Often, we think of leaders as bigger-than-life people who steer the course for armies, countries and large corporations. In reality, many of the world’s most influential leaders are individuals with the passion, persistence and courage to step up and take responsibility for making things happen. From great leaders like Nelson Mandela, who almost single-handedly saved his nation from a destructive civil war, to a child who donates his allowance to charity, each of us alone has the power to affect change.

Are you that one person?

Look at these examples of how one person can make a difference in the world, then ask yourself what you can do to put the Power of One to work.

Let your voice be heard. Instead of standing on the sidelines, stand up for what you believe by volunteering for a favorite cause, expressing your opinions during a debate (even if they’re unpopular) and voting in public elections.

Consider the impact just one person had on each of these events and how history would have been altered if he or she hadn’t believed in the Power of One:

• One vote per precinct passed women's suffrage in California in 1911.
• John F. Kennedy's margin of victory over Richard Nixon in 1960 was less than one vote per precinct.
• Women won the right to vote in 1920 by the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Tennessee, the last state needed to pass the amendment, ratified the amendment by one vote.
  
  
• Marcus Morton was elected governor of Massachusetts in 1839 by one vote out of 102,066 cast.
• One vote in the Electoral College elected Rutherford B. Hayes to the presidency in 1876.
• One vote in the Senate saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment conviction in 1868.
• One vote in an important Congress gave statehood to Texas in 1845.

Take the high road. Remember Rosa Parks, the African-American woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus so white passengers could sit down? Even though she wasn’t responsible for unfair, discriminatory laws, she didn’t wait for someone else to take action. She went to jail to demonstrate her willingness to change things she believed were unjust.

Leadership is about making the place where you are better. It’s about sticking up for those who can’t stick up for themselves. It’s about envisioning the way things ought to be and instead of just talking about it, being willing to do something about it.

Rosa Parks was willing to take the high road. Are you?

Be a positive influence. We all have role models—people we admire, emulate and learn from. Many leaders are considered great not only because of what they themselves achieved, but because of their abilities to bring out the greatness in others. As scholar and poet William Arthur Ward said, “When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.”

Never underestimate the impact you can have on another person. With one gesture or comment, you can change someone’s day or even his or her life, for better or worse.

Do the right thing, even when no one is looking. Doing the right thing is more than simply not doing the wrong thing; it is making a conscious choice in favor of something that upholds your ethical beliefs, values and standards. Sometimes it’s harder than taking the easy way out, but a strong leader does the right thing when it’s not convenient, when no one is looking and when everyone around them is doing something else. William Arthur Ward said it this way:

Do more than belong, participate.
Do more than care, help.
Do more than believe, practice.
Do more than be fair, be kind.
Do more than forgive, forget.
Do more than dream, work.

Make little things count. It’s easy to be lulled into thinking one person’s actions or decisions don’t really matter. After all, what difference could it make to recycle a few cans a week? How could donating one winter coat to the homeless shelter possibly help the hundreds in need? Who cares if you pick up a piece of trash from the sidewalk instead of stepping over it? These small things can make a big difference, especially when multiplied by the millions of people who face similar choices each and every day.

Be conscious of the way your actions impact the world and other people. When you do something positive, look for ways to expand it. If you do something that has a negative effect, even unintentionally, find a solution for the future. Remember: the Power of One is the power to make a difference, one small action at a time. Make it a habit that counts.