The ability to lead isn’t inherited, it’s learned.  We’ve learned a lot this week about what makes a leader.  These are my three keys for leadership:

1. You have to possess leadership skills and abilities.  Some examples include Trust, Teamwork, Honesty, Integrity and Determination.  Now you don’t have to possess all of the above, you just need to acknowledge if any leadership skills and abilities apply to you since you will be conducting them while you are leading .  
2. You need to realize that you can be a leader.  Leaders aren’t chosen, they’re made. They can come from anywhere.  Leaders are made when they realize something has to be done, and they can’t wait another second for change.
3. You need to discover what you are passionate about.  What bothers you? What do you wish you could fix? What do you want to change?  When others see your passion for what you believe in, then they might be so inspired to help to reach that goal.  Leaders can still lead while letting others have the capacity to do so.

And if you think you don’t measure up, realize that you are not the only one who has though this. Great leaders acknowledge the things that hold them back, but don’t stop them for making change. It worked for them, why not you?

Photo Credit: <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/36612355@N08/46904589604/”>European Parliament</a> Flickr via <a href=”http://compfight.com”>Compfight</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>cc</a&gt;