1. Influence: A Skill that CAN be Learned
Intro to Leadership CS 501 Lesson

2. I am able to explain how influence is learned, built, and practiced.
Learning Target
I am able to explain how influence is learned, built, and practiced.
What are you grateful for today?
What did you learn about your leader that stuck out to you?
Why don’t people who make a difference get recognized?
Entry Task

3. I have Shout out slips for you to use OR you can use your own paper.

4. OUR Greatest Influences:
WHO
Make a list of people who have a positive influence on your life.
HOW
For each person state how they have served you.
WHAT
For each person state the sacrifice(s) they have made while serving you.

5. What do these people have in common?

6. Do you think that each of the people on your list were naturally born with the positive qualities you mentioned about them?

7. You reap what you sow.
Ask students to raise their hands if they have ever heard the statement, “You reap what you sow.”
Have students share with a partner how they would describe in their own words, “You reap what you sow.”
Ask for volunteers to share their responses.
*Project Image: Law of the Harvest Definitions*
Say, “This leadership law connects to our discussion on influence and service and sacrifice because, if you look closely at the second definition, it describes that the more you help others the more likely they will ‘want’ to help you in return. The ‘want’ describes influence. Also, when you help someone it is not a guarantee that they will be nice to you, but the law explains that the more you help others over time, the more likely they are to want to help you or be more kind to you in return.”
Ask, “Would you agree with this explanation? Why or why not?”
Ask for multiple responses.
Ask, “Why is the word ‘want’ so important in the definition?”
Ask, “If you need lunch money one day and someone loans you their own lunch money, do you think you’ll WANT to help them if the time comes when they need extra change? Why or why not?”
Have students come up with other examples where someone has done something that made them WANT to help the other person. Ask students why that was the case?

9. Video
Look for and write down anything that demonstrates acts of service that might result in people wanting to sacrifice for him

10. *Handout: Terry Fox Reflection*
Using the reflection handout, have a class discussion about the different questions.
Teacher Note: Emphasize the consistency of Terry Fox’s service and sacrifice that made people want to support him and, eventually, the cause he was fighting so hard for.
“Terry Fox – ESPN.” YouTube, uploaded by Dan Arruda, 30 March 2008,

11. Martin Luther King Jr. once said,
“Everyone can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You don’t need to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”