Having Heart by Benton

Having Heart by Benton - December 2021 Scholarship Essay

Leadership has so many components to be a good leader. Narrowing those qualities to the most valued has been very difficult. I once read “Leadership is not a title or a position, leadership is a selfless action we give with our positive attitude and effort that happens to influence others to do the same.” I felt this quote in my heart was the very definition of leadership. If I had to define leadership to a single trait, I would identify it as having heart. Having a good heart means giving of yourself, understanding, compassion, integrity. Having heart encompasses everything I want to see in a leader.
Servant leadership allows the community to develop leaders and successors. Building leadership capacity is vital for any leadership role. By helping others and demonstrating a desire to service we build relationships with people. Growing the community you are leading ensures a successful future. Servant leadership allows others to be influential in the leadership, taking in opinions and feelings.
Good leaders understand people, and this leads to success. Building personal relationships helps to establish a culture that shares goals and visions. Steven Covey said, “seek first to understand then to be understood.” People listen often as a means to comment in a sympathetic manner. Most often, people want to share their personal story. Instead, people should learn to listen empathetically. This is an attempt to understand the people, not to add their own personal touch. Effective listening is not simply echoing what the other person has said through the lens of one's own experience. Rather, it puts oneself in the other person’s perspective, listening empathically for both feeling and meaning. People will do anything for you if they know you truly care.
An effective leader leads by example and give of themselves. Not being afraid to get your hands dirty to help when needed says a lot about the value of the work you expect of others. An effective leader can suggest innovative strategies and incorporate these methods with old successful strategies. They understand how these work because they have done the job themselves and can see the task first-hand. They are also not expecting something of someone else they don’t expect of themselves. It is never a “do as I say, not as I do” atmosphere. This attitude helps build an environment of trust.
When someone has heart, they naturally lead through example. The leadership shines through their compassion, dedication, and integrity. This is the leader I wish to follow and hope to be.