Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Merit
  • Contact Us
  • MyODK Login
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
      • Notable Members
      • Founders’ Day
    • Leading in the 21st Century: FY 2022-24 O∆K Strategic Plan
    • Fast Facts
    • Leadership
      • Board of Trustees
      • Emeriti Trustees
      • Student Advisory Board
      • Staff
    • Governance
      • 2024 Elections for Student and Faculty/Staff Trustees
      • Articles of Incorporation
      • National Bylaws
      • Governing Committees
      • Operating Committees
      • Omicron Delta Kappa Policies and Procedures
    • History of the Society
      • Our Founders
      • Toward a More Inclusive Society
      • Women in Omicron Delta Kappa
      • Former National Presidents, Foundation Presidents, and Board Chairs
      • Circle Installations
    • Commitment to Diversity and Equal Opportunity
    • O∆K Jobs
  • Members
    • MyODK
    • Prospective Members
    • Collegiate Members
    • Lifetime Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Volunteer for O∆K
      • Become a National Level Volunteer
      • Help Our Circles Thrive
      • Governance and Fundraising Volunteer Opportunities
    • Update Your O∆K Record
    • Read The Circle
  • Programs
    • National Leadership Conference
      • 2023 National Leadership Conference
      • Past National Conventions
    • National Leadership and Service Awards
    • Scholarships
    • National Day of Service
      • National Day of Service Report
      • 2021 National Day of Service Stories
    • Clay Leadership Development Grants
    • Stone Ethical Leadership Challenge

Omicron Delta Kappa

Omicron Delta Kappa

The National Leadership Honor Society

  • About
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
      • Notable Members
      • Founders’ Day
    • Leading in the 21st Century: FY 2022-24 O∆K Strategic Plan
    • Fast Facts
    • Leadership
      • Board of Trustees
      • Emeriti Trustees
      • Student Advisory Board
      • Staff
    • Governance
      • 2024 Elections for Student and Faculty/Staff Trustees
      • Articles of Incorporation
      • National Bylaws
      • Governing Committees
      • Operating Committees
      • Omicron Delta Kappa Policies and Procedures
    • History of the Society
      • Our Founders
      • Toward a More Inclusive Society
      • Women in Omicron Delta Kappa
      • Former National Presidents, Foundation Presidents, and Board Chairs
      • Circle Installations
    • Commitment to Diversity and Equal Opportunity
    • O∆K Jobs
  • Members
    • MyODK
    • Prospective Members
    • Collegiate Members
    • Lifetime Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Volunteer for O∆K
      • Become a National Level Volunteer
      • Help Our Circles Thrive
      • Governance and Fundraising Volunteer Opportunities
    • Update Your O∆K Record
    • Read The Circle
  • Programs
    • National Leadership Conference
      • 2023 National Leadership Conference
      • Past National Conventions
    • National Leadership and Service Awards
    • Scholarships
    • National Day of Service
      • National Day of Service Report
      • 2021 National Day of Service Stories
    • Clay Leadership Development Grants
    • Stone Ethical Leadership Challenge
  • Circles
    • Find a Circle
    • Membership Fees
    • Circle Officers (Advisors and Student Officers)
      • Dates and Deadlines
      • Member Management System
      • Monthly Officer Updates Newsletter
      • Recruitment and Selection
      • Initiation
      • Branding, Templates, and Downloads
      • Circle Reports and Forms
      • Recognition and Awards
      • Webinars and Training
    • Resources to Promote Leadership Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Circle Programming and Practices
      • Andristine M. Robinson Champion Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Glossary of Terms
      • Key Fund
      • Organizations Advocating for Social Justice
      • Publications Focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Toward a More Inclusive Society
      • Websites Focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
    • Establish a New Circle
      • Extension Process
    • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
      • Annual Giving
      • Planned Giving
      • Charitable Gift Annuities
      • Heritage Society
    • The Campaign for Our Second Century
      • Campaign Giving Opportunities
      • 2023 Campaign Completion
      • Scholarships for Collegiate Members
      • Singer Grants (Gift of Membership)
      • Key Fund
      • Developing the Campus Leaders of Today
      • Collaborative Leadership Initiatives
      • Preservation, Renovation, and Expansion of National Headquarters
      • Campaign Initiatives Supported to Date
    • Gift Acceptance Policies
    • Endowment Information
    • State Charitable Registration Disclosures
    • National Day of Giving
  • Circles
    • Find a Circle
    • Membership Fees
    • Circle Officers (Advisors and Student Officers)
      • Dates and Deadlines
      • Member Management System
      • Monthly Officer Updates Newsletter
      • Recruitment and Selection
      • Initiation
      • Branding, Templates, and Downloads
      • Circle Reports and Forms
      • Recognition and Awards
      • Webinars and Training
    • Resources to Promote Leadership Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Circle Programming and Practices
      • Andristine M. Robinson Champion Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Glossary of Terms
      • Key Fund
      • Organizations Advocating for Social Justice
      • Publications Focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Toward a More Inclusive Society
      • Websites Focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
    • Establish a New Circle
      • Extension Process
    • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
      • Annual Giving
      • Planned Giving
      • Charitable Gift Annuities
      • Heritage Society
    • The Campaign for Our Second Century
      • Campaign Giving Opportunities
      • 2023 Campaign Completion
      • Scholarships for Collegiate Members
      • Singer Grants (Gift of Membership)
      • Key Fund
      • Developing the Campus Leaders of Today
      • Collaborative Leadership Initiatives
      • Preservation, Renovation, and Expansion of National Headquarters
      • Campaign Initiatives Supported to Date
    • Gift Acceptance Policies
    • Endowment Information
    • State Charitable Registration Disclosures
    • National Day of Giving

Monday Musings: Leading When You Aren’t Sure Others Will Follow

06 Oct

Posted by Tara Singer on October 6, 2014 • Miscellaneous

As my staff and our board members will tell you, I’ve spent the summer remodeling a house in the Virginia countryside. It’s been highly frustrating at times, but there have been several leadership opportunities during the whole process.  The most recent one occurred yesterday.

I was returning from my weekly trip to The Home Depot, and as I was driving back into the neighborhood, I noticed a cow grazing outside of the fence and along the side of the road. I could also see that one of his buddies was getting ready to escape.  Clearly, these were creatures who are accustomed to seeing humans because they barely looked up from eating the grass when I stopped the car.

cows

Over the last several months, I’ve met enough people in the community to try to figure out who to call about the bovine escapees. However, since I didn’t have all morning to wait for someone to arrive, I thought I would try to get them back into the field myself.  This may not have been the smartest idea given that these “calves” weigh about 400 pounds each.   When I told them to shoo, one complied quickly and went back into the field.  The other one, however, took some encouragement and a slightly more forceful tone to get over the broken fence board to return to his proper home.

 

The whole experience made me think about finding the courage to lead even when you aren’t certain if others are going to follow (I had no idea whether the cows would do as I asked).  Clearly, throughout our lives, there are no givens that just because we hold titles and positions that individuals will take direction or accept leadership from us.   However, there comes a day when one is the starting quarterback, the editor-in-chief, the orchestra conductor, running the research lab or presiding over the senate for the first time.  And at that moment, it is crucial for one to get over the butterflies and lead.

John C. Maxwell said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Clearly, preparation and practice help a lot as one enters a leadership role in knowing, going and showing the way.  It builds the confidence that one needs to exhibit in carrying out one’s responsibilities.

Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes and celebrates student leadership; however, our organization also offers educational programming and additional leadership occasions. Significantly, ODK provides individuals with connections to other leaders in the interest of learning from one another.  I hope that many of our members will join together in early 2015 for the regional drive-in programs to share reflections on finding the courage to lead.

There are no certainties in managing programs, directing individuals or getting cows out of the road, but one should embrace the opportunity to make a difference and lead.

Are You Part of the Leadership Brain Drain?The Theory of Attentional Leadership: Looking for the Boundaries of Leadership Theory and Practice

Primary Sidebar

Prospective Members Collegiate Members Lifetime Members Circle Officers

Recent Posts

  • Omicron Delta Kappa Welcomes Four New Trustees
  • Happy Independence Day from O∆K!
  • ODK is Hiring!
  • Omicron Delta Kappa Selects Jennifer L. Waller as its Next President and Chief Executive Officer
  • Texas A&M University–Commerce Awarded Charter for National Honor Society
Tweets by ODK1914

Footer

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Merit

Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved.
O∆K, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, is a member of the Honor Society Caucus.

 

Johnson Center for Leadership 
O∆K National Headquarters
224 McLaughlin Street
Lexington, Virginia 24450-2002
1-(540) 458-5336
odknhdq@odk.org

Privacy and Website Policy
Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Hazing Statements

Web Development by Charlottesville SEO Web Development, LLC

This site uses cookies to maintain the highest quality performance. By using this site you consent to our privacy and cookies policy.