My summer leadership course for high schoolers  is designed to help students recognize their leadership skills and abilities, develop a philosophy of leadership, and learn how to apply leadership traits to real world situations. Students will participate in fun and engaging activities, learn from guest speakers and local leaders, and help plan and organize events for the Upward Bound summer program. Students will also learn about leadership opportunities that exist on college campuses and within the TRiO community. Students do not need prior leadership experience to be a part of this course. Even if you’d never considered yourself a “leader”, keep this in mind:

“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.” —Warren Bennis

Leadership has been described as “a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”. For example, some understand a leader simply as somebody whom people follow, or as somebody who guides or directs others, while others define leadership as “organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal”.

EXCERPT from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You.   One of the most important truths I’ve learned over the years is this: Leadership is leadership, no matter where you go or what you do. Times change. Technology marches forward. Cultures vary from place to place. But the true principles of leadership are constant–whether you’re looking at the citizens of ancient Greece, the Hebrews in the Old Testament, the armies of the last two hundred years, the rulers of modern Europe, the pastors in local churches, or the businesspeople of today’s global economy. Leadership principles stand the test of time. They are irrefutable.

Studies of leadership have produced theories involving traits, situational interaction, function, behavior, power, vision and values, charisma, and intelligence, among others.

Qualities of Leadership. The video below offers several quotes from some of history’s great leaders. This video attempts to define leadership. We answer the questions: “What is a leader and leadership”, “What makes a good leader”, and “What are the traits and characteristics of a good leader”.