Being a Leader

Written by: Kamia F. Slaughter

How do you view yourself as a leader? Sometimes, as educators, we may be inclined to focus on leadership roles at work. Maybe you only see yourself as a leader when a colleague asks for a letter of support. Maybe you feel most like a leader when presenting or teaching in front of a group of students. Or, maybe you don’t see yourself as a leader at all, and you’re patiently waiting on the next promotion to reconcile that identity. Whatever the case may be, I challenge you to expand how you view leadership. 

Being a leader is more than just delegating roles and responsibilities to others, it’s more than a title, and it’s more than having the final say amid conflict. Being a leader is about supporting, affirming, and inspiring yourself and others to accomplish goals. Think about all the places and spaces those skills materialize. You may take on leadership roles in your family, church, community, or social organization. Leadership isn’t bound by the walls of our institutions! 

Know that leadership is just as much personal as it is relational. You must know yourself before you lead others. What do you value? How do you communicate? Who do you see as important or disposable? Constantly asking yourself these questions will help guide how you engage with people on your team. Always be willing to approach your work introspectively. 

Though we often associate leadership with power, that relationship does not inherently have to be problematic. Instead of thinking about how many people you oversee, how large your portfolio is, or how much authority you have, think about how to use your power for good. Challenge yourself with these questions: How much love can you show? How much grace can you extend? How many barriers can you remove for others? Reframe your metrics for leadership.