WHEN VIEWING ON A TABLET OR MOBILE -- DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM strategy to promote social justice because education can be a great equalizer. In addition, once a person has an education, it cannot be stolen. Thus, a knowledgeable leader works to further social justice by creat- ing high-quality programs for children, principally for children from under­ resourced communities in urban areas. The goal is to provide resources to people who historically have not had a fair chance to succeed academically, socially, or economically. Good leaders strive to uphold social justice for all types of people. The eight leadership qualities in this book apply across the board with all people. How- ever, furthering social justice typically involves giving a voice to those who are underrepresented or have no voice in the community. And this isn’t just for children. Great leaders strive to empower teachers and upcoming leaders by helping them see their educational work as the socially responsible actions of a good leader. 4. Competence Competence is about what you do with your knowledge. It is knowledge put into actionable behaviors that become a part of your leadership practice. Competence is related to human potential as well as knowledge. Without living up to one’s potential and continuously seeking knowledge, a person can- not be a great leader. This is because part of being a great leader comes from having enough confidence in one’s own potential and breadth of knowledge to take action toward a greater goal. As mentioned under the knowledge leadership quality, a great and knowl- edgeable leader is always on the cutting edge of his or her field. A great leader knows the newest approaches to workforce or human development. A great leader knows what tools are available to help other individuals reach their full potential. However, great leaders also have the uncanny ability to take all of these winning qualities one step further—their competence enables them to translate theory into practice. They are able to push the agenda of doing the right thing for children forward by actually making things happen. Personally, I have always valued competence. I believe that a leader must be at the top of his or her game to further social justice effectively. A leader must deliver high-quality programs for children and high-quality training for teach- ers and aspiring leaders. These are the acts of competence that have the power to effect transformational change for children. The Leader’s Core: You Are What You Believe 15 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL