Leadership and Accountability If you want to lead me You better find a better way Because your life speaks so loudly that I can't hear a single word you say. Everyone who talked to me about leadership said you're not a leader unless someone follows you. This is true, but it implies more than meets the eye, that if someone follows you, you are a leader, whether you like it or not. And with leadership comes responsibility, a lot of responsibility. To be honest, I don't always like having responsibilities or having to worry about what others see when they look at me. Being a leader requires that I maintain my integrity. In my work as a camp counselor this past summer, I found that campers looked up to me when they knew I was one of the leaders. I had to make sure I didn't abuse my power or freedom as a worker. I had to set an example, the best way to set a good example. If trash needed to be picked up from our dorm, simply asking my campers to clean it up wouldn't do. I needed to get out there with them and start the process, show them that I wasn't above them but that I was willing to do more than just give commands. I found that I got a lot more respect when I joined them. Leading from the top is not as effective as leading them at their level by example. Actions must align with words.