All too often, we have been led by people who did not model effective leadership. As a result, we don’t have models in our minds of what truly effective leadership should be like. This warm-up activity explores leadership, and makes a fun beginning to any leadership workshop.

Introduce the topic: “The focus of this activity is to recall our experiences as adults when we were followers. We want to identify the qualities that were exhibited by both the best and the worst leaders we’ve known.”

“In small groups you will talk about the worst leaders you’ve had and then the best leaders. The objective of this activity is to identify the actual qualities of both the best and worst leaders we’ve known.”

Form small groups of 4 to 6 people around tables. Provide two large pieces of flipchart paper and two colored markers to each group.

Give directions: “On the first piece of paper, brainstorm the qualities you saw in people who exhibited the worst kind of leadership toward you and others. Make your list as long as you want.”

Keep track of the time and then call attention back to you.

Give directions: “Brainstorm the qualities you saw in those who exhibited the best kind of leadership toward you and others. Make your list as long as you want.”

Have the groups use the second colored marker for this.

Keep track of the time and then call attention back to you

Have each group post its lists on the wall. Ask the large group to compare lists, looking for similarities and differences.

Ask individuals to reflect on which qualities they possess from the “Best” list and from the “Worst” list. Have them list the qualities they possess that will help them be effective leaders and the qualities that could inhibit their achievement of effective leadership. Suggest that they think of ways to eliminate or improve the inhibiting qualities.