Leadership is a complex concept with various interpretations depending on who you ask. My understanding of leadership has been largely influenced by the principles of servant leadership, as described in James C. Hunter's The Servant. To me, leadership is the ability to influence others towards shared goals, based on mutual respect and a strong foundation of relationships. It is not about holding a position of power that can be given or taken away, but rather a continuous process of self-improvement and the cultivation of inclusive environments around us.
Over time, my definition of leadership has evolved through various experiences and programs. In high school, I was introduced to the Character Strong curriculum, which focused on developing leadership skills through the lens of servant leadership. This program introduced me to the eight essential qualities of a leader, including kindness, patience, humility, selflessness, respect, forgiveness, commitment, and honesty. I also attended a leadership camp that utilized the same framework for thinking about leadership. Before engaging with these programs, I viewed leadership as a position of power rather than a set of actions and behaviors. However, through exposure to great leaders like Barack Obama, Oprah, and Martin Luther King Jr. on television and interactions with some people who I thought of as great leaders in real life, I came to understand that influence and impact come from one's ability to build meaningful relationships with others.