Social change: theories, drivers, and contemporary applications

Social Change

Leadership roles are often wide in scope and not easily definable. As a leader, one is expected to make personal sacrifice for the betterment of the group. The purpose of this essay is to explore the idea of self sacrifice as a main component of all roles that undertake a leadership position. In this analysis I will apply the leadership demonstrated by the volunteer workers as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the social leader Mohandas Gandhi as how self sacrifice can impact those in need.

CASA volunteers have helped more than 2 million children locate new places to live and additionally providing fresh starts and new beginnings for those most troubled individuals and society. CASA is a nonprofit organization, it runs largely on a volunteer basis. Not receiving monetary compensation for work is a sign of self sacrifice and dedication to a cause greater than individual purpose. It is important in an organization like CASA for the leadership's approach to have a self sacrificial tone. Public leaders and managers need to demonstrate to citizens that they are here to help and not to control. This attitude needs to be reinforced throughout all aspects of society, but we all must start somewhere and within this organization example is set for others to follow throughout the entire environment. This is the essence of leadership in my opinion.

On a larger scale, Mohandas Gandhi in his lifetime led many peaceful revolutions guided by his self-sacrifice to his causes. Gandhi's nonviolent stance was more of a lifestyle than a leadership style. He truly lived his beliefs and in many of his famous quotes including, "be the change that you want to be in the world," inspired millions of people to stand up to oppression and tyranny and not reflect the same violent measures at the same time. Not all leaders and managers are called upon to lead in the same way that Gandhi was chosen by people. But, through a spiritual and an individual realization that leadership radiates from the core values and ethics of that person his teachings are better understood.