An Introduction to
Individual and Shared Leadership
.

Historical Leaders
.

Survival Tools for Dealing with Change
. .

In this section of TRY-IT!, you will have opportunities to explore your own knowledge, skills and abilities as a leader. Plus, you will learn how you may share your ideas as a leader with those of your other TRY-IT! Team members, both fellow teens and adults.

Leadership results when we, as individuals, work together with others to accomplish shared goals that improve our lives, the lives of our families and friends, and the well-being of our entire communities. You probably hear the word "leader" a lot these days – in the media, at school, in your 4-H work, and in your neighborhood and community.

We want you to remember a couple of simple but very important aspects about leadership as you work through this section, as well as the other sections of TRY-IT!

First, and most important, you already are a leader! By being at this Web site, you have already made a commitment to work with your fellow TRY-IT! Team members to help improve the lives of those younger than you. So as you work through the exciting activities in the modules ahead, don’t think "Gosh, I wish I could learn to do this…" but rather ask yourself, "Gosh, as I’m already doing this, how can I do it even better to help my team and others?"

Second, there are many different types of leaders and leadership. Most people think of the leader as the president of the club or the person who is the excellent public speaker and knows how to get things done. While these are characteristics of some types of leaders, not all leaders need to speak in front of a group or have to be president in order to make good things happen. Many leaders work behind the scenes to help their team reach a goal.

And finally, leadership is not something you do, it is something you believe. You can learn and practice the knowledge and skills required to act like a leader, but to truly be a leader, you must know yourself, your core values and your basic beliefs. You must ask yourself, "What do I believe about working with others to get something done? How do I want to treat others, and how do I want them to treat me in return?" When you’ve answered these and other important questions, you have started an exciting leadership journey that will carry you through the TRY-IT! Program, through your family and school life and into your future roles as an adult citizen in the workplace, in a household and family, and in a community.

| Back to Top |

Before you begin the first module in this section, go to your Reflection Journal, enter today’s date, and jot down your thoughts at this moment about the role of leadership:

We’ll come back to these ideas later as you work through the following 10 exciting modules:

Here’s wishing you a great leadership journey with the exciting challenges and opportunities that lie ahead!