This week’s discussion point from me is about paddling and leadership. Some of us are born leaders, some of us grow and develop into leaders, and some of us are just happy and secure in being led by others who may be more experienced and knowledgeable than us. So, what makes a great leader? Courage? Confidence? Experience? Intellect? People skills? What do you think? Can there be more than one leader? Is a leader needed at all? What about bad leadership?

Do you lead others in paddlesport whether that’s friends, family, colleagues, clients or club members etc? What’s your experience of being in that role?

Are you happy sitting back and letting others lead the way? If so, why? What do you get out of it?

Would you like to take the helm and be in a leadership role yourself? What will help get you there?

Do you feel prevented by circumstances or perhaps others to take responsibility and gain leadership experience for yourself? What barriers do you feel are in your way?

Has bad leadership ever affected you? Or perhaps you were at one time a bad leader – what impact did this have and did anything change as a result?