Outline of Extended Definition Essay
Topic: What are true leaders?
Thesis
statement: “True leaders are made up of responsibility, commitment and
selflessness.”
I.
Introduction
a.
Functions of leaders
b. Thesis
Statement
II.
Body
a.
Responsibility
b. Commitment
c.
Selflessness
III.
Conclusion
a.
Summary of points
b. Final
thoughts on leaders
Leaders make the world go round.
They are at the helm of society’s ship, pointing the crew to the right (or
wrong) direction. They are present in every group or community, whether big or
small, with or without a formal title. Monarchs, Presidents, government
officials, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, student council, class officers
– together, they shape the world as we know it. True leaders are not born, they
are made. True leadership is not innate, it is learned and honed. Anyone can be
proclaimed a leader, but few truly are. There is so much more to leaders than
simply dictating the rules and directing a group of people. True leaders are
made up of responsibility, commitment and selflessness.
There is a saying that “the
number one rule of leadership: everything is your fault”. There are so many
expectations and tasks that come with the job description of being a leader.
They are responsible of organizing the team, dividing the work and making sure
that each member is productive and holds their own weight. Leaders are also
responsible for creating a practical and achievable plan of action and seeing
that plan through. They are the go-to people for even the smallest details. They
are expected to formulate solutions to problems. They are in charge of ensuring
that the task is finished on time with the desired results. With all these
responsibilities piled up on their shoulders, leaders must be focused and
organized. They must have a clear vision with a positive end in mind while
being realistic and prepared for the worst case scenarios. The leader can be
held accountable for the success or failure of the team. Although it is a great
burden to bear, it can also reap the greatest reward.
In order to reap the rewards of
their hard work, a leader must also remain committed to the team and to the
task at hand. They must be strong enough to bear the weight of the group,
especially when problems arise. They must remain steadfast and focused on the
job at hand, even when things do not go as planned and when plans fall through.
Their concentration should be on the task at hand and not allow themselves to
be caught up in distractions. True leaders are always loyal to their teams
despite conflicts in the group and contrasting personalities and work ethics.
Their dedication to the work is unwavering, even when things are not going
according to plan or when the desired outcome is not attained. When outside
forces try to bring them down or when they do not get to reap the rewards of
their works, true leaders still do not give up. They will continue to push
forward and upward, to fight the good fight until the very end.
But the one characteristic that
makes true leaders great leaders is selflessness. They prioritize the best interest of the group
over their own. Mark Twain once said that “really great people make you feel
that you, too, can become great”. Sometimes, leaders slow down their pace in
order to let others succeed with them. They inspire their members to do better
and be better. They believe that they can become leaders too. Hand in hand with
dedication, they allot so much time and effort into their work, often times
sacrificing personal priorities for the good of the team and the work. They
listen to the opinion and insights of their members and set aside their own
feelings and biases. They place credit on the group’s effort when they succeed
and accept blame when they fail. At times, they step back in order to let their
team mates and members shine in the lime light. The best leaders do not work
for personal gains or triumph, but they work along side others, making them
feel like they can be great too.
There is so much more to
leadership than dictating and directing. True leaders have the responsibility
to carry various expectations and duties on their shoulders. They must have
unwavering commitment to their team and steadfast dedication to their work.
True leaders are also selfless in prioritizing the team and the work over
personal interests, allotting time and effort in the work and inspiring others
to live up to their potentials. Leaders are made and nurtured. They are
constantly shaping the world, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the
worse. But the world as we know it would not be the same without them. Because
of true leaders, there is progress and order. Because of them, underdogs rise
up. Because of them, there is empowerment and encouragement. Because of great
leaders, there are good role models to follow, icons to aspire to and idols to
look up to. Anyone can be called a leader, but few truly are. Anyone can
possess one or two good qualities, but it takes someone special to be the whole
package. Truly leaders are rare gems that the world should be grateful to have.
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