Holding Out For A Leader

Perhaps Nelson Mandela said it best.   “A leader...is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind." 

As I watch the evolution of this Covid-19 pandemic I’m struck at the differences in leadership style you can observe both in government and business.  Chances are you remember your encounter with a bad leader. They might not handle conflict effectively or even at all, allowing frustrations to intensify.  They may be on a power trip or fail to show any vulnerability, which leads their staff or constituents to feel more intimidated and insecure. Perhaps most frustrating of all they may place blame on anyone but themselves and refuse to hold themselves accountable for anything. 

Are leaders born or made?   This is the most basic and most often-asked question about leadership.   To cut to the chase, most research points to the answer being about one third born and two thirds made.  But the job of leading an organization, military unit, or a city, state or country and doing so effectively, is fantastically complex. 

One important take away from some of the executive coaching and leadership curriculum I have attended is that becoming a leader does not mean becoming someone you fundamentally are not.  While we may have an idea of a leader right out of central casting like in the movies, it’s not even close to the real world.   Everyone has qualities that leaders possess, but not everyone encounters the exact set of circumstances in life where those qualities can really shine and be recognized. 

I believe the “right” leader is right for the specific place, time, and situation in which he or she is placed, and not necessarily for all places, times, and situations.   Everyone can, however, develop their leadership qualities and put them to positive use in life every day, in and out of the government and workplace.   Look around us today during this pandemic and you can easily see those that have those leadership qualities that make us want to believe and follow them.  And others that fail miserably upon open view.  

Yet there is some "raw material," some inborn characteristics, that predispose people to be and become leaders.  Research suggests, for example, that being an extrovert is consistently associated with obtaining leadership positions and leader effectiveness.  But although some people think introverts can’t be great leaders, would anyone have labeled Civil Rights icon and leader Rosa Parks as an extrovert?   

There is also some evidence that being bold, assertive or risk taking can be advantageous for leaders. Leaders also need to be able to analyze situations and figure out courses of action, and so intelligence is associated with leadership, although perhaps not general IQ but social intelligence — an understanding of social situations and processes — is the component most important for leadership. 

Finally, some sort of empathy, or ability to know one's followers, is also advantageous for leaders, although much of this is learned.  It is my belief from my life experiences, that leadership is all about developing people and helping others reach their full potential. It’s about equipping others with the right tools and strategies to not only maximize the success of an organization but also the lives of individuals. It’s about breaking down barriers and leading others through the uncertainty of the future.

Maybe it is the social liberal within me, but I would like to think that a true leader shows us that our world is indeed heading somewhere and that we control its movement. That we need NOT be at the mercy of personal prejudices or the prevailing political wind. That none of us are subservient to history or nature — that we ARE history and nature. That we can rid the world of war and hate and ignorance, and obliterate the borders separating race from race, rich from poor.   GREAT leaders show us new ways and new perspectives. They teach and inspire us to lead in the same way, to show the world a new perspective and a sublime level. 

This thinking is best summed up by a quote below from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry who was a French poet and author in the early 20th century.   In these troubled times let us find a leader who will be the shepherd to help us find our way once again.   

“If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."