Lcpl HancockHMLA-469LeadershipLeadership is defined as: “a person who guides or directs a group or people”. A good leader must be able to instruct subordinates tactfully, ensuring that they reach their full potential and receiving all the help they need. In the Marine Corps, leadership is an important aspect of daily life. If you want to advance in the Corps, you must demonstrate good leadership skills. Taking responsibility for your actions, being there for other Marines, and leading by example are essential to being a good leader. Taking responsibility for your actions means that when you make a mistake or do something wrong, you accept it and hold yourself responsible for what happened. . A good leader must admit when he or she makes a mistake or an error in judgment. After admitting it, a leader must accept the consequences of his actions. Accepting responsibility and consequences can be difficult because it can feel like admitting that you are weak, helpless, or have the opportunity to lose the respect of others. However, by accepting it, we gain the respect of others. Additionally, by accepting responsibility for our mistakes, it allows us to accept it for our accomplishments. In our job as airframe mechanics, we have our permanent employees who must take responsibility for the calls they make. The consequences of their choices are far greater than most. When you make a decision to do or not do something, you need to consider the possible consequences of that choice and whether you are willing to accept responsibility for it. A quote from Jim Rohn states: “You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change circumstances, seasons or the wind, but you can change yourself. To me, that means he should strive to be the best he can be so he can expect the same from his young Marines and earn their respect. By disobeying traffic and flight rules, I was setting a bad example. How can I expect someone newer than me to do the right thing if I don't? I can't. Being a good leader means being a good role model, someone others can look up to and strive to be like. Someone who is physically fit, has a good attitude, looks good and obeys the rules. A good leader must be on the front lines, showing how things should be done, doing whatever it takes to complete the mission. Good leaders take responsibility for their actions, they are there for other Marines, and they lead by example. Good leaders are not born, they are made. It comes from experience, from the mistakes and mistakes they make and from which they grow. A good leader is a Marine who has taken the next step. Semper Fidelis.