You are here
My Kind of Leader
We all know people we would consider to be great leaders. Think about your boss, co-workers, family, friends, acquaintances and those you admire from afar such as leaders who are in the public eye. Leaders come in different shapes, sizes and backgrounds and present themselves in different ways.
What leaders do you find extraordinary? There is a reason you think the person is an excellent leader. What is it and what qualities, traits and behaviors do they possess that you admire?
Below is a group exercise to help you realize the traits you admire in a leader and to determine if these are traits you possess and might want to build upon. This exercise can also be done individually.
EXERCISE:
Steps:
- Ask audience members to pair up with the person sitting next to them.
- Give participants five minutes to think about a leader they most admire and the character traits the person possesses. Remember, leaders come in many shapes, sizes and forms. It could be a family member, an acquaintance, business associate, your boss, friend, someone famous, etc.
- Ask participants to take a few minutes each to share with their partner the leader they have identified and the traits they admire about that person. One person will speak while the other listens. They then will switch roles.
- After a few minutes, stop the exercise and have participants take five minutes to reflect upon the traits they see in themselves that they have identified in the leader. Celebrate these traits as strengths to capitalize on moving forward.
- Next, provide participants a few minutes to reflect upon what skills and leadership traits they would like to develop.
- Note: Another option for this exercise is to have participants pair up and draw a leader with the traits they admire. For example: a person may draw a leader with big ears to show they listen to their employees.
- Once participants have had an opportunity to talk to each other, engage participants in an open discussion around the following questions:
- How easy was it to choose a leader you admire?
- Why did you choose this person?
- What are the most important qualities / traits in a leader? Why?
- Can these traits be learned or is a person born to be a leader?
Self Reflection:
- What projects / activities / tasks do you currently lead at work or home?
- How can you practice the leadership traits you possess to streamline or lead the projects / activities / tasks at work or home?
- Are there benefits to learning any additional skills that you have identified in the leader you discussed? What are they?
Note: This handout may be reproduced for noncommercial uses only. You have our permission to print and pass along to others.