Why You Should Strive To Be The Black Sheep | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Why You Should Strive To Be The Black Sheep

The importance of leadership.

869
Why You Should Strive To Be The Black Sheep
Modern Farmer

If you’ve heard phrase black sheep, then you’ll understand the deeply intertwined metaphor I’m about to use. Amidst a herd of white wooly sheep, you may once in a while stumble upon a black wooly sheep. Sticking out like a sore thumb, this particular animal stands out amidst the herd and is recognized from afar because his particular quality, being his color, is distinct and recognizable.

Now I use this metaphor in the world of sports, with applicability to business, because being a leader means being a black sheep. Your individual qualities are indeed distinct and recognizable, enough so that your fellow teammates, co-workers and peers respect and value what you bring forth. I have been on more teams than I can count on both hands to realize what good leadership is.

And for anyone, I am assuming you’ve come across some incredible leaders and some not-so-incredible leaders. If you think back to “the best captain or boss you’ve ever had,” I can logically assume that one, perhaps two people come to mind. Or what about if I used the words “honest, hardworking, loyal or selfless,” I bet those same people would also come to mind.

The thing about leadership is that everyone has the potential to be a leader. But not everyone can be a black sheep. What I mean by that, is black sheep are the most experienced and influential leaders -- they create Championship teams, distinguished corporations and are able to bring out the gray sheep who have the potential overtime to fall into the role of a black sheep.

On any given team or within any business, you may have 10 leaders, all with different capabilities and characteristics that add to the group dynamic. Some may be hard workers, some may be silent leaders, and others may be vocal. Some may demonstrate traits of incredible kindness, and other may show traits of selflessness. The black sheep, however, harnesses several of these key qualities and demonstrates them on a daily basis. This is what separates the black sheep from the white, as they stand out in ways which are sometimes hard to apprehend.

If you were to ask your teammates or co-workers to describe you and your leadership skills, what would they say? The intent of this article is to draw out those already existing qualities and build upon them. Even to bring out qualities you never knew you had and work towards building on your weaknesses. I have dedicated this next section into four of the most important categories of a black sheep leader. All of these traits tap into different aspects of leadership.


1. Honest

A leader who is honest with themselves and others. Someone who is vocal about the successes and failures of the group, and someone who tells their peers what they need to hear despite the difficulty of the truth.


2. Hardworking

A leader who is relentless, and works just as hard in front of the group as they do when no one is watching. This work ethic is admirable and challenges others to raise the standards and effort.


3. Loyal

A leader who stands up for others, and is sets goals and standards that are achievable yet challenging. They speak highly of others even when they’re not around and leave no one behind.


4. Selfless

A leader who above all, puts others before themselves for the greater good. They are willing to make sacrifices if it meals an end success and constantly chooses the team over their own needs and gain.


After looking at these categories, which ones best describe you? Which quality is your strongest, and which is your weakness?

If you posses one, or multiple, then you are on your way to being a black sheep. And if you have one or less than one, then perhaps it’s time to start stepping up and making a daily effort to build upon your skills.

If you’re lacking in honesty, first attempt to be honest with yourself. Challenge yourself daily to be honest, in small situations and large ones. If someone you work with or play with is lagging behind and not putting in a substantial effort, tell them how you feel. This does not mean putting others down, but sandwiching the conversation (a positive affirmation, the lagging aspect followed by another positive affirmation) will make for a stronger level of communication and increase your honesty.


If you’re lacking in work ethic, then only you can change that. Do not increase your work ethic in only a public setting, but behind closed doors. This will trickle into forming good habits, and even though you may not receive credit, the delayed gratification will come and be noticed eventually.


If you’re lacking in loyalty, then focus on the words you chose to say. Even if you’re not fond of someone, what you say is very important. It will define you, and if you constantly complain or degrade others, it says more about you and is a negative reflection in which you are giving off. So practice picking out positive things about people, and as the old saying goes, “if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.”


If you’re lacking in selflessness, then you must attempt to look at the people around you and ask yourself, “if everyone was selfish, what would we achieve?” You need to of course set personal goals, but bigger goals which involve others needs to be seen as equally important. So before you look at your personal success, understand that if everyone is working together for a greater purpose, then in time, everyone will also achieve personal success.

Being a black sheep means, at its core, looking at the people around you and wanting them to achieve just as much happiness and success as you. Leadership is something that is talked about, written about and researched by thousands of people around the glove, all in an array of disciplines.

From sports psychologists to doctors to sociologists, it is a topic that people want to know more about because being a leader is a humbling, and incredible quality to poses. I am no expert in the field and I more than anyone need to work on all of these traits, but the more we can strive to be like those “incredible captains and bosses,” who you recognized earlier, the more potential we have to help create Championship teams and create distinguished corporations.

So with that, I encourage you to work on these things, build upon your strengths as a leader, and build from your weaknesses. The world needs more honest, hardworking, loyal and selfless people. The world needs more black sheep, so be one.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Kardashians
W Magazine

Whether you love them or hate them, it's undeniable the Kardashian/ Jenner family has built an enormous business empire. Ranging from apps, fashion lines, boutiques, beauty products, books, television shows, etc. this bunch has shown they are insane business moguls. Here are seven reasons why the Kardashian/ Jenner family should be applauded for their intelligent business tactics.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash

If I have learned one thing in my lifetime, it is that friends are a privilege. No one is required to give you their company and yet there is some sort of shared connection that keeps you together. And from that friendship, you may even find yourself lucky enough to have a few more friends, thus forming a group. Here are just a few signs that prove your current friend group is the ultimate friend group.

Keep Reading...Show less
ross and monica
FanPop

When it comes to television, there’s very few sets of on-screen siblings that a lot of us can relate to. Only those who have grown up with siblings knows what it feels like to fight, prank, and love a sibling. Ross and Monica Geller were definitely overbearing and overshared some things through the series of "Friends," but they captured perfectly what real siblings feel in real life. Some of their antics were funny, some were a little weird but all of them are completely relatable to brothers and sisters everywhere.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Types Of Sorority Girls

Who really makes up your chapter...

2686
Sorority Girls
Owl Eyes Magazine

College is a great place to meet people, especially through Greek life. If you look closely at sororities, you'll quickly see there are many different types of girls you will meet.

1. The Legacy.

Her sister was a member, her mom was a member, all of her aunts were members, and her grandma was a member. She has been waiting her whole life to wear these letters and cried hysterically on bid day. Although she can act entitled at times, you can bet she is one of the most enthusiastic sisters.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

10 Reasons Why Life Is Better In The Summertime

Winter blues got you down? Summer is just around the corner!

2279
coconut tree near shore within mountain range
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash

Every kid in college and/or high school dreams of summer the moment they walk through the door on the first day back in September. It becomes harder and harder to focus in classes and while doing assignments as the days get closer. The winter has been lagging, the days are short and dark, and no one is quite themselves due to lack of energy and sunlight. Let's face it: life is ten times better in the summertime.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments