Take Charge and Lead!

You might think leadership is only for big shots, CEOs or politicians. But the truth is, everyone who succeeds in life needs to lead.

Even if you’re not the official boss in your group, you lead your coworkers and friends when you set good examples. You lead your family members when you give them good advice. You lead yourself when you decide to do what is right.

Everyone, especially you, can be an awesome leader if you use this important leadership tip.

“The leader is that one who emotionally affects* others most strongly toward positive action.” – L. Ron Hubbard (*affects = influences or stirs up feelings)

In other words, leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about influence. You get people to act in constructive ways.

You can take charge and be a leader with these three steps.

Step 1: Decide Which Positive Actions You Want

A positive action is anything that makes life better—for you and for others.

Negative actions include lying, cheating, being critical or avoiding responsibility. Groups and society get worse.

Positive actions include providing a valuable service, showing people how to do better work  and helping unhappy people become happy.

Ask yourself: “What good, constructive and beneficial actions do I want people around me to do?”

Your answer is your leadership mission.

Here are 20 examples.

20 Examples of Positive Actions

Success & Achievement
  1. Help my friends make more money
  2. Encourage my coworkers to get promoted or earn their dream jobs
  3. Guide others to start and grow successful businesses
  4. Motivate my team to win the monthly production or sales game
  5. Inspire others to achieve financial freedom with no debts and steady income
Health & Lifestyle
  1. Get my brother to break his bad health habits
  2. Encourage my friends to reach and maintain their ideal weight
  3. Lead others to enjoy high energy and excellent physical fitness
  4. Help my coworkers live free from stress or anxiety
  5. Inspire my family to sleep deeply and wake up refreshed every day
Relationships & Family
  1. Create a happy, supportive family everyone enjoys being part of
  2. Show my spouse how to build a loving and lasting marriage
  3. Teach my kids to become confident, kind, and successful
  4. Encourage my friends to strengthen their relationships and create harmony
  5. Surround myself with positive, motivated people—and help them stay that way
Personal Growth & Happiness
  1. Show my kids how to feel confident and self-reliant in any situation
  2. Inspire others to enjoy each day with genuine happiness and purpose
  3. Help my team master valuable skills and talents
  4. Lead my friends to stay enthusiastic, no matter what happens
  5. Encourage everyone around me to set and achieve their own goals

Step 2: Decide Which Emotions You Want to Use

The great leaders throughout history all have one thing in common: they emotionally affected others. They made people feel hope, confidence and enthusiasm. They didn’t just present facts and information; they ignited passion. They made people want to take action.

For example, Martin Luther King Jr. painted a vivid picture of a dream that stirred souls. Steve Jobs invited people to “think different” and join a computer revolution. Abraham Lincoln connected with people so deeply, they loved and supported him, and he made them laugh.

When you use feelings to inspire people, you get bigger results.

Leaders do this with emotional connection—not by force or facts, but by example and inspiration.

Who has emotionally affected you to take positive action? Maybe a teacher who made you study with passion. Or a coach who motivated you to give 110%. Or a boss who brought out the best in you.

They were your leaders. You can be like them to be a leader, as well. You just need to emotionally influence people to accomplish your leadership mission from Step 1.

How?

Ask yourself: “What do people need to feel to take the positive actions I want?” “What emotions do I want them to have?”

Enthusiasm? Hope? Excitement?

Here are 25 examples.

25 Ways to Stir Up Emotions

Inspire & Activate
  1. Confidence – Make others believe success is possible.
  2. Enthusiasm – Energize people to take action now.
  3. Hope – Give others a vision of a better future.
  4. Courage – Help people face fears and move forward anyway.
  5. Determination – Push teams through obstacles.
  6. Joy – Create an atmosphere where achievement feels good.
Trust & Appreciation
  1. Compassion – Build trust and loyalty through genuine care.
  2. Admiration – Make people feel valued and appreciated.
  3. Gratitude – Strengthen relationships and morale.
  4. Optimism – Lift others out of doubt and discouragement.
Uplift & Unite
  1. Pride (in others) – Inspire higher performance and self-respect.
  2. Excitement – Spark creativity and new ideas.
  3. Respect – Encourage cooperation and unity.
Steady & Encourage
  1. Patience – Calm tension and keep progress steady.
  2. Trust – Build confidence and mutual reliability.
  3. Inspiration – Awaken others’ dreams and ambitions.
Purpose & Drive
  1. Compelling Passion – Make people want to join your cause.
  2. Curiosity – Open minds and encourage learning.
  3. Duty – Create deep commitment.
Empower & Steady
  1. Confidence in Others – Make people rise to your expectations.
  2. Calmness – Bring stability during chaos or stress.
  3. Sense of Humor – Relieve pressure and make work enjoyable.
Integrity & Meaning
  1. Fairness – Inspire respect and cooperation.
  2. Purpose – Give meaning to every action.
  3. Belief – Transfer conviction and certainty that the goal will be achieved.

Step 3: Emotionally Affect Others

Once you have identified the emotions you want to stir up in others from Step #2, you can lead them to your positive actions from Step #1.

You do not need permission or ideal conditions first. Just find the best methods for you and just do it.

What methods?

You can copy leaders you love to follow. What do they say or do that moves you? Is it their passion? Their authenticity? Their belief in what’s possible?

You can set an example of the emotions you picked in Step #2. If you want people to have hope, show hope. If you want them to be cheerful, be cheerful.

Another powerful method is to use the Emotional Tone Scale and bring people up the scale. Your knowledge and skill with this scale gives you a big advantage as a leader.

Here are 15 more.

15 Examples of Using Emotions to Lead

Inspire and Motivate
  1. Tell short, vivid stories that show the benefit of the positive action you seek.
  2. Generate energy by being loudly enthusiastic! Show your enthusiasm with your body and voice.
  3. Paint a clear, attractive vision of a better future that people can see in their imaginations.
  4. Show them how your path is part of something bigger.
  5. Customize your approach. Some people need different emotions to get them into action.
Support and Encourage
  1. Listen and understand what people are facing. Show how your positive actions will help them.
  2. Validate and praise people when they take positive action to your leadership goals.
  3. Thank everyone for their contributions toward your group goals.
  4. Give your time and help so people never feel alone.
  5. Show your confidence in people. Tell them how you believe they can do it.
Guide and Energize
  1. Use humor to reduce fear and lower resistance to change.
  2. Discuss the negative consequences of not acting.
  3. Provide concrete steps so the path to big goals is always clear for those who wish to join you.
  4. Use targets or deadlines to create urgency.
  5. Openly celebrate all wins, small and large, to create positive momentum.

The Dark Side of Leadership

These same three steps are used by anti-social leaders resulting in harm, death and destruction. They promise positive action so they can take power, but end up causing ruin and suffering.

For example, Hitler promised to restore pride and prosperity to a broken Germany. He inspired hope through fiery speeches, parades and his book. His emotional control over millions led to war and mass murder.

Positive leaders use emotion to give hope and direction resulting in more power and wealth to everyone.

Destructive leaders use emotion to control and divide people for their personal power and wealth.

The difference lies in their purposes.

The Tale of Two Managers

Terry manages a grocery store in Salem, Oregon. Chris manages another store in Fresno, California. Both want a promotion to Regional Manager.

Terry focuses on enforcing rules: “Be on time.” “Do your job.” “Follow procedures.”

Chris also expects discipline—but she goes further: “Good job with the oranges!” “I think you might be a good manager someday.”

Who do you think people love to work for? Whose store has better morale and stability?

Who would you promote to Regional Manager: Terry or Chris?

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Terry’s Approach

  • Focuses on rules and compliance
  • Emphasizes being on time
  • Carefully watches each worker
  • Maintains order and routines
  • Manages through authority

Chris’s Approach

  • Invests time in developing people
  • Personally coaches future leaders
  • Helps her team get raises and promotions
  • Builds careers
  • Speaks with loud, contagious enthusiasm

10 Benefits of Leading

1. You Build Self-Confidence

Every time you make a decision, influence someone or take initiative, your self-confidence increases.

2. You Earn Respect

People respect those who take charge, stay positive and help them succeed.

3. You Get New Opportunities

When people believe you can handle important projects, they offer options to you. They trust you can make things happen.

4. You Master More People Skills

Leading forces you to understand different personalities, emotions and motivations. People love working with you.

5. You Make a Bigger Difference

Instead of just living for yourself, leadership allows you to do more good for more people.

6. You Earn Greater Rewards

Leadership brings greater personal satisfaction, better pay and longer-term security.

7. You Can Pick Your Games

Instead of waiting for others to take action, you create your own path. You get to play the games you want to play.

8. You Attract Positive People

You also get to pick the people who you work with. The better you lead, the greater your team.

9. You Feel Fulfilled

Helping others by leading them to success brings a deep sense of pride, purpose and joy. You earn one of life’s most satisfying achievements.

10. You Create New Growth and Opportunities

Leaders can see, create and act on bigger and better opportunities. You are a game player, not a game piece.

Action Plan: Take Charge and Be a Great Leader

You can now boost your success by being a great leader with these steps.

1. List the people you want to lead.
2. What positive actions do you want them to do?
3. What emotions will get them to do these things?
4. How will you use these emotions to lead them?
5. When will you start leading them?

By doing this, you take charge and lead your team — in the game of your choice!

Leadership Quiz
How well can you lead
people in real situations?
Take the Quiz →