Rural Leadership: Investing in Our Future

We know it’s important, but what really is rural leadership? It is the leadership of less populated areas further from more urban cities or spaces. This form of leadership originates in smaller communities based off of a common interest. In communities with less resources, leaders often emerge to resolve a problem, or conflict.

Leadership is important in any area, but rural leaders face a unique set of challenges due to their limited population and resources. Rural leaders must think ahead, adapt, and build strong relationships to ensure a vibrant future for their communities. Rural leaders must also possess the ability to lead their rural communities and to affect change in their area. They must have a deep understanding of the social, political, economic, and environmental issues facing their communities. Similarly, they must be able to lead solutions and initiatives to address the specific outcomes they are working on. They should also possess the skills to work with diverse individuals and groups that may influence their ability to lead their community in a positive way. Rural leaders should also strive to build strong relationships with other rural leaders and organizations to collaborate on improving and developing rural communities.

While these skills may seem like they require a very specific person, the biggest skill that a rural leader must possess is a passion to work toward a positive change.

Rural leaders are an important part of a community’s development. Leaders set the pace and guide their communities toward a brighter future. While each rural leader’s role will differ in how they are involved, without someone to lead positive change things remain stagnant.

If you look closely, your community is likely run by many talented, passionate, and involved leaders. They may be involved in the city council, church board, a board of directors for a non-profit organization, volunteers at events, or the people out making a difference in their own way. Leaders make the world go round, but in rural communities, they are a sheer requirement for any sort of progression.

Ultimately, rural leadership is essential for sustainable long-term development in rural areas – it is what creates the future of rural life and provide a better quality of life for local and rural populations.

Identifying rural leaders can be a challenge; however, the right leader makes all the difference in outcomes.

It might be easy to get caught up in the specific traits that seem to be required as a leader, but the desire to inspire, passion, and gumption are the most important skills required in being or becoming a leader.

While consideration should be given to the person’s qualifications and experience, the ability to mobilize, inspire, and unify the community is likely to foster greater change. A leader needs to be able to inspire and motivate people by generating enthusiasm, setting achievable objectives, and following through. They should also be able to build trust and strengthen bonds within the community. A leader can be anyone who desires to inspire change, they don’t have to be a CEO or senior level executive to lead. This is why McLeod For Tomorrow helps inspire leaders and grow their strengths so they can work together with their communities, organizations, and employers to lead in a way that suits their goals.