Self-Understanding: Over the fifteen years of my life (nine of which involved 4-H) I have come to realize that speaking out loud has never been my strong point. My tongue gets knotted, I get nervous and distracted. Last year I took two overnight or longer trips alone. Of all the things I struggled with, it was getting out of my comfort zone and just talking to people. On the other hand, I also realized that I love writing and that I'm also good at it. Understanding yourself as a leader means realizing what you are and are not good at. Putting yourself in charge of something you're terrible at (for me that would be public speaking) will end badly for everyone else. Instead, take a step back and realize what you can do, not what you want to do. I can be the one coming up with the ideas, doing the research, or putting the document together, but I have to let someone else provide the lines for me. Communication: I have served as president of my 4-H club for the past two years and the thing I dislike most about the office are the blank stares and cricket-worthy silence I sometimes receive after asking a question. There are many things that can help you communicate as a leader, but one of the most important is being the person who can motivate a group to communicate. Taking the extra step to get someone interested in a topic/activity can be difficult, but it's so worth it in the end. Never deny someone the right to speak, never belittle their opinions, and always encourage them to encourage others. Getting along with others: Despite all the traits I struggle with, getting along with others has never been one of them. I'm a bit of an introvert, but once someone...is halfway there...their skills are essential to a show running smoothly. The bubbly nine-year-old might work better selling hot dogs than recording contestants. Resources can also be a person's individual abilities. Working with Others: Working with others requires all six of the above skills with a particular emphasis on getting along. Working and getting along should be almost synonymous in this context. At this year's Teen Conference we were faced with the challenge of assembling a structure that wouldn't break when an egg was dropped from a ladder. Our first act, before even touching our supplies, was to get to know each other. Soon we had one person recording things together, another cutting up bits of tape, and the rest of us brainstorming. We all had fun with the activity and stayed in touch for the rest of the night and the next morning. Our egg was the only one that didn't break.