Being considered a leader in our society is the ultimate compliment. "Leadership has becom

e the universal vitamin C pill," says psychologist David Campbell of the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs, Colo. "people seem to want megadoses."

No wonder, Leadership bestows power, commands respect and, most important fosters achievement. Unlike vitamins, though, leadership pills can't be easily gulped down. They must be carefully cultivated.

Contrary to popular belief, most good leaders are made not born.

They hone their skills in their everyday lives. But which do they cultivate？ How do they (and how can you) get others to follow？

Always give credit. Many leaders note that the most efficient way to get a good performance from others is to treat them like heroes. Giving public credit to someone who has earned it is the best leadership technique in the world. It is also an act of generosity that's never forgotten. Giving credit is more effective than even the most constructive criticism, which often hurts rather than helps. Kenneth Blanchard, coauthor of The One-Minute Manager, agrees. "Catch people doing something right!" he says. Then tell everyone about it. The loyalty you will generate is arguably the most important currency a leader has.

"The best leaders know that taking a risk is not a thoughtless exercise," says management consultant Marilyn Machlowitz. "Sky divers don't go up in an airplane without checking the parachutes beforehand."

Because the idea of risk also carries with it the possibility of failure, many of us tend to wait for others to take charge. But if you want to be a leader, you must learn to fail--and not die a thousand deaths. Pick yourself up and start all over again.

Show the way. In 1965, Lee Ducat was a Philadelphia homemaker with a child who had just been found to have diabetes. Ducat tried to reach out to other mothers of diabetic kids, but at first no one wanted to talk.

Finally Ducat managed to find three other mothers willing to share their experience, and from that beginning she went on to found and lead the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, which currently has 150 chapters worldwide. Ducat also formed and now heads the National Disease Research Interchange, which procures human tissues for vital research. Lee Ducat's secret？ Being a role model.

"Have you ever noticed that if you smile at people, they smile back？" she asks, "Well, if you're giving, people want to give right back. If you're sure-footed, they want to follow in your footsteps. If you're confident about reaching a goal, others echo that confidence and try to achieve it for you."

"The best thing you can do is to get followers to mirror your actions by being what you wish them to be."

When the writer says leadership has become the universal vitamin C pill, he means _________.

A．leadership can cure many diseases as vitamin C does.

B．leadership is an essential part of everybody.

C．leadership can prevent one from failure.

D．leadership brings power, respect, achievement, etc.