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Over the past 12 months I have spent hours in conversation with some of the most inspiring individuals in business and education to pinpoint the exact techniques and strategies these men and women use to inspire others to follow their vision. TFA Founder Wendy Kopp was one of them. Her story is amazing. Kopp developed the idea based on a Princeton thesis she wrote in 1989. In its first year, TFA placed 500 students. Today, 14,000 young men and women have completed their commitment to TFA and the nonprofit is one of the largest employers of college seniors in the country.

According to Kopp, leadership skills rank highest on the list of what she looks for in candidates. Specifically, "the ability to influence and motivate others." But those same skills are largely responsible for the growth of TFA itself. Here are some concepts I learned from Kopp that apply to anyone who wants to succeed as a leader.