Leadership is a choice.

Welcome to Take the Lead, the new blog for Leadership UB, the Rosenberg Center for Student Involvement's Leadership Certification Program.

This is a place to discuss leadership, in every facet and every way it affects our daily lives. The world needs great leaders now more than ever. Never before has it been more important to recognize that the potential for great leadership lies within each of us.

Note that I said that the potential lies within us, not necessarily great leadership itself. Great leadership requires action and determination, skill and execution, and occasionally, just a bit of wit. Potential that isn't acted upon is nothing more than a vanity exercise (and sometimes it's not even that).

Someone once said "whether you think you're a leader or not, you're right." Actually, that quote probably works for a lot of things, but it works especially well for leadership. Think about what that quote means. You are fully capable of convincing yourself that you cannot lead. You're also fully capable of convincing yourself that you can. It's all up to you.

No matter your position within an organization or group, you have the ability to influence others and create change.

That's not to say that it's easy. Anyone who tries to lead a group, organization or community, will face significant barriers. They may even face a moment of total doubt, when the situation is grim and success seems impossible. These are the times when we most need to rely on skilled leadership, along with a quality that cannot be fabricated or replicated: An internal fire. The determination to succeed.

Leadership is a choice. Whether you believe that leaders are born are made, you must recognize that they are nothing if they do not choose to lead. In fact, you might say there's a third option: Leaders make themselves.

Consider ways you can make a positive change in your group, organization or community. Realize that the first step is believing that you can. Understand that you have access to tremendous resources, a powerful network, and the support you need to get things done, if only you know where to look.

One such resource is Leadership UB, the Rosenberg Center for Student Involvement's leadership certification program at the University of Baltimore. Visit www.ubalt.edu/leadership to review our Spring 2009 schedule and a full range of activities that can help you develop your leadership skills, and earn certification as an Emerging, Established and Experienced leader. Our program is primarily for students, but is also open to University of Baltimore faculty, staff and alumni, as well as the community at large.

Feel free to use this space to suggest ways you can make a difference in your group, organization or community. There has never been a better time to decide to take the lead.

For more information, e-mail leadership@ubalt.edu or call the Rosenberg Center for Student Involvement at 410.837.5419. Please feel free to comment here and return often for weekly articles on leadership by scholars, presenters and participants involved in Leadership UB.