Commentary : American Public University System : Nurturing Our Leaders and Future Leaders
Thou Shalt Not Exclude
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good leader does not exclude . Rather , good leaders welcome all inputs and experiences to solve the problems at hand . By providing access to a diverse community , the University involves as many people as they can to make the educational experience accessible to all . The more inputs a leader has , the better decisions they can make . These decisions help drive innovation , which can be considered as imaginative forward-thinking . To be a good forward-thinker , one must think out of the box . That is , they must do what is not the norm . A forward-thinker does not look to merely get by . A forward-thinker challenges themselves and everyone around them to exceed expectations , which drives innovative ideas . Good leaders are compelled to explore new ideas and work out of their comfort zone .
Leaders Hold Themselves Accountable
Accountability in leadership ensures that individual leaders honor and respect the positions they hold because leadership can be revoked . Leaders must communicate and interact with their subordinates , peers , and their superiors . Discussion forums at APUS encourage and support interaction and communication . Forum interaction with instructors and other students provides a venue of fairness , honesty , and objectivity so that students learn to self-critique their own efforts . Since every leader is not always aware of their mistakes , self-critique and welcoming critiques from others allows leaders to better themselves .
Do As I Say and As I Do
Obtaining the characteristics of a good leader are only the first part of leadership . How does one , with good leadership characteristics , actually lead ? The answer to the second part of leadership is to set the example . Setting the example means you conduct yourself above reproach and do not complain . Setting the example may sound easy but keeping that mindset throughout each day is a challenge . For example , it may be easy to tell your organization to wear a mask at all times , but you the leader must also wear a mask . Effective leadership means a leader makes informed decisions so that the organization continues to move forward . An example is after data are presented , true leaders inquire within the leadership body as a whole , and then , make a decision based upon the data .
Conclusion
In summary , there are many characteristics and traits that define a good leader . It is easy to recognize the good leaders from the bad ones , but it is much more important to encourage and promote the good leaders . The curricular format at APUS not only prepares students with the knowledge and skills to become a true leader in their field of expertise , the University enables leaders and future leaders to learn and interact
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