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REFLECTIONS ON LEADERSHIP “Everything rises and fall on leadership” John C. Maxwell All through history, in every generation, race, tribe, nation and society, the world has looked upon a certain breed of men and woman for guidance for direction…for leadership. What than is leadership? This is not treatise on leadership. If you want a master piece, the works of leadership gurus like John C. Maxwell awaits you. This is simply a brief overview of what leadership means to me. Leaders are positive change agents. Because of their inspirational dissatisfaction with the status quo, they motivate others to change the maladies around them. Like Mahatma Gandhi, they acknowledge that “for one to change the world, one must first be the change one seeks” They are burden bearers who understand that “the price of greatness is responsibility”. A leader is a fall guy. He is unafraid to take the blame. A committed team player, he gives the team credit for any win and accepts the blame in the event of a loss. Leaders are proactive, institutional builders. They work assiduously to leave a legacy that outlives their earthly existence. Like Thomas Carlyle, they recognize that, “Our main business in life is not to see what lies dimly ahead, but to do what lies clearly at hand”. It’s all about seeing the big the picture and having a finisher’s mentality. Like a shepherd tending his flock, they are compassionate. They continually strive to understand human nature and are mindful of the fact that man is fallible. Undistracted by the pettiness and side comments of ordinary folks, leaders understand their place in history. Hence like Martin Luther King Jr. they are unafraid to take a stand. True leaders are firm believers in people - their dreams and hopes. In putting people first, leaders challenge the people’s strengths, instill confidence in them and help them get ahead. They also equip others for leadership, for the hallmark of a true leader is the ability to reproduce leaders who can at least hold forte when he’s away or no more. In their opinion leadership is not in positions or titles, but in the ability to consistently have men believe in you and your cause(s). They know like Albert Schweitzer that, “example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing,” and that “men’s actions are the best mirror of their motives”. Besides, they are builders of men because, they realize that, “we are all blind until we see that the human plan, nothing is worth the making if it does not make the man, why build these cities glorious if man unbuilded goes? In vain we build the world unless the builder also grows” (Edwin H Markham). Leaders see in everyone, something of value. Poet-philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once commented, “Every man I meet is in some way my superior, and I can learn of him”. That’s the attitude of leadership. They are humble, self-effacing and subservient to the people. True leaders are readers. Their insatiable desire to improve makes them pursue a life of learning. As incurable optimists, their vocabulary consists of words and phrases such as, “I am, I can, I will, I must, I know and I believe”. They are dealers in hope. Consistent and true to their avowed beliefs and convictions, leaders are men of integrity. Their word is their bond. They are “short on words and tall on actions”. They realize that, “in great actions, men show themselves as they ought to be, but in little actions, they show themselves as they really are” They are not saints though. Their weaknesses are usually glaring, but they continually strive to change. Unashamedly outspoken, they know that, “evil triumphs when good men fail to take a stand”. Courage is second nature to them and they do not cower at the face of tyranny and oppression. A clear example is Winston Churchill. He became the Prime Minister of Britain at the time almost all of Europe had fallen to Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. In his first speech to the British parliament, in which he declared war on Germany, he had this to say, “What is our aim. I answer in one word: victory - victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be, for without victory, there is no survival. I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” (May 13th 1940). The Result: Germany lost the battle of Britain, and the rest they say, is history. Again true leaders are visionary. They know that, “a leader is one who sees more than others see, who see farther than others see and who see before others do”(Leroy Eims) They keep their eyes on the goal and the obvious.
Today, much and more than ever before, our society at all levels yearns for men and women with a passion to serve; for individuals that would put the interests of others ahead of theirs. It is true that everything rises and falls on leadership. Happy are the people with true leaders. Theirs will be a progressive society, a theatre of dreams come true, promises kept, trust earned, met expectations and exponential growth. It’s time to rise up to leadership wherever you are. When leadership finds you, will you be faithful? |
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