IDC3OX 

What Leadership Means to Me 

 
 
1. What is Drew Dudley’s message regarding leadership in his video ‘Leading with Lollipops’? What 
can we learn from his story?  
TEDxToronto - Drew Dudley "Leading with Lollipops" 
 
 
Drew Dudley’s message is that being in a position of leadership doesn't necessarily make you a 
leader. We can learn that you could have a huge impact on someone's life and not even know it. 
He talks about how simple acts of kindness can make someone's day or life just that little bit 
better.   
 
 
 
2. Mike Smith discusses the importance and impact youth can have as leaders in our world. What 
part of his message stood out to you the most?   
Brilliance, It's In Their DNA: Mike Smith at TEDxYouth@Lincoln 
 
 
The part of this message that stood out to me the most was when he asked kids what they wanted 
to be remembered for and all of them said something related to making a change in the world. 
This stood out to me because they didn’t want to be known for superficial things like money or a 
job title , they truly wanted to make a difference. I believe this has great importance because it 
shows how evolved kids nowadays are and how much of an impact they are going to make on this 
world.   
 
 
 
 
3. When people refer to you as a leader, what do you hope they are saying or thinking about you? 
 
When someone refers to me as a leader, I hope that they are thinking that I am a person who has 
made a change. Someone who cares about others, someone who can take control of a situation, 
listen and incorporate everyone's voice and opinion. Overall I would want them to think that I have 
impacted someone positively even if it was in the smallest way. 
 
 
 
 
4. I want others to consider me a leader because … 
 
I want others to consider me a leader because it is totally out of my comfort zone, I have never been 
very outgoing or talkative. In fact I'm the complete opposite but I am working on being more 
extroverted by doing a course like leadership. After watching the videos I realized that being super 
outgoing is not the only part of being a leader. I want others to consider me a leader for my kindness 
IDC3OX 
 
and care for others and their wellbeing. I hope to someday be remembered as a leader that impacted 
people positively with kindness.  
 
 
5. People who are considered to be leaders should be expected to … 
 
People who are considered leaders should be expected to be able to listen to everyone's opinions, 
they should be able to take control of a situation, they should be inclusive and kind to all and be 
positive even in difficult situations.  
 
6. I define leadership as … 
 
In my opinion leadership is being someone or doing something in hopes to make a positive change. 
Leadership is about spreading positivity to all and working together to make the world a better place. I 
don’t believe that you have to make a huge impact on the world in order to be a leader, small acts 
can also make change and even spark someone else to want to make a difference. Overall 
leadership is a want to make a difference.  
 
5. I took this class because … 
 
I took this class because it is way out of my comfort zone, I'm far from outgoing and I hope that this 
class will help change that. I want to be known for more than the quiet girl in class, in my lifetime I want 
to leave an impact on at least one person. I hope for this class to really push me out of my comfort one 
and make me a more confident person. Overall I believe that what I learn in leadership will change me 
for the better.  
What I Look For In A Leader 

In Iroquois society, leaders are encouraged to remember seven generations in the past and consider seven generations in the 
future when making decisions that affect people. 

- Wilma P. Mankiller, former principal chief, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma 

Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be. 

- Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet and essayist 

Taking the lead can be a difficult balancing act. What’s important to you as a leader may differ from what’s important to 
someone else. Getting everyone in a group to agree on priorities can be even tougher. What people expect from or look 
for in a leader – either individually or as a group – has a huge impact on what they’re willing to do. As you develop your 
leadership qualities, keep in mind everyone’s expectations to help make things happen. 

TRY THIS 
An Effective Leader 
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Read the following statements. Which f​ ive (5)​ actions would you rank as most important for a leader directing a group 
project, such as a food drive or class presentation? Place a number from 1 (most important) to 5 (least important) to the 
left of the corresponding statement.   

4  The leader gives background information and explains why it’s important to do the project. 
4  The leader specifically explains each person’s role in the project. 
5  The leader asks for and listens to everyone’s suggestions. 
4  The leader gives group members a choice of tasks to perform on the project. 
5  The leader is very enthusiastic about the project. 
5  The leader treats everyone as equals and works toward creating an atmosphere where using her or his 
authority is rarely needed. 
5  The leader keeps group members informed about what is going on and communicates the reasons for 
making important decisions. 
5  The leader listens kindly to complaints or concerns. 
5  The leader never criticizes or puts down someone in front of others. 
5  The leader values the differences each person brings to the group. 
5  The leader is sympathetic if someone makes a mistake and doesn’t make a big issue. 
5  The leader openly and freely praises excellent work. 
4  The leader encourages challenging the status quo and seeks ways to improve teamwork. 
5  The leader regularly meets with members to discuss ways to improve the group’s success. 
5  The leader keeps cool under pressure and controls her or his temper. 
 

   
IDC3OX 
 
TRY THIS 

Think and Write About It 

Prioritizing what you want from a leader versus what the ​group​ wants requires different mindsets. 
When you’re working with a group to agree on some goals (as in the session activity), each person in 
the group may experience interesting reactions or emotions. Keep your own reactions in mind as you 
answer the following questions and statements. Use the space provided to write your responses. 

What is it like to compromise or negotiate on your priorities for the benefit of your group? 

It is difficult when strong personalities collide but with time, patience and open communication finding 
a plan and solution can be easily fixed.  

What do you think it takes for a group to make a decision together? 

For a group to make a decision together they have to listen and take account of everyone's opinions 
and suggestions. If there are disagreements on what to do, as a group they should discuss the pros 
and cons of each side to determine which decision would be best for the group to meet their end goal.  

What role do you think the leader should play when a group needs to make a decision? 

I think that the leader should take control and hear out everyone’s opinion. I believe that a leader 
should have no bias and treat everyone equally when it comes to making an important decision.  

 
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I often find myself thinking/doing ​Not voicing my opinion​ when I’m part of a group making a decision. 
During the next group activity I participate in, either with this group in a different setting, I will try to: 

Overcome that barrier by communicating my thoughts and opinions.