Leadership is an awesome responsibility!

Throughout history leaders have set the stage for the direction of nations, cultures, organizations and societies.

Leaders direct history itself; they always have. Every great event that has ever been accomplished by mankind has been directed by leaders. And every horrible atrocity that mankind has ever created transpired through leadership as well.

The position of leadership is attained through various means. Some leaders are appointed, some are elected, some take the position of leadership by force.

Some are in the positions of leadership because of their financial wealth. And others are in positions of leadership because people perceive they have knowledge, wisdom, or experience, and are in a better position to "know the way".

Regardless of where a leader receives his or her "authority" to lead, the responsibility of leadership is awesome. Leaders affect so many lives. People look to their leaders for reassurances, for direction, and for example.

When we choose whom to follow, we must choose carefully. And when the mantle of leadership falls on our own shoulders, we must take that responsibility very seriously. Our words, our attitudes and our actions affect those who choose to follow us- sometimes more than they affect us ourselves.

True leaders take care of the people that follow them before they take care of themselves. They are aware of the impact they have on others, and are careful about the example they set. Example is probably the most powerful form of leadership.

People will most often act based on what they see their leaders doing. Almost everyone is a leader to someone: We play leadership roles within our family, within our circle of friends, within our community, our church and our work.

Everything we do and everything we are impacts others-whether we want it to or not. We have the greatest impact on our spouse and our children. no one can escape the role of leadership and the responsibility it places on us.

Others will make decisions based on our example. Many of the decisions we make each day are influenced by those around us. We are all influenced by each other.

It is important to choose carefully whom to follow or whom to allow to influence our decisions and attitude. And we should take seriously the impact that our attitudes, our actions and our example have on others.

Leadership is an awesome responsibility- let us learn to do it well!