Becoming a leader is one of the most effective methods to effect positive change in any community. This does not imply that you must be in a position of authority or impose your will on others. Being a leader is setting an example via your words and deeds and being someone your community looks to for advice and assistance. Teachers are natural leaders for the students in their classes, and they can also be leaders among the faculty and staff. Whether you are an educator hoping to develop your leadership abilities or a student looking to advance in the educational system, here are five ways running may help you become a better leader.

1. Goal-setting

Running forces you to create objectives for yourself, whether it’s the distance you want to run, a race you want to qualify for, or a personal time you want to surpass. Being a leader entails constantly striving to better yourself and the people you serve. Running is a terrific way to learn how to set and achieve personal objectives, which can help you set goals for yourself in your work and eventually set goals for others to help them develop.

2. Figuring out how to pace oneself

It is not advisable to sprint 100% of the time you run. You must learn to pace yourself so that you do not burn out too quickly and can maintain a reserve of energy for when you need it to finish a race. The same is true for your ambition to become an educational leader. You can’t give everything you are all of the time. You must learn to pace yourself so that you do not overwork yourself or stretch yourself too thin by saying yes to everything and exhausting yourself. Consider where and how you spend your time and energy.

3. Mind has power over matter.

Of course, running has physical restrictions, but the most difficult challenge in any race is not the person in front of you or even your own body. It’s all in your head. Running is largely psychological and a case of mind over matter. You can achieve things you never thought imaginable if you push yourself. The same can be said of your educational leadership. You are more capable than you realize, and if you set a goal, you can achieve it.

4. Deferred gratification

You can’t just wake up one day and decide you’re going to run a marathon. It takes time and effort, and you must learn to set reasonable goals. This can also help you achieve your aim of becoming an educational leader. It is unrealistic to expect to achieve all of your personal and communal goals at the same time. It requires time, careful planning, practice, and patience, just like running a marathon.

5. Creating a community

Although you can run on your own, there are numerous options to become engaged in a running community. Running with a partner or group, joining a team, or enrolling in events are all ways to become a part of the running community. Many events feature registration fees that benefit the community or a charity in some way, so even just participating helps. Building a community is also an important aspect of educational leadership. You want to foster a sense of community among your students, instructors and staff, and administration. You must also maintain contact with the parents and the general community surrounding the school.

Consider how your fitness can help you become a better educational leader the next time you go for a run. You are developing skills and an attitude that will help you achieve your goals and benefit your community by practicing this healthy habit.