet when it comes to stories, conflict and tensions are not only important, but essential to captivating attention. 

Would Breaking Bad have been as interesting if Walter White was already an established drug lord when the show started? Probably not. Watching him take the news of his cancer diagnosis and find an unusual way to drum up the money for treatment is just what makes the show so addictive. 

Conflict and how our “hero” (in this case, you!) solves the challenge is at the core of any good story, so make sure you use the STAR method to clearly set up the conflict you needed to navigate and then show how you took steps to turn this roadblock into one of your standout moments. 

Let’s take this essay for example. In an early version, the story was conflict-free. 

Upon joining MBB after graduation, another experience inspired personal growth. While abroad, I participated in recruiting processes for top consulting firms, and saw firsthand that MBB lagged behind in recruiting students pursuing dual degrees abroad. After joining, I created a dedicated process to recruit these top performers. Four months later, we had the first online connection event, which attracted more than 40 interested students. The program has since become an essential recruiting tool. I am proud to lead this internal team in contributing to MBB’s long-term success as we attract the talent we need to deliver high-impact results to clients.

Though this shows initiative on the applicant’s part, it is far less compelling than this version of events:

After graduating, I joined MBB, as it allowed me to channel my intellectual curiosity, explore various sectors and be an agent of change. While abroad, I participated in recruiting processes for other top consulting firms, and saw firsthand that MBB lagged behind in recruiting dual-degree students. After joining, I spoke with several partners about creating a program to solve this issue. The partners were hesitant, however, concerned they could not adequately evaluate candidates remotely. After demonstrating the implications of overlooking these high-potential candidates, I received permission to create a dedicated dual-degree recruiting process. Four months later, I had mobilized 10 colleagues, leading them in organizing BCG’s first online connection event. The program has since become an essential recruiting tool, bringing in more than 10% of our hires since inception.

Here, not only does she show initiative, she also shows she has an ability to clearly communicate and add value to her firm , even when the odds are stacked against her. This tactic shows development and engages the reader, making your story more memorable.

So, when writing your leadership essays, make sure to give your stories some much-needed drama to really demonstrate how much impact your actions generated!

Still struggling with leadership in your MBA essays?

There are many factors to consider when deciding how you will demonstrate leadership in your MBA essay. 

On the one hand, it is good to consider the multi-faceted nature of leadership. You will want to demonstrate multiple environments and ways in which you have been able to create impact. And just because you have never managed a team or become the leader of a school club does not mean you cannot show your leadership capabilities to the admissions committee. 

In fact, you may be able to prove to them that you are a leader through a number of other situations, like taking the initiative or innovation, and even simultaneously connect those situations to other things the school values. 

On the other hand, just selecting a story that demonstrates leadership is not enough – you must also present it in a way that is convincing . Using strategies like STAR, a mix of professional and personal examples, and reinforcing the message through your theme, you can make sure that the admissions committee remembers your unique value as a leader. 

Of course, understanding these concepts and applying them is not the same thing. 

Even more importantly, we can help you effectively highlight your desire to grow as a leader in your top MBA program and the global world of business beyond. After all, as Kellogg’s admissions point out , growth is a challenge confronted by every organization – and every leader. 

If you still find yourself struggling with these issues, we are happy to help! Our MBA essay editors at Ellin Lolis Consulting have the expertise you need to identify the right stories and approaches to discussing leadership for each school you’re applying to. We can help you polish your essay to really make your leadership experiences shine. 

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Writing a Successful Leadership Story Essay

L eadership Story essays are a prime opportunity in your MBA applications to communicate experiences that demonstrate your ability to lead others .

MBA admissions officers are very interested in your leadership achievements, both inside and outside of work. And yet, you probably won’t be directly asked, “Are you a leader?” Instead, applications will prompt you to tell stories about your leadership achievements.

Typical essay questions that have appeared on past MBA applications related to the topic of leadership include the following:

• Discuss a defining experience in your leadership development.
• Tell us about a time when you made a lasting impact on your organization.
• What impact do you hope to have as a leader of consequence in the future?

To score top marks with your answer to these MBA leadership essay questions, admissions officers will expect you to present real-world evidence that you are equipped to rally other people and motivate them to work together to achieve an important shared vision or goal.

Why do admissions committees ask you to write about a leadership story? What are the characteristics of a great answer? This article answers these questions and provides you with a set of building blocks for crafting a unique and powerful Leadership Story Essay of your own.

In the final section of this article, we analyze a Leadership Story Essay example to show you the principles in this article in action.

To begin, let’s explore what MBA programs mean by “leadership” in the first place.

What Does it Mean to Lead?

If you were applying to art school, you’d present a portfolio of your artistry. Similarly, business schools are interested in seeing a portfolio of leadership stories. Reviewing a collection of leadership accomplishments is one way the admission committee assesses a candidate’s leadership potential. If a top MBA program’s job is to produce future leaders, the admissions committee must determine if you already possess the raw ability to lead.

Many aspiring MBA students are aware that they need to demonstrate leadership and prove they have leadership potential. But how do they do that in an essay? And what is leadership anyway?

Leadership ability relates to your capacity to motivate and influence individuals, teams, and organizations. Some MBA candidates are intimidated when they have to answer a leadership essay question in their application because they worry they don’t have impressive leadership stories to tell.

Don’t fret. Admissions committees understand you are early in your career, and they don’t expect you to have founded a not-for-profit or saved a village. Instead, they can appreciate that your leadership stories are on a smaller scale, such as leading a classroom, spearheading a fundraiser, or coaching a little league baseball team. Leading in “ordinary situations” but doing it “extraordinarily well” is what impresses admissions committees.

Hopefully, by now, we’ve eased your doubts about Leadership Story Essays and helped you better understand the definition of leadership. If so, it’s time for you to start brainstorming which leadership stories you want to tell.

Qualities of a Standout Leadership Story Essay

To review: your leadership stories are the collection of past experiences, initiatives, and accomplishments indicative of your leadership abilities. MBA admissions committees want to know about your past leadership experiences to assess your potential to lead in the future.

Let’s look at the characteristics of an outstanding Leadership Story Essay.

• Your Leadership Story Essay should provide evidence that you can rally other people and motivate them to work together to achieve an important shared vision or goal . Many candidates make the mistake of telling a story about an individual accomplishment when asked for a leadership story. The whole point of a leadership story is that you couldn’t have achieved what you achieved if you were operating alone.
• Admissions committees want to see evidence that you can work collaboratively as part of a team . If your leadership style appears authoritarian or self-serving, you may be passed over for candidates with more team-oriented leadership styles.
• Stories in which everything went smoothly and as expected aren’t as powerful as stories where you faced challenges and obstacles and found creative solutions to mission-critical problems.
• When selecting among potential stories, ask yourself which leadership experience ended up being a defining experience for you – one that taught you how to lead and what it means to lead.
• It’s always better to choose a leadership story that holds meaning for you – for example, leading a fundraiser for a non-profit with a mission that is close to your heart.
• Results matter – the admissions committee wants to know how you made an impact . There is a premium placed on stories that end with a visible and, if possible, measurable impact.
• Good leaders put the needs of others and the organization ahead of personal ambitions. If you helped others excel and succeed while in the lead, then you’ll have a much more persuasive essay.

With these criteria in mind, you can begin brainstorming your leadership stories and select the one that provides the most convincing evidence of your leadership potential.

Next, we will walk through the content building blocks for crafting a unique and powerful Leadership Story Essay and share an example essay to show you how all of these principles come together in an outstanding MBA essay.

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Content Building Blocks for a Leadership Story Essay

Leadership Story Essays are narrative essays, which means they are invitations for you to tell a story. Therefore, the content building blocks we provide below will help you to craft your story.

The first principle they teach you in a creative writing course is that a good story has a beginning, middle, and end.

The beginning of your story should include a Hook and a Lead .

A Hook is what it sounds like: an opening that engages your reader and builds interest in hearing your story. The best hooks are unexpected and build anticipation. You’ll see an example of a hook in the sample essay.

The next building block is the Lead . A story lead summarizes what the story is about and gives your reader a sense of why you decided to tell this story.

You have only a few seconds to capture your reader’s attention, so you want to get to the lead of the story as quickly as possible. The “lead” of your story gets your reader on board and silences that internal voice asking, “What’s this story about? And is it going to answer the essay question asked?”.

Once the reader is hooked, you are ready to tell your story. The content building blocks for the middle, or body of the story, should follow the STAR Framework. STAR is an acronym that stands for — Situation – Task – Action – Result .

You begin by providing the Situation of the story, which orients the reader to the setting and introduces the conflict or complication.

Next, since you are writing a story about a time you took the lead, you want your reader to know what Task you and your team needed to accomplish. Think of the Task as your role in the story and your specific goals or objectives as a leader in this particular situation.

From there, it’s time to share the Action , or what you did to resolve the conflict, fulfill your role, and achieve your objectives or goals. It’s important to remember that everything leading up to the Action (Situation and Task) is exposition. A good storyteller aims to get through that set-up as quickly as possible, so action becomes the story’s focal point. Action is what admission committees are interested in — not exposition. Therefore, on balance, “action” should take up about 75% of the word count of the leadership stories you tell.

When it comes to action, the more specific you can be, the better. Generic action statements, such as “I assembled the team, got them focused, and finished the project,” aren’t sufficient. Tell the reader about the obstacles you faced as a leader and the creative, clever, and unexpected ways you overcame them.

Outlining the story’s action is a crucial moment in testing the quality of your leadership story. If there’s not enough leadership action, then the story probably won’t work, and you should think of another story to tell.

Your story ends when you share the Results , or the impact of your actions, and the final resolution of the complication. Evidence of results is almost as critical as action when you’re trying to assess the quality of your story – a positive outcome makes the story that much more powerful.

If your story doesn’t “pay off,” it may not fly. That’s not the same thing as saying that you have to have achieved what you set out to. The pay-off might be the lessons you learned or how you grew from the experience.

Applying the STAR Framework

Let’s take a look at the STAR framework created by an MBA candidate. He outlined a story about leading a marketing field study project in college.

For our example applicant, the Situation was that during his senior year in college, he assembled a team of marketing and industrial design students to co-design a pair of sneakers for Nike.

As the team’s leader, his Task was to assemble the team and get them to work cooperatively to design a pair of sneakers. He decided to focus the Action of the story on the things he did to get his teammates to bond and work together to achieve their goals.

The Result of the project was two-fold: first, the team delivered the marketing plans and sneaker design for a skateboard shoe; second, the author learned how to lead a diverse group of people.

Voila. The story’s setting, the applicant’s goal, what he did, how things turned out, and some notes about what he learned from the experience are outlined. He’s captured the elements of a promising Leadership Story Essay.

While your STAR outline is likely to include more details than our example, you can see how the STAR outline can help you tell a concise story with a beginning, middle, and end. A STAR outline also enables you to see pretty quickly if your outline has the makings of a successful leadership essay.

Below you can read an excerpt from the example essay that resulted by assembling these content building blocks. Review the sample essay carefully, and then you will be ready to get to work writing your Leadership Story Essay.

Leadership Story Essay Sample

Like most kids in my neighborhood, I owned a skateboard. Honestly, I never quite got the hang of it. Though I will never shred the pavement or fly high above a half-pipe, I did get to do something most skateboarders will never do: in college, I led a six-person team that designed a skateboard shoe for Nike.

In my senior year, I convinced my thesis adviser at the University of Oregon that instead of writing a research report describing how Nike designs and develops athletic shoes, I wanted to “Just do it!” With his blessing, I convinced the Nike Design Group to sponsor a team of three marketing students, including me, and three industrial design students to co-design a sneaker for them.

As the project leader, my role was to assemble the team and lead them in designing a pair of skateboarding sneakers. Recruiting teammates was relatively easy; marketing and design students jumped at the chance to work on a project for Nike. The real challenge, once I had my team selected, was to get the marketing students and ID students to work together — we had such different working styles and perspectives.

For our project kick-off meeting, I invited my teammates to my apartment to eat pizza and watch Dogtown and the Z Boys, a classic skateboarding movie. Watching the film inspired us and broke the ice. In our next meeting, I came up with the idea of a teach-in. We taught them about our market research process, and they taught us about their design process. After that, we sketched out a method for working together…

[The body of the story features the leader’s other challenges and achievements before turning to the conclusion]

…We flew to Beaverton to present our skateboard sneaker to the head of Design. A year later, Nike released its first skateboard shoe. Though it was different from our model, our team’s work had clearly influenced the design and marketing of a new product for the legendary sneaker company.

For me, the ultimate reward wasn’t designing the sneaker; it was designing and leading the team. We started from such different perspectives and points of view and ended up gelling as a team.

The experience taught me how beneficial those differences are when you are creating something new. This lesson has been instrumental in my success in the software product strategy role I started after college.

Final Thoughts

Business schools understand that your best leadership experiences are still ahead of you. What they want to see is a “habit” of leadership and some good examples of how you’ve led on a smaller scale. Leading in ordinary situations but doing it “extraordinarily well” is what admissions committees are looking for in your Leadership Story Essay. Done well, your Leadership Story Essay will provide evidence of potential and the promise of great things to come.

Related Articles: Essay Examples

• Career Goals Essay Example
• What Will You Contribute? Essay Example
• Why MBA? and Why Our School? Essay Example
• Leadership Story Essay Example
• Professional Experience Essay Example
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Leadership Essay: What To Write To Put Your Best Foot Forward

EssayEdge > Blog > Leadership Essay: What To Write To Put Your Best Foot Forward

Because schools are looking for applicants who will make a contribution, it is becoming increasingly common for programs to specifically ask for essays on leadership. In this type of essay, the admissions officers are asking you to go beyond your resume, CV or activities list and provide them with a meaningful example that not only demonstrates your skills as a leader but reflects your values, ability to manage setbacks, and resilience in overcoming dilemmas. Therefore, I created these tips to guide you in writing the kind of leadership essay that will help you get noticed in the admissions process.

Table of Contents:

Choose an anecdote where you played a significant role

If you haven’t decided how to write a leadership essay. Your best anecdote may not necessarily be one where you were at the helm. Just because you didn’t have the title of President, Coordinator or Leader doesn’t mean that you didn’t take a strong leadership role in the project. The admissions officers are looking for results, and that means a situation where you were able to ensure outcomes, overcome obstacles, foster team cohesiveness, and exceed expectations. When brainstorming for your leadership essay, think more about the criteria of leadership rather than the title. The title and introduction to leadership essay will come up in your mind as soon as you understand what you want to write about.

Tackle dilemmas

An essay where you were in charge and everything went smoothly doesn’t make for the most compelling narrative. Instead, focus on anecdotes where you had to face tough choices. This could refer to interpersonal situations regarding assigning tasks, making budgetary decisions that might have displeased certain team members or even superiors, navigating contract negotiations between parties that did not trust each other or even dealing with unethical behaviors. Show the admissions officers that you can persevere despite setbacks and find a way forward to realize success in your endeavors.

Acknowledge the contribution of others

This is the most common pitfall that I see in leadership essays. Yes, a personal statement should be personal. However, when writing about leadership, it is impossible to demonstrate this if you write as if no one else was part of the situation. Be gracious in giving praise to team members for their insights, loyalty, and hard work. Let the admissions officers envision you as someone who can inspire others to collaborate and work as a cohesive whole to achieve common goals.

Need help? Check out EssayEdge editing services:

Highlight organization skills and interpersonal acumen

Depending on your personality type and individual leadership style, applicants tend to focus on either the technical aspects of leadership or the more interpersonal ones. In creating your leadership essay, remember to include both in a way that is as balanced as possible. Usually, I will recommend applicants write an opening paragraph that sets the stage, a paragraph about technical aspects such as assigning tasks and coordinating resources, a third paragraph that discusses obstacles encountered in the project, and then a concluding paragraph. The two middle paragraphs should be approximately the same length. By following this basic outline, applicants are sure to cover all bases and formulate a leadership essay that has a strong logical flow from start to finish.

Check some leadership application essay examples to understand what exactly has to be written in your paper.

Reflect on what you would have done differently

If, given the opportunity to do it again, you would have done everything exactly the same, I would advise writing about a different situation. Anecdotes where everything works out perfectly don’t typically provide the admissions officers with the information that they need to help them make a choice about your application. They will want you to engage in self-reflection either in the penultimate paragraph or the concluding paragraph. The admissions officers want to see both growth and willingness to grow. For this reason, be sure to discuss ways that you would like to continue to develop your personal leadership style so that you will be a more prepared and effective leader in the future.

Make a difference. That’s what you should do to be sure that your essay will be noticed by the admissions board. The combination of your writing skills and our guidelines must help you craft a winning paper. Keep in mind that you can always find an assistant on our essay proofreading service, trust proofreading them, and submit a high-quality leadership essay.

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How to write an essay about leadership

Leadership essays, or essays where you are asked about your work as a leader in your school or community, are not as common as you might imagine. Given all of the emphasis schools and clubs put on leadership roles and titles, essays asking students to dive deeply into this work are actually pretty rare in college applications. That said, it is important to consider leadership very broadly! You do not need to be the President or Founder of a club to write an effective essay for one of these prompts. In fact, sometimes the less common considerations and definitions of “leadership” can make for more compelling essays.

Example Leadership Essay Questions:

• U of California: Describe an example of your leadership and a way that you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
• U of Texas: How do you show leadership in your life? How do you see yourself being a leader at UT Austin?

LET'S BREAK DOWN THE ESSENTIAL POINTS YOU NEED TO HIT WHEN RESPONDING TO THIS SUPPLEMENT:

Leadership is more than titles – it is important, when you consider questions like these, that you reflect on activities where you have contributed to an accomplishment and learned something (about yourself, about your community). In fact, it would be a more powerful essay to reflect on a leadership contribution that was not connected to a title of leadership, but where you learned something important, than to reflect upon your activity where your leadership title is big “in name only.”

Sometimes leadership happens within your family – you do not need to limit your focus to leadership that happens during your school day.

You can consider this essay happening in two distinct ways: narrative structure – where you present a challenge you faced in a leadership role, actions you did that had an impact, and lessons you learned (skills you gained); OR montage structure – where you take on two different activities that both taught you a common lesson about leadership. Don’t muddle these together! Decide whether you want to write linearly (and chronologically in time) about one activity or if you want to write non-linearly about one leadership lesson.

THINGS TO AVOID:

Try to stay away from topics where your leadership takes the reader on a familiar journey. If you want to write about your leadership on an athletic team, that is wonderful, but try to avoid an essay about how your leadership of your team during The Big Game contributed to (winning/losing) The Big Game and the team becoming closer and being “one-strong-team.” Does that feel familiar to you? That’s because college admissions folks will have read thousands of essays that tell this type of story. If you select a common team to lead, take your essay in an uncommon direction.

Avoid lengthy introductions that take away from your word count and don’t actually support your essay response.

Avoid overemphasis on one aspect that detracts from your ability to talk about the other aspects of your story. In other words, if you spend half of your words outlining the challenge you faced, you only have ¼ of the remaining words to discuss your actions and ¼ to discuss the lessons you learned. This is not a good balance!

ADDITIONAL TIPS AND TRICKS:

• What did you do?
• What problems did you solve?
• What lessons did you learn?
• What impact did you have?
• How have you applied these lessons?

Answering these questions (and in this order) actually builds you an outline for this essay!

Do you have an extracurricular activity where the character count really limits you in terms of describing your work and impact? Consider using this essay to further highlight your contributions!

Do you have an extracurricular activity that speaks directly toward your intended major or field of study? This might be a great time to make your application stand out by sharing your leadership and contributions to this field! What problems have you solved? How can you use this prompt to share these solutions?

Elise holds a BA in Political Philosophy from Williams College and an MEd in Administration & Social Policy from Harvard. She has spent the past twenty years working in top-tier independent schools.

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Sample Application

PLEASE SEE THE APPLICATION BELOW AS A REFERENCE OR IDEA FOR WHAT YOU COULD INCLUDE IN YOUR APPLICATION . This sample application is an example of the kind of energy and thought that should be put into your Leadership Fellows application.

they/them/their

(555) 555-5555

[email protected]

001 Lynch Hall

HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT LEADERSHIP FELLOWS? 

• Campus flyers and tabling
• Email nomination

WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF LEADERSHIP FELLOWS? 

I want to be a member of Leadership Fellows so that I can learn skills that will help me in my time at UNC Charlotte now and as a professional once I graduate. I think the skills I learn will be useful when working with other students in the classroom, in my organizations, and in my personal life. I would also like the opportunity to meet other Niners and be able to learn from the other students who will be in the program. 

What is at least one thing you hope to gain from Leadership Fellows (personally and/or professionally)? Share why you chose it.

I would like to gain confidence as a result of Leadership Fellows. I sometimes hesitate in group settings to speak up or share my opinion, and I would like to be better at that. I feel I have what it takes to become a good leader, but I need to work on growing my confidence to step out of my comfort zone more, to speak up more, and to be okay if the group does not like my idea. I think if I grew my confidence I would become more involved on campus and take risks for opportunities that I have not always gone for because I don't think I'll get them. If I can improve my confidence I can become a more engaged and effective leader on campus. 

DESCRIBE 2 OR 3 OF YOUR PERSONAL STRENGTHS.

Three strengths I possess are adaptability, dependability, and honesty. Adaptability– I am able to do well in a variety of settings and groups, and I can always find a way to find my role and to support the group. I also manage obstacles well and I can adjust when something unexpected occurs or changes. I try really hard to be dependable and consistent. When I say I am going to do something, I follow through and I actively work to meet deadlines for everything. I do really well with maintaining my commitments and I pride myself in being someone people can turn to when they need to make sure something gets done. And honesty, I think honest connects to dependability, but I always try to be honest with everyone. If I am asked what I think, I won't lie and I value transparency when working with others as well. 

LIST IN NUMBERED FORMAT ANY ORGANIZATIONS/ACTIVITIES/VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN WHICH YOU PARTICIPATE OR HAVE PARTICIPATED.  INDICATE TIME-FRAME OF MEMBERSHIP OR PARTICIPATION.  INCLUDE ANY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.:

• 49er Running Club, member (Fall 2022-present) 
• Student Council, Secretary (May 2021-May 2022)

LIST ANY WORK EXPERIENCE:

• UREC, Lifeguard (October 2022-present)
• Coldstone Creamery (Summer 2022)

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

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Extracurriculars.

How to Write the UC Essay on Leadership Experience

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Vinay Bhaskara in a CollegeVine Livestream. You can watch the full Livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

What exactly is leadership, consider different types of leadership, mistakes to avoid.

The first of the University of California’s essay prompts states: 

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

This prompt is all about conveying your leadership experience. However, keep in mind that your essay does not need to be limited to an example of school-based leadership. Many of the better versions of this essay convey leadership in ways that are about neither academic leadership nor direct or positional extracurricular leadership.

It’s really easy to get lost in a definition of what leadership means with this prompt. Remember that leadership has a very expansive definition. What leadership looks like to each student will vary drastically, but, in other words, the prompt is asking you to describe how you have utilized your personal experience for the betterment of yourself and others. 

This prompt focuses on concrete actions that create tangible benefits for members of an organization, or even for an individual within the organization. Many students focus on how they have inspired their classmates or helped to resolve a conflict. While these are good examples of being a leader, try not to limit yourself to formal leadership positions and actions when brainstorming your response.

Leadership can range from formal leadership positions, such as being president of a club, to informal positions, such as mentoring a younger peer. Some examples of more formal leadership would be leadership positions in extracurricular activities including athletics , academics, and even work with non-profit organizations. Informal leadership, on the other hand, is leading in any capacity that is out of the ordinary, specifically when you do not have an official title.These are events or instances that you may not think of as leadership, but discussing such examples may actually help your essay stand out even more. 

A really powerful example of this could be a student helping peers deal with and overcome mental health struggles. Another example could be a student taking on more responsibility within their family by helping a sibling with their homework. The most compelling essays tend to be about informal examples of leadership, which are then supplemented by the formal leadership positions on your resume . 

Though there is no right or wrong answer for this essay prompt, here are a few things that you should avoid in your response.

Cliche Responses

A cliche essay response is any topic that reviewers may see repeatedly, and therefore is something you want to try and avoid in order to stand out among the applicant pool. Cliche responses for this essay prompt generally include examples about a club, such as a sports team, orchestra, or group, failing at something initially, and then the student helping the group succeed. It is possible to tackle such topics if you are an incredible writer, but if you aren’t then it may be hard for your essay to really make a lasting impact.

Restating Your Resume

Always avoid using the leadership experience prompt to restate your resume! It often seems that the most direct way to complete this essay is to speak about the leadership that can be found in your Activities section. Remember, however, that colleges already can see what’s on your resume. Therefore if you’re only expanding on the information in your application and using your essay to further list the clubs you led or your accomplishments, you’re not conveying anything new. You are missing an opportunity to add additional context to your application by doing this.

What the schools are really looking for are the qualities of leadership demonstrated through your experience – not the accomplishments or awards that you’ve accumulated from leadership positions. Instead of focusing on a title, focus on the impact of your leadership on others or on the approach used to build personal dynamics and relationships in leadership. Remember you want your essay to show which of your concrete actions have driven tangible benefits for others.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Need for Good Leadership in Organizations Essay

When leadership has impact, the future of leadership, works cited.

Good leadership determines an organization’s stability when the storm hits. Besides, good leadership increases productivity in an organization (Bartel 71). Employees feel at ease to offer their skills and this maximizes their performance. Managers also have an easy time running companies that have good leadership styles. However, successful leadership does not seem automatically. Executives must adopt new interpersonal and administration styles to succeed in the swiftly changing environment.

Successful leaders are never rigid. They are always ready to allow flexibility when faced with scenarios that need different style of leadership. Some approaches applied by these leaders include leading from the front, taking keen interest on new factors, empowering employees approaching risky situations boldly (Ahmed 73). These approaches allow leaders to succeed in any situation.

Some personalities that have had successful leadership include Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Jack Stahl. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft uses a participating style of leadership. This has enabled Microsoft to compete successfully with a popular brand like Windows.

Gates empowered his staff to innovate new products and processes because he had faith in the strength of innovation (Nayab par. 10).He designed the company as a podium for employees to develop their capabilities. Gates founded and supported a system that made sure placement of information was correct, since he understood the power of empowerment. This made people to make plans according to what was necessary.

Besides, he formed a digital platform, which linked technology, people and processes. This made distribution of information way easier. Generally, innovations by Gates fastened the process of responding to the rapidly transforming environment.

Steve Jobs is another leader who experienced much success at Apple. Steve used an autocratic form of leadership. Steve, unlike Gates, eliminated inept staff quite often (Nayab par. 15). Consequently, Windows is now a household product, while Apple Macintosh is dying, although it first had a lead over Windows (Nayab par. 15). The only product that has made Apple to enjoy success up to date is the I-Phone and related products that are yet to face challenge in the market.

One more leader who has had success in leadership is Jack Stahl. Stahl acted as an executive in Revlon from 2002 to 2006 and as the President of Coca-Cola from 1978 to 2000 (Nayab par. 2). Stahl is a leader who exploits situations to his advantage.

When Stahl was new in his profession, Ivester who was his mentor asked him to design a pamphlet for Coa-Cola’s public offer. Stahl assigned someone to complete the work for him without any oversights, but Ivester asked for a draft before the design was complete (Nayab par. 3).

Therefore, Ivester worked all night with Stahl to meet the deadline of the task, and after working with Ivester, Stahl learnt the secret of focusing on details in addition to having a high degree of oversight. From that time, Stahl trains his subordinates to pay attention to details as an efficient option to micro management to manage Coca Cola’s activities in the world.

The future of leadership lies in network distribution (Hamel 252). The aim of an organization will be to make excellent leadership networks that can join, or separate in reaction to various challenges. These systems will contain persons with diverse specialties and from different geographical backgrounds.

Also, organizations will make use of leadership programs so that people can realize that leadership does not involve job roles, but processes that take place among a net work of persons. Such processes entail clarifying rules, forming alignment and getting stakeholders’ commitment.

In addition, systems for creative development will have to augment the amount of ideas that they assemble through traversing the limits of leadership development society and joining with other partakers to come up with transformative solutions. Meetings that make leadership development persons to meet will resign to virtual networks, which link different groups like customers and suppliers, who have a stake in the process.

The great advancement for leadership transformation will be social networking systems that incessantly create new practices that will undergo entire distribution in the network, and not the fashioned processes. Young people are at ease with using social networking as a mode of linking with others and this denotes that they will easily embrace the idea of distributing leadership through a network.

This form of leadership will affect me directly because it means I will have to look for more creative ways to communicate to my subordinates across a network. For instance, when I need to communicate to my employees about a new product, I may not necessarily have to face them directly.

Rather, I may just send them directions aligned with the goals of production through a net work. I will also ask them to seek for clarification through the same network. This way, I will be able to communicate to a vast number of employees across the region while at the same time, leaving a room for creative action. The aim of this process will also be to strengthen employees through a participatory approach.

Ahmed, Pervaiz. Internal Marketing: Tools and Concepts for Customer-Focused Management . Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002. Print.

Bartel, Martin. We are Warriors: Insights to Personal Success . Mustang, Okla: Tate Pub, 2009. Print.

Hamel, Gary. The Future of Management . Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press, 2007. Print.

Nayab, Neon. Five Real-World Examples of Successful Leadership . 2011. Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, January 11). Need for Good Leadership in Organizations. https://ivypanda.com/essays/leadership-programs/

"Need for Good Leadership in Organizations." IvyPanda , 11 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/leadership-programs/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Need for Good Leadership in Organizations'. 11 January.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Need for Good Leadership in Organizations." January 11, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/leadership-programs/.

1. IvyPanda . "Need for Good Leadership in Organizations." January 11, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/leadership-programs/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Need for Good Leadership in Organizations." January 11, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/leadership-programs/.

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Feb 15, 2023

Essays on Leadership for Students | 200 - 500 Word Essays

Are you writing an essay about leadership? Check out these examples!

Leadership is often defined as "the action of inspiring others to act in concert to achieve a particular goal." It signifies the harmony in actions that lead to a common objective. A genuine leader not only exudes confidence but also paves the way for their followers towards triumph. Over the years, various leadership styles have been identified and discussed by psychologists.

 Qualities such as intelligence, adaptability, extroversion, innate self-awareness, and social competence often emerge as the hallmarks of impactful leaders. There's a consensus that these traits mold an individual into an effective leader. Interestingly, some theories suggest that extraordinary situations can thrust an ordinary individual into the spotlight, bestowing upon them the mantle of leadership. It's also believed that leadership isn't a static trait but an evolving journey. It underscores the belief that with dedication and the right resources, anyone can hone their leadership abilities.

 True leadership goes beyond merely advocating for a cause. It involves taking responsibility, igniting motivation in others, and differentiating oneself from just being a 'boss'. A leader's essence lies in their ability to inspire and propel people towards grand visions, whereas a manager typically focuses on oversight and operational aspects.

What Is a Leadership Essay?

A leadership essay falls under the category of student application essays and serves to provide student admissions officers with insight into your past leadership experiences. Despite appearing to be very specific, this type of essay acknowledges that the nature and perception of leadership can vary significantly depending on the individual and the context.

 If you find yourself in need of further insights or a unique angle for your leadership essay, consider exploring an expert essay-writing tool designed to assist students in crafting compelling narratives by analyzing vast data and generating fresh ideas within minutes. In this article, we'll also delve into various leadership essay examples to offer a clearer understanding of the genre and inspire your writing journey.

4 Examples of Leadership Essays

Qualities of a good leader, introduction.

Confidence is the most important attribute first of all. One of the most important qualities in a leader is confidence in one's own abilities. A lack of self-assurance is fatal to a person's leadership potential. If you want others to follow you, you need to exude self-assurance. It's imperative for a leader to have faith in his own judgment and actions. How can people want to follow him if he doesn't even know what he's doing?

Every effective leader knows that they need to be an inspiration to their followers. A leader needs to set an example for his team. In addition, he ought to inspire them whenever feasible. A leader must also maintain optimism in trying times.

What qualities a good leader must have?

Leadership is the ability to influence and guide individuals or groups toward a common goal. A leader must possess several qualities to be effective, including:

Communication skills: A leader must be able to communicate their vision and goals clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. This requires excellent listening skills, empathy, and the ability to adapt to different communication styles.

Emotional intelligence: A leader must be able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of their team members. This includes being able to understand and respond to the emotions of others, and handling conflicts in a constructive manner.

Visionary: A leader must have a clear and inspiring vision of the future, and be able to articulate this vision in a way that motivates others to work towards it.

Strategic thinking: A leader must be able to think critically and creatively to identify and solve problems, make decisions, and develop plans and strategies to achieve their goals.

Flexibility: A leader must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and be open to new ideas and perspectives. This requires the ability to embrace change, be innovative, and continuously learn and grow.

Integrity: A leader must have strong ethics and values, and be willing to make difficult decisions that are consistent with their beliefs. This requires honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Decisiveness: A leader must be able to make tough decisions quickly, without undue hesitation or procrastination. This requires courage and the ability to take calculated risks.

Empowerment: A leader must be able to delegate responsibilities, give team members the resources they need to succeed, and foster a sense of ownership and accountability among their team.

Conclusion 

These qualities are essential for effective leadership, and when combined with hard work, determination, and a commitment to excellence, can help leaders to achieve great things.

How one can be a Great Leader?

Leadership is the act of performing the duties of a leader. In the business world, for instance, it is essential to have someone in charge of a team to ensure everything runs well. Effective leadership is essential for any group that wants to maximize its prospects of success.

Leadership Comes from Experience

As we've shown, leadership can be innate in some cases but is more often learned through practice and exposure. Sometimes the best traits of a leader must be learned over a lengthy period of time, so that one can become a notable one, proving that leadership is not always about a person's innate qualities. Leaders should continuously be on the lookout for opportunities to grow their leadership skills.

Nobody can disagree that experience is a key component of leadership. Numerous examples exist to back up this claim, such as:

Instance 1:

Our school's head boy or girl has traditionally been an older student who has been around for a while and thus has a better grasp of the ins and outs of school politics.

Instance 2:

When there is a vacancy for a team leader, it is common practice for the employee who has consistently put in the most effort and attention to the office job to receive a higher number of votes than their coworkers. 

“The best teacher for a leader is evaluated experience.” - John C. Maxwell

How one can be a Great Leader/Skills to be a Great Leader?

Effective leadership is a skill that develops through time. Developing into a leader with all the qualities that are needed takes a lot of hard work and potential. Being a prominent leader calls for a wide variety of traits. Some of these characteristics are addressed in further detail below:

One should be a Good Communicator

To be an effective leader, one must be able to convey his thoughts clearly to his/her/its subordinates.

Should have Confidence

The individual should have faith in what he says and does.

Give Credit to other Team Members too

A leader not only needs to impose his viewpoints and opinions instead he must also hear to the suggestions of other members of the team and offer them credit if their concept is appropriate.

Good Bond with the Team

A leader's ability to command respect from his team members depends on his ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with them.

Leads with Responsibility

A leader needs to be completely committed to his position. It's important that he takes on responsibility so that he can effectively deal with the various challenges he will inevitably face.

Any group or organization needs a leader above all else. Leadership development takes time and effort. One needs to have lived through a lot to be an effective leader. It's not enough to simply have years of experience in the field; one must also have the traits that make one an effective leader. You can't be a great leader unless you possess certain traits.

What makes a Good Leader?

Trying one's hand as a leader appears easy when viewed through this lens. Is that so tough? Of course not; leading is difficult, and not everyone aspires to be a leader. The vast majority of us have settled into well-established careers where we report to superiors and make a living. Still, not everyone is content to go along with the crowd. They become leaders in whatever field they pursue. A leader is an example to followers and will prioritize the needs of those around them.

Some Unique Qualities of a Leader

Many individuals resort to their leaders to vent their frustrations, therefore it's important for them to be good listeners.

A leader ought to be completely forthright; they can't play favorites or give anyone preferential treatment. One of the most essential qualities of a strong leader is the ability to make decisions with integrity.

They need to be aware of the bigger picture and understand what makes an individual stand out or become a leader. It's their expertise in addition to other distinguishing traits. Their awareness of current events and the results of recent studies is essential. In many ways, this is helpful, and it's the leader's responsibility to stay current.

Since some might not understand them, they should utilize straightforward, easily comprehended language. Leaders need to be able to communicate effectively at all times. In reality, what sets them apart is their exceptional communication skills. Adolf Hitler was such a gifted orator that his followers believed every word he said.

No matter how you're feeling or what's going on in the world, if you listen to a leader, they may make you feel energized. Since leaders are in charge of inspiring confidence in their followers, they can't afford to be wary or unsure of themselves. People tend to blindly follow their leaders.

Whether you're a leader or a doctor, you should devote yourself completely to your chosen field. Everything we do is for the benefit of others; engineers, for example, spend much of their time designing and constructing buildings for other people. So, take pride in what you do, and if you possess the aforementioned traits, you are also a leader who doesn't have to rely on others to succeed. No matter what you do, aspiring to leadership positions will always benefit others.

What is Leadership in Management and what are the weaknesses and strengths of a Leader?

Simply said, leadership is acting as a supervisor or manager of a group. Different mental pictures pop up when we hear the word "leadership" used in conversation. One might think of a political leader, team leader, corporate leader, school leader, etc. Leaders facilitate order and efficiency in the workplace. Teamwork and success are fundamental to effective leadership. Leaders utilize their managerial abilities to establish courses and guide their teams to success.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Leadership

Able to express oneself more clearly

Growth of character.

Self-awareness.

Possession of teamwork skills.

Gain assurance in yourself.

Weaknesses:

Acting favorably toward one's teammates.

Having no faith in the leader.

Thinks they're better than everyone else, but act hypocritically.

Not living up to the promised standard.

Insufficient morals.

Leadership and Management

Management and leadership are inextricably linked to one another. Leadership and management are both vital to the efficient operation of an organization; but, they accomplish very different things in the process. Leadership is a necessary skill for anyone aspiring to be an effective manager. The terms management and leadership are synonymous with one another. In this manner, we are able to draw the conclusion that a manager who demonstrates the traits of a successful leader is, in fact, a manager who is effective.

Leadership in School

Leadership is essential in nearly every group, as we've seen above. That group includes one's educational institution. Every school needs an outstanding figure to serve as its head of school. Class monitor, assembly captain, cultural leader, etc. are all examples of leadership roles that can be taken on at school, but this raises the question of what makes a person a successful school leader.

Any student hoping to be chosen as a student body leader will need to demonstrate a wide range of competencies. He or she needs to be a consistent student who pays attention in class and does well in extracurricular activities. For the simple reason that no intelligent and hardworking kid would ever be considered for leadership. Student leaders are most often selected from among those who participate fully in all activities.

Leadership in Organization

Leadership in an organization, also known as organizational leadership, is the process of establishing long-term objectives that further the company's mission and help it reach its ultimate destination. This is a classic illustration of how Bill Gates often works with his team: they agree on a strategy, and Gates implements it. To the same extent, it is the responsibility of the leader in each given organization to determine what it is that the group is trying to accomplish.

Leadership in Politics

Leadership in politics, also known as political leadership, is the process of becoming actively involved in a political party in the role of a party leader. Knowledge of political processes, their outcomes, and the political agenda is central to the idea of political leadership.

An effective leader can be developed in anyone who has the determination and drives to do so. Both the strengths and the areas for improvement should be nurtured. Whether in the classroom, the workplace, or the political arena, leadership is always necessary. Therefore, one can exercise leadership anywhere they like inside their own organization.

What are the types of Leadership?

The ability to lead is a rare trait that not everyone possesses. The ability to do so is a gift, so count your blessings if you possess it. It's recommended that you hone it even more so that you can propel your career forward and serve as an example to people around you. However, it is crucial to grasp the various leadership styles before you go ahead and polish your skills.

Types of Leadership Styles

Democratic Leadership

In this style of management, subordinates are given a voice in decision-making. Although the subordinates' efforts are highlighted, the leader is ultimately held responsible for the group's actions. Many people find this type of leadership to be effective.

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leaders motivate and inspire others to adopt new behaviors and ways of thinking in order to improve their own performance and that of their teams and organizations. A transformational leader is someone who encourages their team to strive for greater things and works to boost morale and output.

Team Leadership

A good leader fully incorporates his team into the task at hand. Members of the team are motivated to reach their goals and advance in their careers thanks to the leadership of the group.

Strategic Leadership

It requires a chief executive who doesn't restrict himself to brainstorming sessions with his superiors. He contributes on every level of the team. He is well-liked for his ability to unite the need for fresh ideas with the necessity of grounding them in reality.

Autocratic Leadership

The leader in a command and control structure is the center of attention. The chief executive has absolute power in this setting. He decides things on his own, without polling his staff. He relays this information to his staff and stresses the importance of swift action. The buck stops with him, and he alone must answer for his actions. Not much room for negotiation exists. It's no secret that this method of leading has its detractors.

Visionary Leadership

This kind of leader appreciates the abilities and requirements of his team members. He describes his ideal outcome and the teamwork that will be necessary to attain it.

Coaching Leadership

Leaders who coach their teams do so regularly in an effort to raise output. He inspires his employees to do better and works to keep them motivated. This approach to leadership has been much praised.

Facilitative Leadership

With occasional guidance, a facilitative leader ensures that the process runs smoothly for his team. As a precaution in case his team is ineffective. If the team is highly effective, the leader will take a hands-off approach.

Cross-Cultural Leadership

The leadership of this type is necessary when interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds. Because of the wide variety of cultures represented in the workforce across the United States, many managers and executives hold cross-cultural positions.

Laissez-Faire Leadership

The members of the team are given responsibility in this style of management. They are free to choose how they spend their time at work, with minimal oversight from the boss. It's not a good way to lead, according to experts.

Transactional Leadership

An interactive approach is integral to this kind of leadership. When team members successfully implement their leader's ideas and choices, they are rewarded with immediate, material benefits.

Charismatic Leadership

In order to bring out the best in his followers, this kind of leader makes the effort to change their attitudes, values, and actions.

This article should dispel the notion that leadership qualities can't be further subdivided. It should also assist you in pinpointing your own personal brand of leadership so you can perfect it over time.

Final Words

In conclusion, leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept that involves various qualities and skills. Effective leaders possess traits such as integrity, vision, empathy, decisiveness, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. They are able to navigate challenges, make difficult decisions, and lead their team toward success. Leadership also involves continuous learning and self-improvement, as leaders must adapt to changing circumstances and remain relevant. Effective leadership can have a positive impact on both individuals and organizations, fostering growth and creating a culture of success.

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Student Essay: The Power of Stories to Inspire Strong Leaders

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Maya S. is a Muslim, Egyptian and student athlete who has lived in Saudi Arabia for most of her life. She is 16 and a junior at the American International School of Riyadh, where she is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program.

In this Student Essay of the Week, Maya talks about how building a platform for others to share their stories has helped her understand why welcoming diversity of thought and experience will make her a stronger, more empathetic leader.

Three steps forward and two steps back. That was my reality during the privilege walk.

In October 2018, I was selected along with 50 other high school students to attend a leadership trip to a farm outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We believed that we were all going to learn about how to become leaders with strong voices. However, the trip took a completely unexpected and inspiring turn. Instead, we left knowing how to listen first and speak second.

At the farm, we participated in an activity called a privilege walk , where we were asked to step forward or backward in response to certain questions. From the responses, it became obvious that all of us were struggling with something that those around us knew nothing about.

I learned that the girl beside me once wondered where her next meal would come from. The girl beside her was afraid to leave the house at night because she had been assaulted. The boy to my left had been held at gunpoint. And the boy beside him had a mental disorder. This realization hit me hard. I was able to understand that although it’s impossible for us all to experience the same things, it is possible for us to try and listen to each other and understand each other’s differences. I began to appreciate the meaning of finding beauty in diversity. During that trip I learned that true leaders listen to the voices of others, and as a result they are able to enrich their own points of view.

“Living with anxiety is like feeling alive through the motions of life, but never freely living. It’s being aware of my surroundings, but lost in another world inside my head.”

During the summer of that year, someone I loved dearly was faced with medical issues, and my family began dealing with a lot of uncertainty. Even when it was all over, I felt lost and changed. I couldn’t explain it, but I wished that someone understood. I then began thinking of the people standing around me that day in Riyadh during the privilege walk, and everyone around the world like us. Did we all feel the same desire to be understood? How could we all feel seen and valued, regardless of our stories? I wanted to hear more about the stories of all those kids I met that day in line. I wanted to understand how we all ended up there, despite our different paths. I wanted to create something that would allow them to express their stories.

That summer, I started Voice of Change , a weblog that allows other teenagers to contribute writing that reflects the experiences that have shaped them. The first story I received was “Purpose,” from a girl struggling with depression. She wrote, “Purpose: a reason, a given, motivation , a point. We all live life because we have a purpose. We realize that there is a point, we have motivation and a reason to live. We look forward to things and create opportunities for ourselves. We see a future. Imagine living life feeling as though you have no purpose… That means no reason, no motivation, simply no point… the best way to describe this feeling is as if [you’re] dead. This feeling is depression.”

After I posted the article, which talked about how depression impacted the author’s life, I received comments, emails and texts from others saying that the article communicated what they needed to hear and couldn’t put into words. This initial response fueled the rest of my work. I began receiving other stories about challenging experiences, ranging from sexual assault and racial discrimination, to losing a loved one and struggling with body image. Here are a few powerful quotes from these articles:

“I’m not sure who or what I’m living for, but I’d never want to risk my family members feeling as I do right now. It’s okay that I’m suffering right now, because I have faith that it will pass, eventually it will.” – “Live On”

“I am not ignorant because I’m Arab. I’m not a terrorist because I’m Muslim. I am not a thug because I’m black. I am not who I am because of what you see on the news. I am who I am because of what I’ve been through, and what I have become.” – “Assume”

“Living with anxiety is like feeling alive through the motions of life, but never freely living. It’s being aware of my surroundings but lost in another world inside my head.” – “I Choose Life”

I see my Voice of Change journey as having so much to do with becoming a better leader. It has helped me to see clearly the type of leader I hope to become. I have developed a stronger perspective by understanding the voices and stories of others. I have become more empathetic to other people’s struggles, a quality I will need when I run my own business one day. You can’t understand your customers’ wants or your employees’ needs if you don’t listen and appreciate where they’re coming from. Also, Voice of Change has shown me how much our experiences shape us and contribute to how we see the world and solve problems. Each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective – all powerful and important in their own way.

Related Links

• The Privilege Walk
• What Is Empathy? (Sesame Street)
• Knowledge@Wharton: The Emotional Intelligence Deficit
• Wharton’s McNulty Leadership Program

Conversation Starters

What is empathy and why is it such an important leadership quality? How is empathy related to storytelling? Use the Related Links with this article if you need to better understand empathy.

How have your experiences shaped you? Share your story in the Comment section of this article.

Maya writes that she has come to appreciate “how much our experiences shape us and contribute to how we see the world and solve problems.” Diversity of thought is incredibly powerful in the business world. Why does it hold such value? How does it enrich the team dynamic and important outcomes?

6 comments on “ Student Essay: The Power of Stories to Inspire Strong Leaders ”

Hi Maya, Thank you for sharing your fantastic story with us. Being able to appreciate the people around you and, in first place, yourself is one of the major keys to success and, most importantly, happiness in life, at least according to my experience. We all come from different environments and experiences, the same ones which make us who we are, in our uniqueness and diversity, as you clearly and beautifully stated in your essay. Appreciation is one of those emotions, if that’s how we want to define it, I have learned to consider and embrace later in life, but it is surely the one all the rest comes down to: appreciation for life, appreciation for love from our beloved ones… Having dealt throughout life with friends who coped with depression and anxiety, I can say I have experienced the emotional upheaval that tends to follow this kind of acknowledgements. It gives you a completely different perspective on the world, on the people that surround you and on the way you look at your very own life. On the other hand, I’ve been lucky enough to feel the wonderful sense of relief and joy which comes after helping this people, which taught me the value of the word, indeed, appreciation. In the same way I’ve been able to help my dearest friends deal with these horrible feelings and find a way out of them, I find what you have done with this very same individuals awesome: not only giving them a voice through the blog, but giving their peers the chance to find sympathy and reassurance in their words. Keep it up! And take care.

Sonder – n. The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness (The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows).

I believe that sonder, a short and simple made-up word to describe a complex feeling, perfectly captures the spirit of Maya and her article. Maya realized the complexity of the lives of those around her, that every stranger on the leadership trip had their own unique story to tell, filled with their personal struggles. She reaches the conclusion that “each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective – all powerful and important in their own way.”

Sonder, and more broadly, empathy, is a crucial element of being a good leader. I had my own moment of sonder last summer when I had the opportunity to volunteer at my local Chinese senior center. I started volunteering there because I had to fill my school’s requirement for service hours but ended up gaining much more out of it than that. At first, I was wary of taking on the job because my Chinese conversational skills were acceptable at best and rudimentary at worst. However, I quickly found that the seniors were very welcoming and were just happy that someone was willing to sacrifice their time to help out. I performed tasks such as preparing and serving food as well as helped teach ESL and citizenship classes. I learned about the hard work ethic of the workers and volunteers around me while washing apples. I learned about the amiability and habits of the seniors in the lunchroom. There would always be those in the back table playing cards, the younger seniors chatting in the front, and the seasoned mahjong players upstairs. I even had the chance to hear some of their rich stories, stories of their journeys of emigrating from communist China, stories of their successful children, stories of their war experiences, and stories of their hope in America. I truly understood that these seniors, whom I would not have given a second glance on the street, lived such deep and meaningful lives, each of which would be a thrilling standalone novel.

Just like Maya learned to understand those from different backgrounds, I was able to empathize with these seniors and develop an appreciation for their experiences. We should all have empathy for each other in this world full of division and hatred. Sonder helps us have that empathy not only with those close to us but with everyone around us.

When I became the youngest Student Council President of my school, my idea of a strong leader was someone who could command and lead a group of people with total authority the way they like it. So, that’s what I tried to do during my early days as a leader. I thought I would be a strong leader by commanding the student council and demonstrating my full authority over the rest. But after the first month, like Maya, the experience of being a leader took a completely unexpected and inspiring turn. I learned, like Maya, that you have to listen first and speak second. It is by listening to others that makes you a stronger leader because it is easier to command and display your authority. But it is harder to swallow your pride and listen to others when their opinions or stories differ from yours.

Therefore, in the Student Council that I am in, I launched an initiative called “Listen Monday” with the purpose of listening to everyone’s opinions and views in the student council and utilizing them for the betterment of the school.

By understanding the voices of others it has helped me develop a better perspective. I have become more empathetic to others. Listening to others has allowed me to see the full picture that I have never seen. And because I see the bigger picture, I realized that other’s experiences can help shape how I see the world and solve problems. As Maya said, each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective, all-powerful and important in their own way.

I want to thank Maya for inspiring me.

When I became the youngest Student Council President of my school, my idea of a strong leader was someone who could command and lead a group of people with total authority the way they like it. So, that’s what I tried to do during my early days as a leader. I thought I would be a strong leader by commanding the student council and demonstrating my full authority over the rest. But after the first month, like Maya, the experience of being a leader took a completely unexpected and inspiring turn. I learned, like Maya, that you have to listen first and speak second. It is by listening to others that makes you a stronger leader because it is easier to command and display your authority. But it is harder to swallow your pride and listen to others when their opinions or stories differ from yours.

Therefore, in the Student Council that I am in, I launched an initiative called “Listen Monday” with the purpose of listening to everyone’s opinions and views in the student council and utilizing them for the betterment of the school.

By understanding the voices of others it has helped me develop a better perspective. I have become more empathetic to others. Listening to others has allowed me to see the full picture that I have never seen. And because I see the bigger picture, I realized that other’s experiences can help shape how I see the world and solve problems. As Maya said, each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective, all-powerful and important in their own way. I realized exhaustively now that a strong leader is someone that listens first and speak second.

I want to thank Maya for inspiring me to become a better leader.

Hello L Dau K!

Thank you for sharing your experience and lessons as a student council president. Listening to your implementation of listening Mondays has brought me back to a time when I was the storyteller, pouring my life out, not to a student council president, but to my mother.

Before the story begins, I must tell you about my mother. She is a very successful corporate leader of hundreds of people. Of course, when it comes to life, she’s never lost her footing when it comes to parenting. Her dogma for me was always the same as that for her employees. She required me to write a time schedule and reflect on life every day and report my academic progress to her with a PowerPoint presentation every week. Similar to your listening Mondays, but coerced. Of course, these rules also apply to her employees. I argued with her countless times, berating her for treating me, at the time, a 12-year-old, as her employee. Perhaps you have already begun to detest my mother’s parenting philosophy, or that she is just another derelict mother who neglects her children’s emotional needs to give her career 100%. But she was a mother for the first time, and I as her oldest child witnessed her growth and how she became a leader, both to her employees and to me.

Where should I begin my story with this leader? As I counted the episodes that flashed through my mind, neither the long conversation in the evening breeze nor the laughing conversation in the dark living room seemed like the most appropriate beginning of the story. Puzzled, I put down my thoughts and sat down to recall the beginning of our conversations. There’s no longer nameless fear and tension when she approaches me, dreading to hear what she has to say. Instead, I always walked up to her when I found her alone, and the dialogue always began with a sigh. I told her many stories about young love, friends, hobbies, and self-reflection, all parts of me that I was reluctant to reveal in PowerPoints. She is busy all day but never said no when I started a conversation. I could feel that she valued every part of our communication, regardless of how nonsensical it was, taking it wholeheartedly. She would sit down and listen to every word I had to say, and she would take to heart every hint of emotion I tried to convey. She did her best to understand my passions, cater to my needs, and embrace my sentiments. And that’s one of the most valuable lessons she’s taught me as a leader.

My mother’s growth as a leader came naturally to her as she listened to every ebullient story and every heart-wrenching sob. She did what many leaders, even in family relationships, fail to do: give the most attention to her children and subordinates, dwelling on their stories, bringing herself into their emotions, and living their experiences. Simply receiving a comment differentiates from understanding the root of their feedback. Through sharing stories with my mother, as my thoughts became words and leaped out of my mouth, my thoughts received a carrier. The stories I told were imparted with meaning through the process of communication. These words made me who I am and marked every footprint of mine. Not only giving her a chance to guide me but giving me a chance to recourse, bonding two unknown souls by building emotional bridges rather than giving ice-cold PowerPoint presentations. I myself am walking on those bridges, and I will be learning to build them up. Through open communication, we can build bridges high enough to see the world from a bigger view, see the tips of Mt. Everest, hear the mumbles of rhinoceros and vaquitas, and unveil a side of the world that we have never seen before.

In her essay “The Power of Stories to Inspire Strong Leaders”, Maya S. quotes “I was able to understand that although it’s impossible for us to all experience the same things, it is possible for us to try and listen to each other and understand each other’s differences. I began to appreciate the meaning of finding beauty in diversity. During that trip I learned that true leaders listen to the voices of others, and as a result they are able to enrich their own points of view.” This quote taught me that in order to be understood, one must learn to understand.

As an international student living in the states, my school days were certainly different from most of my classmates. There were a lot more plane rides, more hours of memorizing English vocabulary, and less people that paid attention to the struggles I went through. It was hard to focus on the upside of life when I knew that my comfort zone was about 6800 miles away. I felt like I was drowning in my own world, and was unsure of what I needed to do to get out of it.

As time passed, I did learn to embrace my new home. That started with a simple step: Learning about how people here lived. I added Kendrick Lamar and Olivia Rodrigo to my playlist, started to watch the NBA, and reached out for corrections when I didn’t recognize an English word. As I began to understand and appreciate what was around me, it was way easier to fit in. My struggles started to pay off as I received multiple honors and varsity MVP awards. Apart from Academics, I also became much more active in the social circle. I learned more about life here from my new friends, and also taught them some parts of life that I left behind back in Korea. After these changes, I could proudly say that I’m definitely leading my own life.

Maya’s story of the privilege walk reminded me of the change in my perspective before and after trying to understand American culture. At first I was hesitant in getting to know the new environment, but now I see the hidden value of entirely different customs, just like how Maya was able to understand the children with more depth. Furthermore, something Maya did that I greatly appreciate is that she didn’t just stop from enlightenment and took action to advocate for her beliefs. I believe that Maya’s propulsion of creating the “Voice of Change” weblog exemplifies what leaders do to promote their voice to the world. As a person aspiring to be a global leader and a businessman, I was greatly inspired by Maya’s quotes of insight and her action to spread her words.

Our world today is heavily interconnected, and the effects of collaborating across diverse backgrounds have never been more apparent. As I reflect on Maya’s quote and my own understanding, I am reminded that true leaders are distinguished by their ability to seek harmony in differences. My journey from a foreign student drowning in isolation to a confident participant in a global community underscores the transformative power of understanding others to be understood. Of course there are still customs that I cannot resonate with, like pineapple on pizza. But as I step forward into a world of connections and communications, I carry with me the invaluable lesson that true understanding is the cornerstone of meaningful process.

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Are You A Leader?

Of course you are – but do you know how to present those impressive leadership skills and experiences in your application essay?

For many applicants, writing the “leadership essay” is one of the most challenging aspects of the application process, mainly because the concept of leadership is so tough to define. It’s easy to say that you have “strong leadership skills,” but what does that really mean? Does that mean that you led a team of 400 to reach unobtainable, lofty goals? And if you haven’t done that, then does that mean your chances of showing leadership are nil? Certainly not.

Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s not always easy to seek out or decipher one’s leadership experiences, but it’s essential that you do so if you want to nail this essay and convey to the admissions team that you are a motivated, goal-oriented, leadership-driven individual.

The tips found in Leadership in Admissions will help you grasp the concept of leadership and its many facets, identify those traits in yourself, and then – finally – write about it effectively.

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The essay classifies leadership into four key approaches: (1) trait approach, (2) behaviour approach, (3) the

Essay On Leadership Application

When looking back on my contributions to my community and society, the thought of me becoming a certified Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) basketball coach comes to mind. After completing an interview along with certification courses, I became the head coach of a 6th grade basketball team at St. Aloysius in Bowling Green, Ohio. I classify this as a contribution to society because I made it my mission to help my players grow as both basketball players and as young men. It was my job to relay the abundance of basketball and life information I had accrued throughout the years. I took this volunteer-based position very seriously due to the importance of basketball in my life. Growing up, I had always been blessed with coaches who put developing young men and their character over anything dealing with basketball. I wanted the practices and games to be more than learning plays and basketball procedures. Rather, I wanted to instill qualities of teamwork, leadership, discipline,

What Is The Gospel Of Leadership

Organizations—irrespective of their sizes and areas of businesses—always take on their leaders’ personality. So, leadership development programs gain prominence in every organization. Research says that leadership training and development programs assist in maximizing productivity, promoting harmony within the organization, and shaping up a positive organizational culture. It is; therefore, said that the future of an organization rests on recognizing and identifying leaders.

Military Leadership Training

invest in early career leadership training programs in order to develop a higher percentage of

The Ethics Of A Leadership Program

While I attended Wichita State University for mu bachelors of Social Work, I was afforded the opportunity to participate in a leadership program two consecutive years. We learned tips on strategies to become more effective leaders. Whenever I participate in activities that require me to take a leadership or supervisor role, I tend to think of what I learned in the program. The conflict that I identified as a supervisor in this activity was mainly that we had a student with erratic behavior, with firearms at home, and mother who not only saw nothing wrong with it, but wanted him removed from public school and is largely uncooperative with the school regarding his psych eval.

Assessing Leadership Effectiveness

The main factor in assessing leadership effectiveness is improving personal capacity to lead in a changing world regardless of reform. This change may involve improving skills, competencies, and behaviors through purposeful, self-directed, personal learning, and skills to anchor directions for work groups, teams, or organizations. These leadership skills have the capacity to align people, systems, and resources with a common vision; motivate and inspire; and successfully handle change. In order for leaders to expect change, they must understand the change process and how members will react to change. Every member of the organization must be receptive to change to keep the vision

Leadership Development Plan Essay

According to Yukl (2006), much of the skill essential for effective leadership is learned from experience rather than from formal training programs. A lifetime learner is accepting that you are never finished educating yourself and by continuing to educate yourself, you become self-aware that learning is an ongoing process that cannot be completed. According to Yukl (2006), leadership training can take many forms, from short workshops that last only a few hours and focus on a narrow set of skills, to programs that last for a year or more and cover a wide range of skills.

My Life Vision At Mount Carmel Missionary Church

Studying the masters of Leadership has open my eyes to what leadership is which involves building relationship, trust, self-discipline, team building. According to Spears (2004) “To achieve the highest purpose of our organization we must be passionate about our desire to improve our organization, we must be passionate about our desire to improve our communities and ourselves”.

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Leadership Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on leadership.

First of all, Leadership refers to the quality of leading people. Probably, it is one of the most important aspects of life. Above all, Leadership has led to the progress of human civilization . Without good Leadership, no organization or group can succeed. Furthermore, not everyone has this quality. This is because effective Leadership requires certain important characteristics.

Qualities of a Good Leader

First of all, confidence is the most quality. A leader must have strong self-confidence. A person lacking in confidence can never be a good leader. A person must be confident enough to ensure others follow him. The leader must have confidence in his decisions and actions. If he is unsure, then how can people have the desire to follow him.

A good leader must certainly inspire others. A leader must be a role model for his followers. Furthermore, he must motivate them whenever possible. Also, in difficult situations, a leader must not lose hope. How can a leader inspire people if he himself is hopeless?

Honesty is another notable quality of a leader. Honesty and Integrity are important to earn the love of followers. Above all, honesty is essential to win the trust of the people. Probably, every Leadership which loses trust is bound to fail. People will not work with full effort due to an immoral leader.

Good communication is a must for a good leader. This is because poor communication means the wrong message to followers. Furthermore, good communication will increase the rate of work. Also, the chances of mistakes by followers will reduce.

Another important quality is decision making. Above all, if a leader makes poor decisions then other qualities will not matter. Furthermore, good decision making ensures the success of the entire group. If the leader makes poor decisions, then the efforts of followers won’t matter.

A good leader must be an excellent innovator. He must display a creative attitude in his work. Most noteworthy, innovation is a guarantee of survival of a group or innovation. Without creative thinking, progress is not possible.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Real-Life Examples of Good Leadership

Mahatma Gandhi was an excellent example of a good leader. He was a staunch believer in non-violence. With his brilliant Leadership skills, he made the British leave India. Probably, this was the most unique independence struggle. This is because Gandhi got freedom without any violence.

Abraham Lincoln was another notable leader. Most noteworthy, he ended the slavery system in the United States. Consequently, he made many enemies. However, he was a man of massive self-confidence. His struggle against slavery certainly became an inspiration.

Sir Winston Churchill was a great patriotic Englishman. Most noteworthy, he led Britain in the 2nd World War. Furthermore, he was extremely inspirational. He inspired Britain to fight against Nazi Germany. His great communication motivated the entire country at a time of hopelessness.

To conclude, Leadership is required in probably every sphere of life. Good leadership is the door to success. In contrast, bad leadership is a guarantee of failure. Consequently, good leaders are what make the world go round.

FAQs on Leadership

Q.1 Which is the most important quality for being a good leader? A.1 The most important quality for being a good leader is self-confidence.

Q.2 Why Sir Winston Churchill is a good leader? A.2 Sir Winston Churchill is a good leader because he inspired Britain to fight in 2nd World War. Furthermore, his excellent communication also raised the motivation of his people.

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Lindner College of Business » About » Centers & Partnerships » Warren Bennis Leadership Institute

Warren Bennis Leadership Institute

The interdisciplinary home for leadership development at the University of Cincinnati.

Warren Bennis, UC’s 22nd president and also known as the “Father of Leadership,” believed leaders were made, not born. The Warren Bennis Leadership Institute (WBLI) will harness Bennis’ legacy to transform leaders for a better tomorrow, providing all students with leadership development opportunities such that they graduate as problem solvers, believing in their potential to lead.

• Serve  as a hub for student leadership scholarship, programming, opportunities and events.
• Provide leadership education for community leaders through executive education programs.
• Function as a research lab dedicated to the study of evidence-based leadership development.

Core Values

We believe, as Bennis did, that leaders develop early and often, and that leadership does not necessarily reside within a specific person or title. Our core values reflect this approach:

• Learner-centered: Guiding individuals to unlock the leadership potential that lies within.
• Evidence-based: Practices and programs based on leadership research and theory. We evaluate the impact of our programming and further thought leadership.
• Impactful: Leadership for the greater good. We know we have an impact when our students feel empowered and transformed to lead for the greater good.
• Inclusive: Interdisciplinary, open to all (students, faculty, staff, alumni and organizational leaders) who we engage to enact our mission.
• Experiential: Learning about leadership by leading.

WBLI Programs and Initiatives

The Warren Bennis Leadership Institute creates opportunities for enhanced learning and growth for UC’s students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners. The institute supports a range of activities and initiatives, including:

• Student Leadership Development : Leadership courses, workshops and events including the annual Warren Bennis Leadership Experience.
• Executive Education : Leadership training and executive education for both for-profit and non-profit community members.
• Leadership Scholarship & Research : UC scholars conducting interdisciplinary research to examine and improve the leadership development process and outcomes.

In 2012, Tom Humes, Bus ‘71, A&S ’77, flew to the University of Southern California to interview Warren Bennis about his time as president of the University of Cincinnati. Bennis reflects on his life’s work and proudly claims he would not have been the scholar he was if it were not for his years at UC. “They were the most important learning years of my life,” he said.

Warren Bennis Leadership Institute 1819 Innovation Hub Suite 350D 2900 Reading Road Cincinnati, OH 45206

Support the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute

Honor a legacy of leadership and help develop the leaders of tomorrow by contributing to the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute Fund .

Healthcare Leadership: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

Industry Advice Healthcare Leadership

There’s an immense need, now more than ever, for effective leadership in healthcare. Specifically, the global pandemic has highlighted the importance of innovative healthcare leaders who are able to quickly formulate effective solutions. Additional challenges such as healthcare accessibility and affordability require effective forward-thinking leaders.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can make a mark in healthcare today, here’s an overview of what healthcare leadership is, why it’s important, and what makes an effective leader in the healthcare system.

What is Healthcare Leadership?

Leadership is often defined as an ability to manage a team effectively. This definition, however, is only a part of what makes an effective leader. Healthcare leadership isn’t about maintaining the status quo, but identifying challenges in the system and finding solutions to those problems.

According to Dr. Robert Baginski, the program director of Northeastern University’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) in Healthcare Leadership program, “Healthcare leadership is taking an active role in the direction of healthcare today.” It involves more than managing a healthcare organization, overseeing staff, or dealing with insurance. Baginski continues to explain that “Healthcare leadership ideally should be guiding healthcare in the direction that we feel it should go in the future.”

Importance of Leadership in Healthcare

Effective leadership in healthcare is incredibly important, especially when considering the expense of modern care. Here’s a closer look at the various ways that effective leadership can make a lasting impact.

1. Improves Quality of Care

Effective leadership is integral to quality healthcare . If a healthcare team is uncoordinated or unfocused, patients often pay the price. Great leaders facilitate communication, boost productivity, and put others first. This ability is critical to quality patient care since healthcare often requires a rapid response to issues that arise. In such situations, communication and efficiency are vital.

2. Creates Adaptable Leaders

One of the most prominent examples of needing adaptability in healthcare is the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the American Psychological Association identified seven crucial leadership qualities necessary for combatting the pandemic.

• Effective stress management
• Empathy and optimism when sharing information
• Building trust with expertise and dependability
• Honesty and transparency
• Consistent communication
• Openness to feedback
• Should be role models

When unpredictability and uncertainty is rampant, effective leadership is crucial. An excellent leader won’t just be able to navigate a stressful situation but also lead others through it and find solutions for the future.

3. Encourages Forward-Thinking

Leadership and management are often used as synonyms, but the reality is that leadership involves much more than the day-to-day operations of a business. Healthcare in particular has a need for leaders who are looking to the future of healthcare and how to improve it.

While healthcare leadership is important to every country, according to the World Population Review , the United States has higher healthcare costs than any other country. Furthermore, while the number of uninsured individuals in the U.S. is lower than ever , the healthcare system is highly dependent on access to this type of coverage.

According to a report from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker , compared to similar countries, the United States has:

• The highest pregnancy-related mortality rate
• A higher-than-average rate of diabetes and congestive heart failure
• A higher percentage of reported medication and treatment errors than the majority of comparable countries

According to Baginski, improvements to the healthcare system are possible with effective leadership. “Ideally, I feel healthcare should be looking to the future, toward solutions where we can provide the best and the most healthcare to those who need it most, regardless of insurance status, access to money, or where they live.”

4. Produces Innovative Leaders

One of the most prevalent challenges facing the healthcare industry today is the chronic shortage of healthcare professionals . An increasing number of healthcare professionals are experiencing burnout, and approximately 47 percent of healthcare workers in the U.S. are planning to leave their current position within the next three years. A 2022 survey of 1,000 healthcare staff found that 48 percent don’t believe their organization is doing enough to address burnout.

The healthcare industry is in need of leaders who are able to identify the problems that are leading to burnout and resolve them. Baginski explains that good leaders do two things differently when compared to ineffective leaders:

• Identification: Recognizing problems as they arise, and proactively considering potential problems. For example, the same survey reported that 57 percent of healthcare workers are concerned that their highly repetitive tasks will ultimately lead to burnout.
• Innovation: Finding solutions to those problems and contributing to the future of healthcare. To address the repetitive tasks in healthcare, many healthcare workers are hopeful that technology and automation will improve their overall experience and allow them to focus more closely on patient care.

What Makes a Healthcare Leader Effective?

Individuals who take on a leadership role in healthcare need several skills to be effective. Five essential leadership skills in healthcare are:

• Mentorship: An effective leader doesn’t stand above others but seeks to foster leadership qualities in them.
• Challenging the status quo: Leaders aren’t content with the status quo but are always seeking opportunities to innovate and improve.
• Educating others: In addition to mentoring others at the individual level, effective leaders seek to educate others outside of their direct influence.
• Humility: An effective leader isn’t afraid to accept feedback or criticism. Since much is unknown about healthcare, mistakes are often inevitable. A good leader will admit their mistakes or skill and expertise gaps.
• Creating opportunities for others: Leaders always look to the future. Instead of sole personal improvement, an effective leader will prioritize helping the next generation of healthcare professionals obtain leadership traits.

One of the most detrimental traits to quality healthcare is complacency. Self-satisfaction often leads to stagnation rather than proactivity. An effective leader recognizes their limitations and understands that there’s always something new to learn. According to Baginski, “Bad leadership is keeping things as they always have been because that’s the way they’ve been done previously. That doesn’t get you anywhere.”

Ready to Develop Your Leadership Skills?

If you’re hoping to advance your career in healthcare to a leadership position, it’s important to ensure that you’re prepared. One of the best ways to obtain the relevant skills and qualifications to advance to a leadership role is to obtain a relevant degree.

“Get all of your education and your experience first, and then get all of your information before you address that problem,” says Baginski. “Learn how to critically assess information and get all your ducks in a row before you start to confront change.”

If you want to become a more effective leader and advance your career, consider obtaining Northeastern University’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) in Healthcare Leadership . This degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to take your first steps into a successful leadership role.

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Rawls College of Business

Full-time mba.

At Rawls College, our AACSB-accredited Full-Time MBA program is tailored to empower future leaders with the essential management skills, hands-on experiences, and forward-thinking mindset needed to thrive in business. Our ranked full-time MBA not only helps you reach your career objectives but also boosts your earning potential. Through our one-year or two-year intensive program, you'll dive into immersive projects that sharpen your critical thinking abilities and enrich your understanding of the business realm, all within a challenging curriculum designed to expand your managerial perspective on the ever-evolving global market.

program highlights

Accelerated format, flexible entry.

Options to begin coursework during any semester (start dates in January, June or August) give you the power to begin when you're ready.

One or Two-Year Options

Our lock-step program can be completed in 12 or 24 months.

Condensed Course Format

All courses are offered in a condensed format of either five or eight weeks.

Career-Defining Curriculum

Regardless of your background, our comprehensive curriculum will give you an in-depth understanding of critical business issues and help you develop strategic decision-making skills. Interactive coursework draws upon real-world scenarios, allowing you to immediately apply what you learn to your career.

Core classes include foundational building blocks for today's business leaders:

Financial and Managerial Accounting

Financial Management Concepts

Information Technology and Operations Management

Leadership and Ethics

Marketing Concepts and Strategies

Managing Organizational Behavior and Organizational Design

Strategic and Global Management

Statistical Concepts for Business and Management

customized learning experience

In addition to developing a common body of knowledge in practical business matters, students can complete a concentration and earn an additional certification.

Concentrations

While no concentration is required, customizing your MBA can help you gain niche knowledge and increase your career prospects.

Healthcare Organization Management

Learn to manage healthcare organizations with business acumen.

Learn more »

Information Technology

Build business strategies for the global marketplace while gaining in-demand high-tech skills.

Marketing Analytics

Improve productivity and profitability by learning to make important business decisions by gathering analyzing product, service, consumer and market data.

Certifications

Alongside the core curriculum, students will be Microsoft Office Excel Specialist certified upon graduation.

View our curriculum »

program format

The Rawls College MBA is a 42-credit-hour, lock-step, accelerated program. Courses are offered in a condensed format of either five or eight weeks, allowing you to earn your degree in as little as one year. Students are enrolled in two condensed courses simultaneously, for a total of four courses per semester. Coursework must be completed sequentially, as concepts build upon each other.

Rawls College faculty are passionate about helping you achieve your educational and professional goals. Our faculty integrate insights from their own research and professional experiences into the curriculum. They cultivate relationships with business leaders from around the world, helping you improve professional networking opportunities.

Meet our faculty »

scholarships

Upon applying to the Full-Time MBA program, competitive students are automatically considered for guaranteed scholarships if they meet the criteria listed below.

* A GMAT waiver applies to your application for admission only and does not apply to guaranteed merit scholarships.

class profile

At Rawls College, we believe diversity drives opportunities for collaboration and learning. Together, we benefit from the many perspectives, skills and experiences our students from all over the world bring to our learning environment.

supporting your success

Rawls Career Management Center

Whether you are looking to switch careers or advance on your current path, the Rawls Career Management Center (CMC) is dedicated to supporting your success. The staff in the CMC can help you explore professions and industries, learn strategic career advancement techniques, and connect you with top MBA employers.

Techsan Connection

The Techsan Connection is a free, online platform for Texas Tech alumni. Through the platform, alumni can apply to jobs, reconnect with fellow classmates, network with industry professionals and volunteer to mentor current students.

alumni success

We invite you to meet a few of our graduates who have followed their passions, built outstanding careers and serve as leaders in today's business world.

Student Graduate, 2019

Student Graduate, 2016

The admission process is the first step toward earning your degree. We will work closely with you to ensure your application process is personal, simple and successful. There's no better time to begin your MBA than now. We offer options to start in August, January or June, giving you the power to begin when you are ready.

Application Requirements

Successful MBA students come from all educational backgrounds. Our program is designed to meet the needs of recent graduates or early-career professionals; however, applicants must have a bachelor's degree in any discipline.

A complete application consists of the following items, to be received by the noted deadlines:

Unofficial Transcripts

Applicants must submit unofficial transcripts from any degree-awarding college or university, as well as any post-secondary institution attended.

Applicants must submit a detailed current resume, indicating professional work experience—including start and end dates (month and year) for each position held. Provide accomplishments and skills acquired, including managerial experience.

Applicants must complete five short-answer questions and one essay. All short answers should be compiled into one document.

Responses to short-answer questions must be less than 150 words.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit at least one formal letter of recommendation but can submit up to three. The letters should provide specific examples and anecdotes that illustrate your professional and/or academic potential.

GMAT Scores

GMAT scores are waived for applicants who have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher from any completed degree program. Please note, this is the ONLY waiver or exception offered. Upon completing your application, you can request a GMAT waiver by emailing a request along with your application ID number to [email protected] .

GMAT scores are considered invalid if they are more than five years old. If you would like to have your work experience taken into consideration for a GMAT waiver, please consider applying to our Professional MBA program.

To request consideration of other standardized exams (such as GRE, MCAT, LSAT, PCAT) previously taken in the past five years, please send an email to [email protected] .

We don't have a set minimum or maximum requirement for test scores. We review students holistically, taking into account test scores, essays, undergraduate GPA and transcripts, letters of recommendation, and resumes.

English Proficiency for International Students

All international applicants must provide proof of English proficiency before their applications can be considered for admission. Only your most recent measure of English proficiency is considered for admission purposes. This test is waived only for graduates of U.S. universities or universities in English proficiency-exempt countries. Applicants who have completed at least two consecutive years at a college or university in the U.S. or in an English proficiency-exempt country are also exempt from the English proficiency requirement.

Application Deadlines

Fall Entry: July 1 Spring Entry: December 1 Summer Entry: May 1

International students are encouraged to apply at least six months in advance when possible.

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Significance of advanced leadership programs in infrastructure & construction

Read to know why advanced leadership programs matter..

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As India heads into a crucial election season, the significance spreads globally, as India is poised to be the global bright spot in the decade, according to the World Bank. With rapid infrastructure expansion and abundant demographic capital, India's potential as a global leader, or Vishwa guru, is undeniable. Therefore, building leadership is crucial for driving economic and social progress, especially in construction and infrastructure.

A comparative of global standards and Indian Infrastructure Management highlights the shortcomings and underscores the importance of leadership and project management transcending beyond technical and managerial aspects, and delving deeper into public policy and social engineering.

Prioritising advanced leadership programs is essential for India throughout this decade as her infrastructure potential needs to be utilised and assert herself as a global leader.

Infrastructure development entails the meticulous planning, design, construction, and upkeep of physical and organisational structures vital for societal functionality, ranging from roads to power grids. India's global competitiveness ranking of 49 out of 140 nations for infrastructure quality in 2022 underscores her focused ongoing efforts.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: INDIA VS. DEVELOPED COUNTRIES LIKE THE US

A comparative analysis of infrastructure development between India and developed countries reveals stark differences in National Infrastructure Management frameworks.

While developed nations like the US, have legislation and frameworks for infrastructure management, emerging economies like India face multifaceted challenges stemming from funding constraints, bureaucratic hurdles, and inadequate planning.

IDENTIFYING SHORTCOMINGS AND ROOT CAUSES

India’s infrastructure landscape is marred by persistent shortcomings, ranging from funding gaps to poor project planning and execution due to root causes like bureaucratic red tape, urban-centric development policies, and the lack of sustainable Program Management frameworks, hindering the realisation of ambitious infrastructure goals. Examples like the delayed implementation of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project (Bullet Train) highlight the funding challenges.

While the project received initial funding commitments and is expected to be completed by December 2023, subsequent budget constraints have slowed down its progress and now a completion date is uncertain.

EMPHASISING THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

In the face of formidable challenges, visionary leadership and efficient project management emerge as linchpins of success.

The expansion of Delhi Metro versus Kolkata Metro, despite the former opening almost two decades later, exemplifies the transformative potential of effective leadership in delivering monumental projects (E. Sreedharan’s stewardship of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation). However, challenges persist, highlighting the need for project management methodologies and the nurturing of leadership talent to overcome obstacles and drive sustainable infrastructure development.

OPPORTUNITIES AMIDST RAPID INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION IN INDIA

Despite challenges, India’s rapid infrastructure expansion unveils a plethora of opportunities across various domains. Flagship projects like the Gati Shakti, National Infrastructure Pipeline, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, BharatmalaPariyojana, Indian Railway Expansion and massive endeavours in renewable energy and digital connectivity, promise to catalyse economic growth and foster resilience.

INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

The integration of social sciences into infrastructure development heralds a paradigm shift towards community-centric solutions.

Engaging stakeholders, conducting comprehensive socio-economic impact assessments, and preserving cultural heritage become relevant at this point as land acquisition and other related community-centric hurdles become the root cause for project delays and cost overruns.

The Bengaluru Metro is one such example, despite having a Comprehensive Urban Mobility Plan as a major driver of the National Economy.

EVOLVING EDUCATION IN INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT

As the infrastructure landscape evolves with rapid demand and growth, so must education in infrastructure management. Collaborative efforts between academia and industry are necessary to equip young and existing senior professionals with the requisite skills and knowledge.

Integrating social sciences into educational curricula further enhances professionals’ ability to navigate complex challenges and drive sustainable development using an interdisciplinary approach.

The relevance of Advanced Leadership Programs in Infrastructure and Construction (ALPIC)in today’s times cannot be overstated.

As nations, across the globe, strive to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure networks, effective leadership, and strategic project management at national and individual levels, become imperative.

Through this, India can pave the way for transformative infrastructure development, not just for herself, but for the globe as a true Vishwa guru, fostering economic growth, societal well-being and environmental sustainability.

The article is attributed by Sankar Subrahmaniyam and Gaurishankar S. Sankar Subrahmaniyam is Co-Founder InCoBAN and Gaurishankar S is program coordinator at InCoBAN. InCoBAN is an infra-construction industry improvement eco-system Published By: Megha Chaturvedi Published On: Apr 1, 2024 READ | 20 positive affirmations to power up your morning

More From Forbes

5 ai resume builders you should try in 2024.

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A resume builder should not be used as a magic wand, but it can certainly reduce anxiety in the job ... [+] search process and help you process your thoughts, skills and experiences in a way that will resonate with the recruiting team

In your quest to create the perfect resume, no doubt you've encountered several AI (artificial intelligence) applications all supposedly guaranteeing the same promise: to be able to save you time, worry, and stress, and generate a shiny new document that will get you past the gatekeepers and secure an initial interview.

If you've never used a generative AI tool before, you might be concerned and initially apprehensive.

And you should be.

After all, you don't want to take any chances and wreck an entire application that has already taken considerable painstaking effort.

With the plethora of options you have to choose from, it might be overwhelming to know which resume builders are worth your money (if you do need to pay anything at all) and which ones have the highest chances of success.

But as long as you follow these guidelines to make your resume with AI, you'll be on the right track:

How To Find A Good Resume Builder

When looking for a resume builder, you will need to carefully weigh up several factors including:

• Ease of navigation and user experience
• Your budget and pricing options available—including any free trials or free plans you might be able to take advantage of
• Trustpilot and Product Hunt reviews, Reddit discussions and reviews, and even asking your professional connections on LinkedIn
• Value for the price
• Comparison of features and customization options—customization is extremely important for your resume to be effective
• ATS compatibility

This Popular Google App Will Stop Working In 3 Days How To Migrate Your Data

Google suddenly reveals surprise android update that beats iphone, 3 body problem already dethroned in netflix s top 10 list by a new show.

A note on ATS compatibility: Applicant tracking systems are becoming more modernized, and as such, some features that would have been rendered unreadable and disqualify you from a position (such as double columns) are now accessible thanks to updated parsing technology, according to an Enhancv study .

However, it's worth bearing in mind that according to the study, a resume built with Canva or Microsoft Word tends to fare better overall without double columns—a 93% success rate compared to an 86% success rate for double columns.

At the same time, using a different software such as Google Docs yields an impressive 99% success rate, regardless of whether the resume was created with a single or double column.

5 AI-Powered Resume Builders

Below are five positively-reviewed AI-powered resume builder tools you can use to make your application truly stand out to hiring managers. Some, such as Enhancv, are tested against ATS software (applicant tracking systems that recruiters use to help screen candidate resumes) to ensure full compatibility:

• Resumaker AI

How To Use A Resume Builder

Whichever resume builder you decide to use from the list above, it's essential to understand that AI is not a quick fix. While it certainly provides much needed assistance as you figure out how to make a resume that truly stands out to employers, you will need to ensure that you double check the final output for grammatical issues, spelling mistakes, inconsistencies, needless repetitions, and a lack of human flow in the writing style—all of which can be obvious tell-tale signs that your resume was written by AI.

Additionally, while AI can help with formatting and readability, you need to ensure that the final document reflects who you really are and is one that you are personally happy and comfortable with.

Using a resume builder doesn't take away from the fact that you need to sell yourself effectively. AI will only provide impetus to what you already have. An AI-powered resume builder won't do the selling for you. This means quantifying your achievements where possible and using this data to feed the resume builder.

Resume builders will also help you identify keywords to help you beat ATS—but you'll need to check over these to ensure they apply to you, and look out for any other resume keywords which are familiar terms in your industry so you can highlight the right keywords to catch the attention of recruiters.

Finally, it's essential to note that resume builders will not take away the necessity for mental effort. You still need to closely study job descriptions and highlight relevant experience, education, skills (including soft skills) and certificates that you possess, so that you can input these into the tool.

This is because resume builders may sometimes include skills that are not relevant to you, in an effort to match with the job description for the role you wish to apply for, so you'll need to ensure that you review these for accuracy. Also, some may only focus on your last role, so you'll need to add extra experiences to bulk up your resume and provide deeper context into your skills and experience.

Resume builders offer incredible features such as customization options, free trials, and assistance ... [+] with keywords.

Overall, crafting the perfect resume that actually gets you hired comes down to a combination of your personal input and self-belief in your abilities, and the complementary augmentation of artificial intelligence tools. Job searching can be an exhausting process, so utilize these resume builders to make your efforts easier and give you greater piece of mind—edging you closer to your dream job.

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Jamaica pulls U.S. boys from troubled teen school after allegations they were abused

Seven American boys are being held in the custody of Jamaican child welfare authorities, more than six weeks after they were pulled from a school for troubled teens because of abuse allegations.

The boys were attending Atlantis Leadership Academy in Treasure Beach, along the island’s south coast, which advertises itself as a faith-based school serving teenagers who are struggling with substance abuse, anxiety disorders and defiant behavior. 

Then, according to an email the Jamaican Child Protection and Family Services Agency sent parents last month, the agency received information that children at the program “were being mistreated, amounting to abuse,” and as a result had removed them. The agency planned to work with state child protection services to return the boys to the U.S., according to the email, which a parent shared with NBC News.

The children are being held in Jamaican group homes, according to attorneys working on their behalf.

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency in Jamaica did not elaborate on the type of alleged abuse and said it cannot comment due to the ongoing investigation. It’s unclear how the allegations came to light.

Atlantis Leadership Academy did not respond to requests for comment. In a letter to parents, Randall Cook, the program’s director, said: “With our reputation and transparency, no one could believe something like this could have occurred, nor that we are in any way an abusive organization.”

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Tarah Fleischman, 59, whose special needs son, Cody, is among the boys pulled from the academy, said she’s frustrated by the long wait to bring her son home to Wisconsin and upset by the mistreatment she alleges her son faced there. 

Cody, 16, who is diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder and ADHD, arrived at Atlantis last May and has lost a significant amount of weight since then, she said. Fleischman was not allowed to speak to Cody while he was at Atlantis, but she was able to see him for about an hour last week, and he told her that he had been beaten at the school, according to Fleischman and an advocate who was present. 

She regrets sending Cody to the school, which she said quickly agreed to enroll him last spring after several other programs rejected him. She had hoped placing Cody at Atlantis would help him learn to control his aggressive outbursts, and keep both her son and her family safe.

“I’m just so frustrated with the system,” she said. “Unfortunately, I was a desperate mother who got preyed upon.”

The situation has alarmed youth rights advocates who have previously raised concerns that many facilities that are part of the so-called troubled teen industry in the U.S. operate with limited oversight . That has allowed abuse to go unchecked for years in some schools before authorities intervene . State and local agencies have even less oversight when children are sent abroad. 

“This is as hidden as it gets,” said Chelsea Maldonado, a consultant with 11:11 Media Impact, the charitable arm of Paris Hilton ’s media company, who has been arranging legal assistance for the children and met with Fleischman and Cody last week.

Problems at programs for troubled youth

• Two programs in Wyoming were accused of forcing teens to do heavy farm work and using humiliating punishments.
• Utah officials ordered a for-profit academy to shut down after children died in its care.
• Former campers described harsh introductions to a North Carolina wilderness camp where a boy recently died.

Atlantis Leadership Academy is a small, private facility for boys that lists no accreditation on its website . Cook, an American who previously worked as a consultant for troubled teen programs domestically, established the school in 2016, according to its Yelp page, and registered it as a business in Idaho . The program charged parents as much as $9,800 a month in tuition, records show, and said it would take in boys that others had rejected.

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency removed the boys on Feb. 8. A week later, a judge in Jamaica denied the program’s request to return the boys and has ordered the school to turn over the students’ belongings, according to an email to parents from the U.S. Embassy. 

In a Feb. 27 letter to parents, Cook said that he was “working our back channels” and collecting signatures from locals to show that “we are a good program and need to remain in the community as is.”

The State Department declined to comment. The U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, also declined to comment on the case, but said it works with local authorities to ensure that the child welfare facilities where American children are held “remain as safe and comfortable as possible.”

At the most recent court hearing, on March 15, the abuse allegations were not discussed, according to Fleischman and two attorneys who attended. The seven boys were present but were not called upon to speak, and the judge ordered another hearing to take place in April. 

Fleischman said she learned that her son and others had been taken from the facility when one of the boys called her on Feb. 14. In a recording of the call, which she shared with NBC News, one of the boys told her Cody was frequently beaten by the staff at Atlantis Leadership Academy and sometimes went days without food.

“It just feels so surreal,” she said. “I still can’t believe that this happened.”

She had already been growing concerned about Cody. Her only contact with him was the photos that Atlantis staff sent her, which showed Cody outside during field trips and picking up trash on the beach. She was alarmed by how pale and thin he appeared. 

Fleischman called the U.S. Embassy, which she said told her its role would largely be as an observer as the Jamaican legal process played out and provided her with a list of Jamaican attorneys. 

She then sought help on forums for people who had been placed at abusive youth facilities. She got in touch with Maldonado, who became an advocate after her experience at Tranquility Bay, a troubled teen program in Jamaica that shut down in 2009 following abuse allegations . Maldonado connected Fleischman with attorneys who have handled child abuse cases and flew to Jamaica to assist. 

“These children were sent to a foreign country where they weren’t allowed to call or talk to anyone,” Maldonado said. “And somehow, because of one parent reaching out to the survivor community, we were able to discover it and find out what’s been going on down here and actually advocate for these children.”

Fleischman said she was the only parent present at the March 15 hearing. When she met with Cody afterward, he asked why she sent him there.

“I just kept saying I’m sorry,” she said. “And then one time he says, ‘I know, Mom, I know.’  So that’s hard to live with — that guilt.”

It’s unclear when Cody may return to Wisconsin. Fleischman said the first time she spoke with her local social services agency was last week, after she called several times to ask about next steps.

The Marathon County Department of Social Services, in Wausau, Wisconsin, told both Fleischman and NBC News it has not heard from Jamaican authorities regarding Atlantis Leadership Academy. The department declined to comment further, citing privacy restrictions.

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families said it is “not aware” of contact from Jamaican authorities.

Tyler Kingkade is a national reporter for NBC News, based in Los Angeles.

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Biden leans on his Democratic predecessors as Trump remains isolated from other Republican leaders

FILE - President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden, left, and former President Bill Clinton, right, pose for a photo with the U.S. World Cup soccer team under the North Portico of the White House in Washington, May 27, 2010. President Joe Biden will share a stage with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Thursday in New York as he raises money for his reelection campaign. It’s a one-of-a-kind political extravaganza that will showcase decades of Democratic leadership. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - Vice President Joe Biden whispers “This is a big f------ deal,” to President Barack Obama after introducing Obama during the health care bill ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, March 23, 2010. President Joe Biden will share a stage with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton in New York as he raises money for his reelection campaign. Thursday’s event is a one-of-a-kind political extravaganza that will showcase decades of Democratic leadership. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - Former President Bill Clinton (L-R), Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former president George W. Bush and his wife Laura, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden and his wife Jill, former first lady Rosalynn Carter and former President Jimmy Carter wait for the services to begin at during funeral services for U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston, Massachusetts August 29, 2009. AP Photo/Brian Snyder, Pool, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2017, file photo President Barack Obama presents Vice President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. President Joe Biden will share a stage with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton in New York as he raises money for his reelection campaign. Thursday’s event is a one-of-a-kind political extravaganza that will showcase decades of Democratic leadership. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks on the economy March 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. Former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama will join Biden on Thursday, March 28,, in New York City for a one-of-a-kind Democratic extravaganza that’s expected to expand the party’s already significant cash advantage over Republicans this year. The event will be moderated by Stephen Colbert. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier, File)

FILE - Former President Barack Obama speaks to the members of the Obama Foundation’s leadership program in Athens, Greece, June 21, 2023. Obama and former President Bill Clinton will join President Joe Biden on Thursday, March 28, 2024, in New York City for a one-of-a-kind Democratic extravaganza that’s expected to expand the party’s already significant cash advantage over Republicans this year. The event will be moderated by Stephen Colbert. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)

FILE - Former President Bill Clinton speaks at the Clinton Global Initiative, Sept. 19, 2023 in New York. Clinton and former Presidents Barack Obama will join President Joe Biden on Thursday, March 28, 2024, in New York City for a one-of-a-kind Democratic extravaganza that’s expected to expand the party’s already significant cash advantage over Republicans this year. The event will be moderated by Stephen Colbert. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

FILE - Stephen Colbert attends an event in Los Angeles on March 16, 2019. Former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama will join Biden on Thursday, March 28, in New York City for a one-of-a-kind Democratic extravaganza that’s expected to expand the party’s already significant cash advantage over Republicans this year. The event will be moderated by Colbert. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Joe Biden needs advice, there are two people he can turn to who know what it’s like to sit in his chair. Sometimes he will invite Barack Obama over to the White House for a meal or he will get on the phone with Bill Clinton.

The three men share decades of history at the pinnacle of American and Democratic leadership, making them an unusual trio in presidential history. Although there has sometimes been friction as their ambitions and agendas have diverged, they have spent years building toward a similar vision for the country.

On Thursday, their partnership will be on display in what has been described as a one-of-a-kind fundraising extravaganza in New York City to help Biden build on his already significant cash advantage in this year’s presidential election. It’s a dramatic show of force intended to rally the Democratic Party faithful to secure a second term for Biden despite his stubbornly low poll numbers and doubts due to his age (81).

“There is everything to be gained by Joe Biden standing next to Bill Clinton and Barack Obama,” said Leon Panetta, who worked in the administrations of both former presidents. “That picture is worth a hell of a lot in politics today.”

The display of solidarity is a sharp contrast to Donald Trump’s isolation from other Republican leaders.

Although Trump has solidified his grip on his party on the way to becoming the presumptive nominee , not even his own former vice president, Mike Pence , is willing to endorse Trump’s bid for another White House term. The only other living Republican president, George W. Bush, is not a supporter, either.

It’s a far different situation with Biden, Obama and Clinton. When they haven’t been campaigning against each other, they’ve been working together.

At one point, all three of them were on a collision course during the Democratic presidential primary in 2008. Biden and Obama sought the nomination, as did Clinton’s wife, Hillary. Obama came out on top, and chose Biden as his vice president and Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state.

As Obama’s two terms were ending and the 2016 election was approaching, he nudged Hillary Clinton to the forefront as his preferred successor and dissuaded Biden from running after Biden’s elder son died of cancer. Clinton lost to Trump, who lost to Biden in 2020. Obama privately helped clear a path for Biden to the Democratic nomination that year.

There have been notable splits between the presidents on key issues. Biden was unsuccessful in persuading Obama not to send more troops to Afghanistan in 2009. U.S. forces remained in the country until 2021, when Biden withdrew them during his first year in office.

The three presidents have often focused on the same goals in a sort of legislative relay race. Clinton failed to significantly expand health care access during his presidency, which ran from 1993 to 2001. Obama picked up the baton when he took office in 2009 and signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010.

Biden called the law a “big ... deal” — inserting an infamous expletive in the middle of that thought — and built on it when he began his own term in 2021. He signed legislation that included financial incentives for states to expand Medicaid, prompting North Carolina to take the belated step last year , more than a decade after the Affordable Care Act made it possible.

Between Clinton, Obama and Biden, “they’ve seen the sweep of Democratic history together in ways that not everybody has,” said Gene Sperling, a longtime economic adviser.

Sperling is among the administration officials who have served all three presidents. Another member of those ranks is John Podesta, currently a global climate envoy for Biden who was Clinton’s chief of staff and an environmental adviser to Obama.

Podesta said all three have tried to improve the lives of working Americans.

“Each one of them, when they close the door on the Oval Office, that’s what mattered to them the most,” he said.

But their styles aren’t the same. While Obama was more reserved, Biden and Clinton draw energy from chatting up people on rope lines and forging deep personal relationships.

“Their relaxation is politics,” Podesta said.

Panetta suggested that Biden, broadly unpopular in public polling, should try to pick up a few tips from his Democratic predecessors, both of whom served two terms.

“The fundamental reason they got reelected is that they were able to connect with the American people,” he said. “Joe Biden clearly needs to do that.”

The only living Democratic president who will not be in New York for the fundraiser is 99-year-old Jimmy Carter. A spokeswoman for Carter confirmed that he remains in home hospice care and is not making any public statements.

Carter’s relationship with Biden goes back several decades. When Carter was running for president in 1976 as a little-known former governor of Georgia, Biden took a political risk by becoming the first sitting senator to endorse him.

Fundraisers, even with presidents, are usually small affairs. Dozens or sometimes hundreds of people gather in a wealthy person’s living room or backyard to hear a speech from the candidate and maybe ask a few questions.

This one is in a different league. Thousands of people are expected at Radio City Music Hall to watch Stephen Colbert, the late-night talk show host, moderate a conversation with the three presidents. Celebrity guests — Cynthia Erivo, Mindy Kaling, Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Lea Michele and Ben Platt — will provide more star power.

The cheapest tickets are $225, making it more accessible than most fundraisers. But that’s only the starting point. A photo with all three presidents is $100,000. Access to more intimate receptions will cost $250,000 or $500,000.

Campaign officials have not said how much they expect the event to raise. But they said a fundraiser featuring Biden and Obama in December raised nearly $3 million.

Trump, meanwhile, is also expected to be in the area Thursday, attending the Long Island wake of a New York City police officer who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Queens.

The Trump campaign, which has struggled to keep pace with Biden’s fundraising, scoffed at Thursday’s event, dismissing it as a sign the president needs to “trot out some retreads like Clinton and Obama,” in the words of spokesman Steven Cheung.

Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to Obama, said the former president “will do all he can” to support Biden and “he looks forward to helping Democrats up and down the ballot make the case to voters this fall.”

“Our strategy will be based on driving impact, especially where and when his voice can help move the needle,” Schultz said.

The relationship between Obama and Biden has been personal as well as political. Obama offered to help Biden pay the family’s medical bills when Biden’s son Beau was struggling with cancer. After Beau’s death in 2015, Obama gave a eulogy at the funeral, where he described his vice president as “my brother.”

“They’re like family to each other,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said recently.

___ Associated Press writer Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.