To Become a Leader SynopsisBecoming a leader in today's world can be a daunting task. The world has become a complex mix of technical innovation, global competition, and moral and ethical collapse. In the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis, Bennis (2009) said: “The scene is littered with flawed and disappointing leaders.” Leadership theologians have had to rewrite their scripts to insert current historical leadership indiscretions, in the hopes that future leaders will not follow in the footsteps of denounced leaders of the past. It's easy for those of us today to look back and see what not to do, but it's also fair to say that going forward, some leaders experience leadership paralysis in due to the side effects of poor leadership practices. In this leadership crisis, what can we do today to break away from it and become an effective leader? Papers from leadership authors John C. Maxwell, A. Kolp & P. ​​Rea, and Warren Bennis will be used in the coming pages in hopes of answering this question. I want to become a leader. Organizations have learned that it is essential to invest in future leaders and have begun offering mentoring and leadership training. Now is the time to seize your opportunity, but you can't take advantage of it until you first do the groundwork inside (Maxwell, 2003). Maxwell and Kolp & Rea believe that becoming a leader requires character, integrity, morals and ethics. Some of these leadership traits are inherent while others are learned and it is possible that you can change who you are in order to be what you want to be. The two basic thoughts about ethics are: First and foremost, you need to make sense of your ...... middle of paper ...... Character Mistreating others Trusting others Distrusting others Communicating Avoid conflict Build others up Blame others Do good, no matter the cost Don't do Don't neglect others. These are just some of the do's and don'ts that are important for leadership. As we know, becoming a leader is not a straight path, it is fraught with twists and turns, often an agonizing process that involves dead ends and quick stops and starts before progress is visible. “Too many leaders forget that they are under surveillance and could be called to account at any time. They forget that something that is legal does not mean that it is right. And they forget that what the public gives, they can take back” (Bennis 2009). Finally, in the class readings it has been said many times that it is wise to remember that as a leader it is not enough to do things well, but it is necessary to do the right things things..