Discover a leader and become one!
Introduction
Hello and welcome to this WebQuest!
As Warren Bennis - pioneer of the contemporary field of Leadership studies - once wrote “Biographies of great leaders sometimes read as if they entered the world with an extraordinary genetic endowment as if their future leadership role was preordained. Do not believe it. The truth is that major capacities and competencies of leadership can be learned if the basic desire to learn them exists.”
In this WebQuest, we will be going on a very interesting adventure! You will have the opportunity to meet some of today’s most inspirational people – influencers from all around the world - and talk to them. You will be able to learn more about them and identify which are the success factors and characteristics that transform an ordinary man into an extraordinary leader!
It’s important to remember that leaders are not born that way, they’re made!
It’s important to remember that leaders are not born that way, they’re made!
As Warren Bennis - pioneer of the contemporary field of Leadership studies - once wrote “Biographies of great leaders sometimes read as if they entered the world with an extraordinary genetic endowment as if their future leadership role was preordained. Do not believe it. The truth is that major capacities and competencies of leadership can be learned if the basic desire to learn them exists.”
If you have the desire to find which these capacities and competencies are, this webquest is exactly for you!
Did we catch your interest? If so, get ready to take this adventure and fully immerse yourself in a world of leaders!
Task
The goal of this WebQuest is to help you discover the leader in you by defining the most important characteristics that determine one and then try to demonstrate them in front of the others in the group.
This webquest is best executed within a group of 5 to 10 people, however, it requires a great deal of individual work. Each of you should select one inspirational person to research (please, see the “Useful links” section). In your research, you must identify the main characteristics/ traits that make the selected leader an actual leader according to you. But, hey! You should keep the leader’s identity a secret from the others in the room because later on, you will have to become this person!
You will have to present 5 things which made the leader of your choice stand out to you and which could make other learners get a hint of who the leader actually is.
This webquest is best executed within a group of 5 to 10 people, however, it requires a great deal of individual work. Each of you should select one inspirational person to research (please, see the “Useful links” section). In your research, you must identify the main characteristics/ traits that make the selected leader an actual leader according to you. But, hey! You should keep the leader’s identity a secret from the others in the room because later on, you will have to become this person!
You will have to present 5 things which made the leader of your choice stand out to you and which could make other learners get a hint of who the leader actually is.
Process
This webquest is best executed in groups consisting of 5 to 10 people. Steps from 1 to 5 are executed individually by each people in the group. The group effort starts in step 6, when the meetings with great leaders will be held :-)
Excited to meet the leaders already? Then follow these simple steps and enjoy:
1. Define Leadership.
At this step you need to use the online resources provided in the useful links section and additional resource, if needed, in order to build your own perception of what leadership is. After completing this research phase, write down your definition.
2. Find out what are the most important characteristics of a good leader!
Thanks to step 1, you already know what leadership is. Now it’s time to comprehend what you need to be a great leader! You should go through the useful links section and research what are the most important characteristics, qualities and personal traits that a leader must have. Based on your findings, pick the 5 most important characteristics of a leader, according to your opinion.
3. Find out a leader who inspires you!
At this stage, each of you needs to research and read about famous leaders – such could be contemporary entrepreneurs (Steve Jobs, Sir. Richard Branson, etc.), historical figures (Alexander the Great), inventors (Thomas Edison), athletes (Grigor Dimitrov), actors (Brad Pitt). Based on the top traits of a good leader you drafted in step 2, think of a famous person who you think possesses them. Use search engines (e.g. Google, yahoo, etc.) and video materials (youtube, vimeo, etc.) to find out more about this leader and his/her life.
Remember keep the leader’s name a secret from the others in the group ;)
4. Process the information!
Based on everything you found about the leaders you chose, think about what made them stand out, what was the most distinguishable about them that stroke you while you were trying to learn about this leader’s life. Now think about the others in the group and think about how you can present your leader to them without saying who he/she actually is. Think of 5 things which represent the person who you chose in step 3 – these things could be business related, personality related, events in the leader’s life, issues that they solved.
5. Make the presentation!
Use multimedia (PowerPoint, Prezi, other tools) to present the 5 things which made the leader of your choice stand out to you and which could make other learners get a hint about who the leader actually is.
There are a couple of catches, though:
- You should talk in first-person point of view (imagining you are this leader) – “I’m 30 years old… I did this and this”
- You shouldn’t mention the name of the leader as, though, you are the leader and you shouldn’t mention the name of companies or other names that can directly point to the person. Focus on achievements, situations which happened in the leader’s life and could hint the others in the group about who the person is.
- Do not use pictures of the leader in the presentation.
6. Guess the leader!
At this step, the group effort should kick in! The other learners in the group should guess who the leader is by backing up their responses. If it’s difficult for them, you can give them little hints.
7. Why this leader?
After guessing the leader, each of you should say which are the 5 most important characteristics of a leader (you have already identified them in step 2) according to you and why do you think the leader you presented to everyone has them. Explain to the others what you found on the web during your research that made you believe this person possesses these qualities.
8. Voice your opinion!
At this stage, the others in the group should discuss whether they agree with your opinion as to why the respective leader possesses the 5 most important characteristics presented by you. Each of the other learners in the group should comment whether they agree or disagree and argument their answer.
Excited to meet the leaders already? Then follow these simple steps and enjoy:
1. Define Leadership.
At this step you need to use the online resources provided in the useful links section and additional resource, if needed, in order to build your own perception of what leadership is. After completing this research phase, write down your definition.
2. Find out what are the most important characteristics of a good leader!
Thanks to step 1, you already know what leadership is. Now it’s time to comprehend what you need to be a great leader! You should go through the useful links section and research what are the most important characteristics, qualities and personal traits that a leader must have. Based on your findings, pick the 5 most important characteristics of a leader, according to your opinion.
3. Find out a leader who inspires you!
At this stage, each of you needs to research and read about famous leaders – such could be contemporary entrepreneurs (Steve Jobs, Sir. Richard Branson, etc.), historical figures (Alexander the Great), inventors (Thomas Edison), athletes (Grigor Dimitrov), actors (Brad Pitt). Based on the top traits of a good leader you drafted in step 2, think of a famous person who you think possesses them. Use search engines (e.g. Google, yahoo, etc.) and video materials (youtube, vimeo, etc.) to find out more about this leader and his/her life.
Remember keep the leader’s name a secret from the others in the group ;)
4. Process the information!
Based on everything you found about the leaders you chose, think about what made them stand out, what was the most distinguishable about them that stroke you while you were trying to learn about this leader’s life. Now think about the others in the group and think about how you can present your leader to them without saying who he/she actually is. Think of 5 things which represent the person who you chose in step 3 – these things could be business related, personality related, events in the leader’s life, issues that they solved.
5. Make the presentation!
Use multimedia (PowerPoint, Prezi, other tools) to present the 5 things which made the leader of your choice stand out to you and which could make other learners get a hint about who the leader actually is.
There are a couple of catches, though:
- You should talk in first-person point of view (imagining you are this leader) – “I’m 30 years old… I did this and this”
- You shouldn’t mention the name of the leader as, though, you are the leader and you shouldn’t mention the name of companies or other names that can directly point to the person. Focus on achievements, situations which happened in the leader’s life and could hint the others in the group about who the person is.
- Do not use pictures of the leader in the presentation.
6. Guess the leader!
At this step, the group effort should kick in! The other learners in the group should guess who the leader is by backing up their responses. If it’s difficult for them, you can give them little hints.
7. Why this leader?
After guessing the leader, each of you should say which are the 5 most important characteristics of a leader (you have already identified them in step 2) according to you and why do you think the leader you presented to everyone has them. Explain to the others what you found on the web during your research that made you believe this person possesses these qualities.
8. Voice your opinion!
At this stage, the others in the group should discuss whether they agree with your opinion as to why the respective leader possesses the 5 most important characteristics presented by you. Each of the other learners in the group should comment whether they agree or disagree and argument their answer.
Evaluation and Learning Outcomes
After the completion of this webquest, learners will be able to:
| Knowledge | Skills | Attitudes |
| · basic knowledge about leadership · basic knowledge about the most important traits of leaders · basic knowledge of presentation techniques |
· identify useful information in relation to leadership and important qualities of a good leader · research, gather and systematize information · see things from another person’s perspective · make use of multimedia tools to communicate information present in front of an audience · listen actively with a view to constructively engage and collaborate with others |
· create own perception of what leadership is · create own perception of the most important traits/qualities of a leader · adjust own communication style in accordance with the target audience · perceive other people’s opinion in a constructive manner · argue one’s point of view · show confidence and belief in one’s self and ideas |
Conclusion
Effective Leadership Starts by Learning to Walk in another Person's Shoes :-)
Useful links
What is leadership?
Business dictionary: Definition of leadership
A definition of leadership for these pressing times
What is leadership?
Leadership qualities
8 Characteristics of Great Leaders
Top 10 Leadership Qualities That Make Good Leaders
CNN: 23 traits of good leaders
101 Best Leadership Skills, Traits & Qualities – The Complete List
Leaders’ databases
Harvard Business School: Great American Business Leaders of the 20th century
World Political Leaders (database)
BBC, History, Historic Figures (database)
Biographies of Notable People - Fact Monster
Business dictionary: Definition of leadership
A definition of leadership for these pressing times
What is leadership?
Leadership qualities
8 Characteristics of Great Leaders
Top 10 Leadership Qualities That Make Good Leaders
CNN: 23 traits of good leaders
101 Best Leadership Skills, Traits & Qualities – The Complete List
Leaders’ databases
Harvard Business School: Great American Business Leaders of the 20th century
World Political Leaders (database)
BBC, History, Historic Figures (database)
Biographies of Notable People - Fact Monster
Videos
