“An Army of Sheep led by a Lion can defeat an Army of Lions led by a Sheep”. — An African Proverb
By Zile Singh
Leadership – political, religious or business, is a mindset in action. Political leadership is a process of social influence which encourages the efforts of an individual towards the achievement of a greater good for the benefit of the society at large.
Leadership is not something that anyone can give you – you have to earn it and claim it for yourself. To be an authentic leader one must be honest in all things, not just in what you say and do. Authentic leaders are persuasive, transparent and forthcoming. Persuasive people know their audience inside and out. They speak to their constituents according to their needs and in their own language. No matter how strong is your argument, if you fail to connect on a personal level, the other person will doubt whatever you say. Good leaders are not pushy. They know that subtlety is what wins people over in the long run.
Using powerful imagery by telling relevant stories that breathe life into the minds of the recipients will be useful for them to remember the basic idea. The first good impression is the last impression. It paves the way for influential leadership. To be authentic does not mean that you have to be impatience. Even if your position is strong, you should be ready to back off. Good ideas are often difficult to process instantly, but a bit of time can go a long way. They know that it is better to be successful than to be ‘right’.
According to Peter Drucker – “The only definition of a leader is someone who has followers.”
Influential leaders do not compare themselves with others. At the same time, they take others bad opinion about themselves with a grain of salt. Their self-worth comes from ‘ within’. They are prompt to ‘forgive’ but not ‘forget’. In case of failure, they know how to live to fight another day when the battleground and the time is right. They do not live in the past and don’t dwell on problems. To avoid negativity and not holding grudges against the rivals are their strength.
“In order to cultivate a set of leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry, it is necessary that the path to leadership be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity”. – Sandra Day O’Connor
“ I know of no defined formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together” – Queen Elizabeth II
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become better, you are a leader. A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of credit.
Some philosophies stand the test of time and when it comes to leadership. Mahatma Gandhi’s words, “ You have to be the change that you want to see” are as relevant today as they were 70 years ago when he successfully mobilized millions of Indians at the grass root level to oppose the British
oppression. His doctrines of nonviolence and civil disobedience were more appealing than the call for violence by radical organizations. According to him you move beyond “ preaching the message” to “ living the message”.
Similarly, the Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote about the leadership thus:
Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer,
First learn to bow in humility before your fellowmen.
Go not to the temple to pray on bended knees,
First bend down to lift someone who is down-trodden.
Here are some thoughts on leadership of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black President and a Nobel Laureate:
“ There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain tops of our desires. I have never regarded any man as my superior, either in my life outside or inside prison. I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more to climb. Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.”
George Washington, the first President of the United States of America said thus on leadership: “If the freedom of speech is taken way then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to be slaughtered. Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace and guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism and liberty.”
Mr. Zile Singh is much respected Link Columnist, writer and a Vipassana Meditator. He can be reached at [email protected]
