Questions on the Journey of Leadership

• What traits, actions and ways of thinking make someone a true leader beyond just having a title? What interactions have you had with people that made you see them as leaders?

• Whom do you most admire? Why?

• Leaders need followers. And most leaders are followers, too -- they have bosses or boards of directors or constituencies they must satisfy. What makes a good follower?

• Why would anyone want to follow you?

• How is the journey of a leader related to the idea of a monomyth? (The idea of a “monomyth” was defined by Joseph Campbell. It refers to the similar elements of stories from different cultures around the world. One interpretation of this question could be: what are the similar and different ideas about the journey of a leader found in different cultures around the world?)

• How important is diversity in moving toward leadership?

• Growing up, how diverse were your relationships and friendships? How diverse are they now?

• What were the obstacles that you had to deal with before you gained leadership?

• Describe a time when you took on a leadership role. What worked and what didn’t? What did you learn?

• Do you consider yourself a leader? Why or why not?

• Do you believe people are born a leader, or become one throughout their life? Why?

• When you think of a leader who comes to mind? Do you consider him/her to be a good leader or a bad leader and why?

• Do you think failure plays a role in one's development as a leader? Discuss a failure that you feel has helped you in your journey toward leadership.

• What do you see as the differences between a "boss" and a "leader"?

• Many leaders work with a diverse population, including individuals from different cultures and backgrounds. Do you think leadership styles need to be adjusted or tailored depending on the followers? Has there ever been a time when you had to alter your leadership style to be successful?

Comments and New Questions

1. Leadership is about more than just running the show.

2. Has this discussion changed your viewpoint on the concept of leadership?

If so, will you change your leadership approach, moving forward?

3. Are you born a leader, or are you made into a leader?

4. When do you realize you’re a leader?

5. Hitler is almost always used as an example of a leader.

6. I thought that it was good that we got different insights on leadership and I felt like I learn new skills that can help.

7. As a final thought, I think a leader should think outside of the box, because everyone can do something the same old way buy when you do it different you show your followers how smart you really are.

8. Does personality play a role in whether a person is a leader or not?

9. Do you think you may have once had to be a follower in order to be a leader?

10. Every one is a leader sometimes; from the big guys like Ghandi to the mat dog salesman.

11. It was nice to develop what the qualities of a leader are and discuss leadership with others. Would you participate in this event again, what did you gain and how will you embrace it?

12. I thought this was a very amazing experience I learned a lot about leadership such as dictatorship being flexible. What is creativity to you?

13. Are leaders always necessary in the world?

14. Why are people who fall to take leadership always looked down upon?

15. What is human excellence?

16. I came to this thinking that this was going to be rather boring. But it actually turned out to be an interesting discussion.

17. Where does leadership begin?

18. Can a leader be influenced by leaders and how? Sports make leaders and celebrities.

19. Have you ever been inspired by a quiet leader? Quiet leader: someone who makes good decisions and has followers, but doesn’t really know it.

20. Why can a leader have good and bad qualities? Who would gather an event similar to this again? What would your topics be focused on?

21. In order to obtain leadership you have to gain many qualities by starting somewhere lower, and working your way up.

22. Can a leader of a country be a quiet leader?

23. What defines more, his/her words or actions?
24. What are your opinions on political leaders today?
25. What kind of person symbolizes a leader?

26. I learned more about what a leader truly means to adults and what they can do to help their future.

27. Beginning the leadership journey at the beginning of adulthood is inaudibly important. Thanks for your courage in the start of your journey!

28. Diversity and failure are key to leading. Success lies in your failure. If you didn’t fail, you didn’t try hard enough.

29. I learned the different ways people look and think about a lawyer.

30. What is the difference between self leadership and being a leader?

31. How much of a leader is based on the situation and how much is based on who they are?

32. What does leadership have to do with Human Excellence, if anything?

33. Are people born a leader, or do their life experiences shape then into leaders?

34. Does personality affect your ability to lead or follow?

35. If a leader’s followers don’t like him is he still a leader?