English Learning for Beginners: Leadership Vocabulary

Dialogue

Alice: Bob, I’m so bored! What are we doing this weekend? I need a leader to tell me!

Bob: Alice! You’re calling me a leader? I just know how to make good decisions, that’s all.

Alice: Well, that’s what leaders do! They decide things. And usually, they have a plan, right?

Bob: Okay, okay, you got me. My plan is: a grand expedition to the park!

Alice: Hmm, a *grand expedition*. Very leader-like! But how will we get there?

Bob: I will guide us! Think of me as your personal, slightly lost, GPS.

Alice: And who will manage the snacks? A good leader delegates tasks, you know.

Bob: Ah, an excellent point! You, Alice, are responsible for the snacks. It’s your responsibility to keep the team fueled!

Alice: So, you’re trying to motivate me with chips? Smart move, *Boss*.

Bob: Exactly! A true leader inspires their team to achieve greatness… or at least find the best chips.

Alice: Alright, so what’s our ultimate goal for this “expedition”? Besides snacks, of course.

Bob: Our goal is simple: maximum fun, minimum stress, and maybe a high-five from a squirrel. That’s a noble aim!

Alice: What if we encounter another “team” at the park? Like, a group of frisbee champions?

Bob: Then I will lead our team with courage and… well, maybe we’ll just cheer them on. A leader knows when to support!

Alice: You’re really getting into this role, aren’t you, Captain Bob?

Bob: Someone has to! Now, follow your leader! To the park and beyond!

Alice: Okay, *Admiral*. But I still get to choose the ice cream flavor. My first executive decision!

Current Situation

Even if you’re a beginner, understanding basic leadership vocabulary is very useful! You might not be leading a big company yet, but you can be a leader in your daily life. For example, when you plan a trip with friends, organize a study group, or even decide what to cook for dinner, you are using “leadership” skills. Words like “plan,” “decide,” “goal,” and “team” are not just for bosses; they help us communicate effectively in many situations, big or small. Learning these words now will help you understand conversations, movies, and articles about teamwork and getting things done.

Key Phrases

call someone a leader: To refer to someone as a leader.
My friends call me a leader because I always organize our outings.
make decisions: To choose what to do after thinking about options.
It’s hard to make decisions about dinner sometimes.
have a plan: To know what you intend to do in the future.
Do you have a plan for your vacation?
guide us: To show the way to someone.
Can you guide us to the museum? I’m lost.
delegate tasks: To give jobs or responsibilities to other people.
My boss always delegates tasks to the team.
be responsible for / your responsibility: To have a duty or obligation to do something.
I am responsible for washing the dishes tonight. / It is my responsibility to finish my homework.
motivate someone: To make someone want to do something, especially something difficult.
My coach tries to motivate us to run faster.
inspire a team: To make a group of people feel excited and enthusiastic about something.
A good speaker can inspire a team to work harder.
our goal / an ultimate goal: Something you are trying to achieve. An ultimate goal is the final or most important aim.
Our goal is to finish the project on time. / The ultimate goal of learning English is to speak fluently.
a noble aim: A good and honorable objective.
Helping others is a noble aim.
lead a team: To be in charge of a group of people.
She will lead her team in the competition.
get into a role: To become very involved in playing a part or taking on a specific position.
He really got into the role of a superhero for the party.
follow your leader: To go where the leader goes or do what the leader says.
The children follow their leader to the playground.
executive decision: An important decision made by a person or group in authority.
Choosing the color for the new office was an executive decision.

Grammar Points

1. Simple Present Tense

We use the Simple Present Tense for:

General truths or facts: Things that are always true.
Leaders decide things. (It’s a fact about leaders.)
Habits or routines: Actions that happen regularly.
He always motivates his team. (It’s his habit.)
Abilities or general statements:
I know how to make good decisions. (A general ability.)

Remember: For `he/she/it`, we add `s` or `es` to the verb (e.g., `decide` -> `decides`, `inspire` -> `inspires`).

2. Imperatives

Imperatives are used to give commands, instructions, or make requests directly. You use the base form of the verb (without `to` and without a subject).

Command:
Follow your leader!
Instruction:
Pack the snacks.
Request (often with “please”):
Please guide us.

3. Possessive Adjectives (My, Your, Our, Their)

These words show who something belongs to or is associated with. They come before a noun.

my: belongs to me.
My plan is simple.
your: belongs to you.
It’s your responsibility.
our: belongs to us.
Our ultimate goal is fun.
their: belongs to them.
A leader inspires their team.

4. “What are we doing?” (Present Continuous for Future Plans)

We often use the Present Continuous tense (am/is/are + verb-ing) to talk about plans or arrangements for the near future, especially when they are already decided.

What are we doing this weekend? (Asking about a planned activity.)
We are meeting at 3 PM. (A definite arrangement.)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Vocabulary)

Complete the sentences with a suitable word from the dialogue (e.g., leader, make, plan, guide, delegate, responsibility, motivate, inspire, goal, follow).

A good ______ helps the team.
Answer: leader
It’s important to ______ good decisions.
Answer: make
We need to ______ a plan for the party.
Answer: have
She will ______ us to the library.
Answer: guide
The manager needs to ______ tasks to his employees.
Answer: delegate
It’s your ______ to clean your room.
Answer: responsibility
He tried to ______ me with a prize.
Answer: motivate
Her speech will ______ the team to work harder.
Answer: inspire
Our ______ is to win the game.
Answer: goal
The captain said, “______ your leader!”
Answer: Follow

Exercise 2: Match the Phrase to its Meaning

Draw a line (or write the letter) to match each phrase with its correct meaning.

Make decisions a) To show the way
Have a plan b) To give jobs to other people
Guide us c) To know what you will do in the future
Delegate tasks d) To choose what to do
Follow your leader e) To go where the leader goes or do what the leader says

Answers:
1-d, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b, 5-e

Exercise 3: Complete the Sentences (Grammar/Phrases)

Rewrite the sentences using the words in parentheses in the correct form.

(I / have / a plan) for Saturday.
Answer: I have a plan for Saturday.
(You / be / responsible) for dinner tonight.
Answer: You are responsible for dinner tonight.
(He / motivate / his team) with kind words.
Answer: He motivates his team with kind words.
(They / follow / their leader) to the bus.
Answer: They follow their leader to the bus.
(What / we / do) this afternoon?
Answer: What are we doing this afternoon?

Exercise 4: Short Answer Questions

Answer the following questions based on the dialogue or your understanding.

What is Alice asking Bob to be at the beginning of the dialogue?
Answer: A leader.
What is Bob’s plan for the weekend?
Answer: A grand expedition to the park.
What is Alice’s responsibility according to Bob?
Answer: Packing snacks.
Name one thing a good leader does, according to the dialogue.
Answer: (Any one of these) They make decisions, have a plan, guide, delegate tasks, motivate, inspire their team, support.
What is *your* ultimate goal for learning English?
Answer: (Answers will vary, e.g., My ultimate goal is to speak fluently, to travel, to read English books, to get a better job.)

Leadership vocabulary