Editorial November 24, 1997 Issue

Ready to take the lead

Russ Gerber

We've all had the thought come to us, "Why doesn't somebody do something about this?" The next time that happens, we might ask ourselves, "Why don't I do something about this?"

The notion that only a handful of especially gifted people have a calling or an ability to take the lead ought to go the way of the horse and buggy. The truth is, qualities of leadership can be developed and untilized in ways that benefit all of us.

Anyone who decides to accept a challenge, who says, "I'd like to help. I'll take the lead on this," is beginning to exercise leadership. That means the student in school who commits to getting better grades, to asking more questions of the teacher, to spending less time socializing and more time studying, is taking the lead in his or her life. The committee member who hears of an assignment and decides to take it on, to provide the assistance and organizing that are needed, is taking the lead. The individual who has felt all alone in life, but who confronts that feeling and decides that the loneliness doesn't have to continue, then goes about finding and building new relationships, is taking the lead.

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