Leadership A Two Way Street That Requires A Foundation Of Confidence A Heart Of Persistence And A Mind For Innovation

"Here's To The Crazy Ones, The Misfits, The Rebels, The Troublemakers, The Round Pegs In The Square Holesthe Ones Who See Things Differently-they're Not Fond Of RulesYou Can Quote Them, Disagree With Them, Glorify Or Vilify Them, But The Only Thing You Can't Do Is Ignore Them Because They Change Thingsthey Push The Human Race Forward, And While Some May See Them As The Crazy Ones, We See Genius, Because The Ones Who Are Crazy Enough To Think That They Can Change The World, Are The Ones Who Do."

-Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

For Steve Jobs, persistence and innovation were key factors in being successful as a leader. Among other tasks, a powerful leader strives to develop a sense of trust, commitment, and loyalty among his group members by establishing stable relationships that also help ensure the sustainability of an organization. Leaders are those whose

"actions Inspire Others To Dream More, Learn More, Do More And Become More."

-John Quincy Adams

These were the characteristics of a leader and goals of an organization that the Leadership Institute at Harvard College aimed to promote and accomplish through both the Presidents' Forum and the leadership conference at Columbia University.

KEY FACTOR #1: PERSISTENCE

Persistence is a necessary component of leadership and an enduring quality that exists in every step on the path to success. Last month, the Presidents' Forum of the Leadership Institute at Harvard College held its first meeting with a select group of leaders of the largest and most influential student organizations on campus. This included the presidents from organizations such as the Institute of Politics, the Undergraduate Council, the Philips Brooks House Association, and more. Through brainstorms and discussions, we organized plans to address the most critical student issues at Harvard, including (but not limited to): developing a campus-wide event calendar, designing a monthly newsletter or semester report to circulate among the administration in order to promote awareness of student group activities, ensuring that the student voice is heard, creating a foundation for institutional memory, and adjusting the re-registration process of student organizations. One of the most difficult aspects of attaining these goals is the plethora of obstacles blocking one's way - but one of the easiest ways to address these problems is persistence.

KEY FACTOR #2: INNOVATION

An innovative thinker is able to combine his creativity and leadership qualities to develop a sustainable organization in which all members, new and old, can benefit and learn. On November 12, 2011, the Leadership Institute at Harvard College held a leadership workshop at Columbia University. As part of the Millennium Campus Network's effort to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, we worked to extend student leaders' knowledge of sustainable development, leadership, and networking. We facilitated discussions involving original case studies to teach workshop attendees the importance of a leader's perspicacity, commitment to members, use of resources, and eyes on progress. We showed how innovation allows a leader to develop new ideas to maintain interest among members and to approach various conflicts differently in order to find the best solutions.

The number of people who are able to inspire those around them to strive for higher boundaries are few. Even fewer are those who dare to be different, dare to be heard, and dare to continue trying to reach a goal that may seem impossible. But those are the ones who others look up to, and call their leader.

Filed under: Events, Leadership Development, Self Improvement, Skills Tagged: innovation, John Quincy Adams, persistence, Steve Jobs