October 12, 2016
By Raghav Chhabra
Leadership makes people think of one with a loud voice, and someone who bosses people around, but we forget that volume and authority are not the only traits that makes someone a leader. Scientists did a study on a herd of fifty deer how they chose one of the four watering holes to drink from (http://www.iamthedoc.com/thefilm/). One may assume the big strong buck would choose one, and everyone else will follow him, but actually, twenty-six out of the fifty deer have to lean towards one watering hole with their antlers/ears to decide on the suitable watering hole. While certain leaders take charge with a big presence and an obvious sense of confidence, sometimes it’s not the big strong buck, but the herd of deer who cooperate and collaborate with each other. A leader is not always someone who bosses people and has that voice; it can be someone who takes into consideration the opinions of the members of the group and their needs.
Approaching the time where LEAD projects are due, what qualities of leadership do groups have to define? A few of the groups have sole leaders who command and direct. These leaders may show qualities like diligence and going above and beyond. Also, other characteristics these leaders may show are staying on task or motivating the group, making sure that everyone is doing what they are supposed to do and avoiding distractions. Other qualities might be facilitating and taking charge when needed.
Sole leaders of a group are undoubtedly great, and many are in MarinSEL, but some groups also have a group without the “tough buck”. This means that everyone does their part equally, and that everyone applies their strengths. Each person specializes in one talent, and focuses on that. No one is in that sole position of leadership: everyone has an equal role and the project does not require one person to take charge. These are the type of situations where quiet people can rise up, and be a leader by just doing their part, and cooperating with others, to successfully complete the task.
To call someone a leader can mean many things. They could be loud and bossy, or quiet and cooperative, it comes down to which one is more beneficial to the team. Whichever one is more appreciated. So a leader can pretty much be anyone, as long as that person leads their team to success. To quote Chris Hadfield, “Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others’ success, and then standing back and letting them shine.”
