Topic: 138

According to my opinion, it's always better to be a leader than a follower. True leaders show initiative. They take action and they assume responsibility. A leader makes a decision. Some followers may approve of the decision; others may complain

about it. However, these followers all chose to follow, not to lead. They chose not to make a decision. That's how I'm different. I'm not a follower. I want to make the decisions.

Good leaders will not react to events, but will anticipate them. A leader will start a plan of action and then will persuade others to follow. For example, a class president at a local college may feel that the relationship between the community and the campus is not a good one. The citizens may feel that the college kids make too much noise on the street, litter public areas, and shop in other communities. A good class president will recognize that the community and the campus depend on one another. The president ' will ask the student body to keep noise down, help clean up the neighborhoods, and work with businesses to attract students. A good leader takes the initiative.

Good leaders must be action-oriented. Having taken the initiative, they must see the job through. They have to take charge and lead the followers. They have to motivate and encourage the followers. The followers (in this example, the student body) must understand why good relations with the community are necessary. The followers must be persuaded to do something about it.

Good leaders must be ready to accept responsibility. They accept responsibility for their actions as well as those of the followers. In the end, any credit will be shared with the group; any blame will be the leader's fault. The leader who fails is always alone.

I enjoy taking the initiative, determining the direction, and being responsible for my actions. I don't want to suffer through other people's stupid decisions. If there are ' going to be stupid ways to do something, let them be mine. Wouldn't you agree?