Leadership as a tool

One of the tools I use daily is a calendar.

I'm picky about what I put up and it's usually a scenic one. For the last couple of years I've been using one that combines motivational messages with scenes of animals. Last month's topic was on leadership. The picture was of a male lion and it's caption:

"The true leader inspires in others self-trust, guiding their eyes to the spirit, the goal."

The combination of both the picture and the caption made quite an impression on me. Here is a picture of a male lion at rest looking over a grassy field with intent. His mane is fully visible and softly blowing in the wind. In a way it reminds me of a shepherd watching over his or her flock.

So it is, or should I say supposed to be, with anyone in a leadership role. Sadly, we rarely see this in the real world. What we usually experience is that people in leadership positions are just pawns for someone or something. Their true motivation is not what a true leader is about or does. They are looking out for number one.

True leaders know their purpose; they have agendas and do what every other so-called leader does, but differently. They are hard to find and you will know when you've found one. The true leader is not a guru nor does he or she lead through dictatorship. They are not weak or feeble minded, although they may appear like that at first impression.

A true leader leads by example. They know that to meet the objective, they must rely on their instincts, skills, and abilities. They know that they are instruments of service just as a scalpel is to the surgeon, the hammer is to a carpenter, and the pen is to a writer.

They treat others as equals and build a foundation on which those they lead are encouraged to discover their abilities. They maintain an interest in you. If you have difficulties, they'll point you in the right direction. They prefer to work out solutions rather than reprimanding you. They know that ultimately they are responsible for not only achieving the task at hand but also for how it was accomplished.

Many in leadership positions today started out as true leaders; only few remain. They may have been put on a pedestal, they may have fallen under the pressures, greed, and/or arrogance could have set in. The reasons are too numerous as to why this happens but it is most definitely because of a internal conflict within their being.

Let's bring to the forefront that all of us are in a leadership position in some form or another. It could be that our friends look to us for advice, we're parents, we supervise or manage employees where we work, we are a coach for the local YMCA. It doesn't matter where we lead or who we lead. What matters is HOW we lead and why.

If we, as leaders, are in touch with the values of true leadership, can stand the test of time, lead by example, and value the position and responsibility we have been given or placed upon ourselves, then the ratio of true leaders will
rise.

Leadership is a privilege. Everyone at some point in time will find themselves in that position. Wouldn't it be great if we could look back in our
later years and have someone say, "I'm glad I knew you, you made a tremendous difference in my life." What if those we lead, in turn, became true leaders, and those behind them?

It only takes one true leader to make a difference in the world. Look at some of them

• Buddha
• Jesus
• Gandhi
• George Washington
• Benjamin Franklin
• Abraham Lincoln
• Winston Churchill
• Albert Einstein
• Alexander Graham Bell
• Thomas Edison

And the list could go on and on. Each of these people played a leadership role that had an impact upon the world. Some knew they would and others, I'm sure, did not. But they all had one quality that stood out. They were their own person and did not bow down to the pressure of others, they were true leaders, believed in themselves and those they served.

So, what are your agendas and your reasons. I myself purpose to master leadership, one that can inspire, one that can make a difference in this world, and I hope you'll join me.

Charles Mattice