Being a role model is a huge responsibility. People look up to you and want to be like you. The term role model can mean different things to different people. For some, a role model is someone who they aspire to be like. Someone who is successful and has a lot of admirable qualities. For others, a role model might be someone they know personally. A friend or family member who they look up to and respect.
Be Yourself
Some people go their entire lives without examining or understanding their true selves. They let others tell them who they are. They let society determine their goals and dreams. Value the person you are, and love your personality. Focus on the qualities that make you special–not what other people expect you to be. Not everyone will like you. No problem. Being a good role model is all about answering to yourself, not to the people around you.
Act Confidently
For people to believe in you and want to be like you, they need to perceive a high level of confidence in you. However, you do not need to be arrogant. Role models have faith in their own capabilities without being arrogant. Being confident revolves around knowing your self-worth and your strengths, while arrogance centres on feelings of self-importance. Good role models know how to believe in themselves without feeling bigger than others. When you are arrogant, people will be repelled by you, and will not look up to you. You don’t want someone who is down or tries to bring you down. Everyone likes a person who is happy with their achievements but continues to strive for bigger and better objectives.
Be Good at What you do
People will only look up to you if you are talented and good at what you do. No matter what it is that you do, try to improve. Grow. Practice. Believe in your abilities. The more you’re willing to learn and grow, the more of a role model you’ll be to the people around you. Never be complacent. If you don’t seek or take advantage of opportunities your skills become stale. Doing the same thing over and over gets boring. You remain invisible. In this highly competitive planet, there are many people who would love your job. If you have been doing just enough to get by, beware. You must continue to add value and meet and exceed expectations to keep your job.
Carry others Along
A good role model is a leader. He is admired for his ability to carry people along. Collaborative teams are more productive and increase innovation. Give your peers opportunities to improve. Take a moment to acknowledge how hard your teammate has worked and give good advice. Remind your teammates that they’re capable of really great things, and they can accomplish just about anything if they put their minds to it. Treat everyone equally, and don’t give out special favours to a certain handful of people. If you notice someone acting or behaving unfairly, don’t be afraid to call them out, either! True integrity involves holding everyone accountable, including yourself.
Show Respect
A role model is usually successful in some aspects of his life, and that is why people want to be like you. They want to be like you because you are driven, successful, and smart. But whether you choose to show respect or not speaks volumes about how other people see you. Everyone notices if you are taking people for granted, not showing gratitude, or stepping on others to get ahead.
Be Optimistic
No one wants to be like a sulky, pessimistic person. Being a good role model is all about learning how to make the best out of a bad situation. Be positive. Your peers will appreciate your optimism, and look up to you in a crisis. You will become a beacon of hope in times of need.
True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have, and those who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people. They help us to advocate for ourselves and take a leadership position on the issues that we believe in.
When you choose a good role model, your goal isn’t to become that person. You’ll still have your own unique good qualities. Nevertheless, having good role models will help bring out your best as you grow to adulthood. Not only that but by following their example, you will become a good role model for others.
