Leadership Role

The leadership role I've decided to focus on this semester is my church calling as Family Home Evening Co-leader. When I received this calling I was excited to serve but I didn't immediately recognize it's significance/importance. Later I realized that in our dorm situation without real parents FHE doesn't function very well so we need people to take charge, plan it, and make sure everyone comes that can. I also realized that Family Home Evening is important because it's a great opportunity to get to know your roommates and ward better and make those friendships that will make our college experience so much better. It's also a great opportunity to practice those leadership skills that I will need on a mission and in future callings and leadership positions. For our first FHE we wanted it to be really fun so that our family would be excited about coming every week so we planned a fear factor competition and ended it with playing pudding twister. It took a lot of planning and some preparation but it worked out because everyone came and I think everyone had a great time. I learned that planning pays off but at the same time you have to be flexible because we had to change a few thing due to weather. I also think we were able to get everyone there because we put up invitations and gave assignments to those whom we thought might not come so that they would feel some responsibility/obligation to be there.

Leadership Interview

I chose to interview my old young mens president, Brother Nichols. The following are the questions I asked and his responses.


1. What do you think are the most important qualities/ characteristics in a good leader?

I believe a good leader has a clear vision of a path to specific markers and a keen ability to impart that vision to others. A good leader motivates by inviting and challenging his followers to make personal commitments. A good leader is organized and delegates responsibilities so that all are part of the process of forward movement. A good leader looks for stragglers and assigns stronger team members to the weak ones. A good leader is humble and seeks for feedback and counsel from those he leads. A good leader is always seeking to create other good leaders.

2. How can someone be a good leader in their everyday life?
The most important way to be a leader is to have strong personal and moral goals and move forward to accomplish them while including as many others as possible in your quest. In other words "example" is all-important. Someone can lead by speaking up for the right thing even when it is difficult. Someone can lead by finding service opportunities...no matter how small...and inviting others to join them.

3. Who is a leader that you admire and why?
I have always admired Elder Marcus B. Nash, who is a member of the Seventy. He was my stake president as a youth. He always takes time for the individual, even at great personal sacrifice. He is always so positive and upbeat. He is a great listener and asks motivating questions. He seems to see what each person can become and then gives encouragement and challenge to step up to the next level. I always know that I am a person of worth in his presence.

4. How can someone become a better leader?
Take time for personal thought and contemplation on a regular basis. Ask yourself the tough questions about how you are doing with personal and spiritual goals. Is your path on track with what God wants you to become? If you have this assurance, then pray for insight on how you can motivate others to be on the same path. Write down the thoughts and impressions that come as you faithfully seek for guidance. Set short-term goals with firm dates to accomplish them by and let someone else know about the goals. Find time to report to that person about your progress. Then make these same steps with others within your stewardship. Always make sure that there is a time for "returning and reporting" on assignments.

5. What are some common mistakes that leaders make that we can watch out for in ourselves?
Sometimes leaders can move forward so quickly that there is not time for consistent follow up. Sometimes too many assignments can be given at once. A leader should always be in tune with the people he/she leads, so regular interviews/check-ins are important. Burnout can also be a danger if a leader does not pay attention to his own needs (exercise, sleep, spouse and family time, etc) and family needs. There must be a balance. A key is to involve family in the details of the tasks required as much as possible.

6. Who has the potential to lead and where does that potential come from?
Everyone has the potential to lead. The potential comes from knowing who we really are. Am I a person who by happen-stance evolved from a lower form of animal life, or am I a child of a living and loving God with potential to become like Him? I find the second belief to be much more motivating to become who I can become. Just remember the acronym: IALAC..."I Am Loveable and Capable."

After interviewing Brother Nichols and from my experiences in working with him in the past I feel that he is a good example of a leader because he has a vision of success and a desire to help those he is leading reach that success. He is also humble and self-sacrificing. He is a good example to me of magnifying your calling and hard work. He showed me the importance of serving others when he took a lot of time out of his busy schedule to help me with my eagle project and many other small things. As I move forward and acquire leadership positions of my own, I can follow his example and be a proactive leader that gets things done and helps others to progress by realizing the potential in others and demanding it from them through kindness and service.