"Not the Cry, but the Flight"

By Kyle Feagans, 1st dan

NOT THE CRY, BUT THE FLIGHT OF A WILD DUCK, LEADS THE FLOCK TO FLY AND FOLLOW (Chinese Proverb)

While great leaders have many great traits there are a few that are instrumental to not only their success but to the success of those that follow them.  Here are just a few of the traits those great leaders’ posses.

HONESTY – Great leaders always do the honest thing.  A great leader understands that honesty makes those that follow them know where they stand at all times.

INTEGRITY – Great leaders have integrity.  Leaders with integrity are respected and listened to by others.  As a rule, most people prefer or seek out leaders or organizations with integrity and meet their commitments.

RESPECT – Great leaders know how to exercise respect.  They know that they cannot play favoritism with people, that they must treat people, no matter the station in life, what the class or what the rank within the organization, the same.

PASSION – Great leaders are passionate.  Great leaders understand how important it is for them to be passionate about what they are doing.  They understand that if they are not living, eating, breathing or sleeping their mission how can they expect their followers to have the same enthusiasm?

EMPOWERING – Great leaders know how to embolden, to make their associates powerful not powerless or diminished.

There are many other words like Confidence, Clarity, Caring, Focused, Compassion, Celebration and Humility that great leaders’ posses. Great leaders know when and where to utilize each of these traits at the time.  They know which ones to use with the strengths and personalities of each and every one of their followers.

Being a leader at work can be achieved by being persistent, determined, and listening to the thoughts and ideas of those around you. It means that you know that it is okay to say “I do not know” when you don’t... it means having the desire and the confidence to rise above the un-expected situations that come up at the most inopportune times. It means having the passion, desire and attitude to finish, to achieve and to accomplish.

Being a Colorado Taekwondo Institute student is about developing and enhancing your physical aspects of your martial arts training. However, as a CTI student, you will also be challenged mentally. You will be encouraged to lead students of various ages and belt levels.  The opportunities to lead can come in many forms.  It may come by being asked to work with a student on certain moves in a poomse. You could be asked to lead basics, poomse, one steps or self-defense. You may be asked to help with judging poomse or be a corner judge in sparring in a tournament. CTI student’s training prepares them to be ready not only physically but mentally.

It is also important for a CTI student to be a leader in the community because we are out in the community.  As CTI students we are exposed to the community through tournaments, demonstrations expos, symposiums and camps. It is important as an organization in our community to know and understand that everyone in our community is as well off as we are.  With this understanding we reach out to and disperse ourselves into the community through a food and clothing drive.  As a CTI student we may even be seen in the world community if provided the opportunity to attend a CTI Black Belt World Tour.  It is because of these exposures that we must demonstrate leadership skills and abilities…

IF YOUR ACTIONS INSPIRE OTHERS TO DREAM MORE, LEARN MORE, DO MORE AND BECOME MORE, YOU ARE A LEADER – JOHN QUINCY ADAMS