Page 38 - IntraMuros November 2021

TODAY’S CHILD

LEADERSHIP Therefore, performance at school is based realised that there is no final destination, a
Leadership is a big theme in school, on marks and academic achievements. finish line at the end of the rat race, or a
particularly as you draw closer to Matric beacon at the top of the ladder where they
and titles become prioritised: Head Boy, Even though school takes up most of your get awarded for ultimate achievement.
Head Girl, Prefect, Student Representative time, you are still more than your marks. Their success and motivation comes from
Council, etc. Unless you plan on becoming an academic their ability to embrace the journey and
and spending the rest of your days reading, whatever it brings.
There is so much information about what researching and publishing papers, there is
leadership is, and yet it is still misunderstood. a lot more to life than just developing your You do not have to have yourself, your
To understand what leadership actually is, it intellect. career and your life all figured out. Just take
is sometimes necessary to first know what it a step at a time.
it is not. There is an unhealthy
and unbalanced focus on
• Becoming a leader is not a popularity this element of people
contest. development. Even if you are
• Leaders are not in charge of others – those a high achiever and school
are managers. You can be a manager comes easy to you, you
without leadership skills and be a leader risk becoming identified
without being a manager. with smartness and success.
• Leaders are not appointed. In other words, you base
• Leaders do not control others. your self-worth on your
• Leadership is a learnt skill. Some people performance and output,
are natural leaders, where others develop which leads to burnout, stress
the skill. and lack of meaning in life.
• Leadership is not a title.
LIFE IS A JOURNEY
The best definition of leadership is: the My work offers me a unique
responsibility you take for the influence you opportunity to engage
have on the world around you. with people on a very deep
level. Many of these people
THE HIGH ACHIEVERS include top business leaders,
School is an academic institution based on successful entrepreneurs,
the principles of education, learning and doctors and CEOs. Those
knowledge. To measure progress, it needs leading the most exciting
quantitative results, i.e. tests and exams. and influential lives have

36 | INTRAMUROS NOVEMBER 2021