Practicing Leadership as a Young Person



Have you ever imagined this thought experiment?

If you had to choose between one million dollars in cash or having 100 true fans who believe in your vision and follow your lead—what would you choose?

Of course, most of us haven’t been in that situation for real. But asking this kind of question helps us reflect on what truly matters. It makes us more honest with ourselves.

Humans are social by nature. From the moment we left the African continent to explore the world—from the Bering Strait to Laguna del Carbón—we’ve always worked in groups to overcome challenges and uncover the unknown. It’s part of who we are.

And that’s where leadership comes in.

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
— Warren Bennis

At some point in life, we all need to develop leadership skills—whether it’s leading a school project, managing a sports team, or guiding a professional team at work. Being a leader doesn’t mean being the boss; it means having the ability to inspire others, to create a shared vision, and to bring people together to achieve something bigger than themselves.

Even having 10 real teammates who believe in your dream can completely change the game. It makes the process more enjoyable, more meaningful, and much more powerful.



Two Simple Leadership Habits to Practice

You don’t need to read a thousand books or watch endless videos (though they do help!). Here are two practical habits every young leader—especially IB students like us—should start developing:

1. Define a Clear and Inspiring Vision

Before you even begin a project, ask yourself:
Why are we doing this?
That “why” becomes your vision—the heartbeat of your team. It’s what unites people and motivates them during tough times.

“A clear purpose drives motivation, commitment, and direction.”
— Angela Duckworth

Your vision doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated. In fact, the best ones are deep, simple, and easy to understand. Whether you're planning a CAS project or launching a club, your team needs to feel the purpose behind their effort.



2. Give Everyone a Role and a Reason

Once your vision is clear, sit down (or hop on a call) with each member and talk about their individual role.
Let them know:

  • What they’re responsible for

  • Why their work matters to the big picture

  • What problem they’re helping solve

Even if the task seems small or unrelated, it still counts. Think about it—someone has to clean the office of NASA’s director, right? That person is part of the mission to explore space.

Whether you're an IB student planning a CAS initiative, or a young professional starting your first leadership role, these two steps—defining a vision and giving people a reason to care—are essential.

Start by inviting people into your idea. Share your thoughts with them. When they believe in your purpose, they’ll want to walk the path with you. From there, take it one step at a time.

“True leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed.”
— Sheryl Sandberg

Let’s keep leading, growing, and learning—together.

— Amin Sediqi