Leadership may be typically associated with business, but leading is necessary in all parts of life. Nonprofit organizations offer a broad view of the various needs for leadership. Each nonprofit has a mission, and that means people have to lead to reach the goals.

Social Leading Everywhere

Beyond the realm of nonprofits, there is a whole world of schools and parent-teacher organizations, neighborhood associations, social clubs, religious and civic groups, or support groups. Each one exists for a reason — to further a cause, promote the welfare of certain people, or see to the needs of a church or synagogue. To support those underlying purposes, any organization has a host of tasks that must be done, from contacting members about the next meeting to coordinating a fund-raiser.

Leadership can happen in an executive office or other high-ranking position. It can also come, as in business, from people willing to roll up their sleeves and take full responsibility for getting a job done. Although it's important for socially oriented organizations to have the right top leadership, it's just as important to have leadership throughout: the person who makes sure the community theatre has a set for its next production, someone to put together the volunteer cooking schedule for the kids' baseball association, someone to arrange for the blood drive at the community center.

All People Leading

In fact, it's not just the people who are in charge of an effort who are the leaders. Working with others to do what must be done isn't restricted to those who keep the volunteer lists. Everyone who decides to take action becomes a leader. This is because those people aren't just following orders; instead, they're making their own decisions based on what they see is right.

It might be that a need is organic and not the regular focus of some organization. In such cases, it takes leaders in the community to step forward and do what must be done. For example, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Southeast, tens of thousands of people all around the country were moved to pitch in and organize their own relief efforts with neighbors, people at work and school, and others in their social networks.

The people who made this help possible didn't wait for someone to give them permission. Seeing what was necessary, they did something and accepted the responsibility they saw was needed. You could say that another definition of leadership is the process of turning an idea into action with other people. In fact, it's this grassroots-up form of leadership that is perhaps the most important to communities. Even when there is not an established organization to address a local situation, these leaders see the need, create a plan of action, recruit help, and get something positive done. That is even true for those who aren't taking up a given cause but are taking the initiative to act in ways they know are right. Setting a good example when gaining attention is not the intent is one of the most fundamental and true ways of leading. Not only are there opportunities to lead in everyday life, you can also gain experience today and practice skills that will help you lead in other contexts as well.