I believe I am a leader who can inspire others by creating an example. In The Student Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner, chapter one describes how a leader must “Set the Example” (43). The chapter goes on to explain how as a leader, you always have influence. The most significant decisions are the ones that show how you spend your time and what you pay attention to (45).
One night, at the end of a long tech rehearsal for my high school’s production of Deadline, I realized that the rest of the set crew had gone home without cleaning up the paint supplies they were using during rehearsal. Dirty paint brushes were stuck to their paint trays, and gallons of paint were left without lids. I decided to stay behind and spent around an hour after rehearsal making sure the backstage area was clean before I left for the night.
I never learned which students were responsible for leaving out the paint, and I never made an effort to find out. In guest speaker Natalie Wallis’ presentation, she explained how the people around you will always remember how you handle specific conflicts. At that moment, I realized it would be counterproductive to lecture the group without knowing who was responsible. I acknowledged the possibility that they might not have known how to clean or store the supplies, or perhaps they were unable to stay late after rehearsal to finish cleaning. The following night, I reminded the crew of proper paint-cleaning procedures and collaborated with them to tidy the backstage area before rehearsal ended.
This small initiative triggered a noticeable shift in the stage crew's time management and organization skills. Even those not directly involved in scenic design started contributing to the cleanup efforts each night. My leadership journey has taught me that leading by example is a form of influence. While it may be challenging to set an example without a clear role model, the act creates an environment where everyone is motivated to create positive change.
