Jimmy Lustig discusses the importance of community leadership and how you can take on that role.

1. How to
BE A LEADER IN
YOUR
COMMUNITY
J I M M Y L U S T I G

2. Being involved in your community is a great way to give
back. It helps you feel more connected to the place you live,
and can also help you meet other, like-minded individuals.
If you’re looking to take your community involvement,
consider adopting a leadership role.

3. W H Y S H O U L D Y O U B E A
C O M M U N I T Y L E A D E R ?
There are many benefits that come with being a leader in your community.
People will look up to you as a reliable figure who cares about their community.
Being a leader in your community gives you the chance to make a difference. You
get to see the impact you are having on others with the programs you help to
support.

4. O P P O R T U N I T Y F O R
G R O W T H
Leadership gives you an opportunity to
grow. Leading groups of people can be
very challenging and requires strong
people skills and confidence in your
abilities. Becoming a leader in your
community will help you develop your
leadership skills which will benefit you
in other areas of your life.

5. S O L V E P R O B L E M S
One of the strongest reasons for becoming a community leader is because
they’re needed. The more people who take on leadership roles, the more
problems that can be solved. Community leaders help to tackle issues such as
youth development, crime, and economic development, among others.

6. H O W D O Y O U B E C O M E A L E A D E R ?
Most people aren’t born natural leaders. Instead, they learn how to become strong
leaders.
Listen to the people in your community and learn what’s important to them. They
want to feel that their thoughts and input are valued. If they feel that they’re being
listened to, they will trust your leadership and in turn, become more engaged with
their community.

7. P U T Y O U R S E L F
I N T H E R O L E
Most likely, no one is going to
approach you about taking on a
leadership role. You need to put
yourself into that role. Understand
that you have valuable things to
offer and put yourself in the
position to showcase those. Put
yourself in a place where you are
able to step out as a leader. Attend
town hall meetings and speak up
and share your thoughts.

8. Set goals that you would like your community to meet.
Then, decide what meeting those goals in the short- and
long-term will look like, and how you can make that
happen. Come up with an action plan for making your
community a better place, and follow through with it.