In most classifications of personality we see the division of people into two broad classes, Leaders and Followers. Throughout the history of mankind we have seen evidence that this basic classification is universal. A need for power and a need for affiliation.
We see tribes and clans everywhere we look. In National affinities, football teams or musicians and their fans, political and religious followers. The need for leadership is everywhere. We see it in global branding also, Coke Cola and Pepsi Cola, Nike and Adidas, Apple and Microsoft.
Leadership appeals to human nature. We can have many different types of leaders from Robert Mugabe to Mother Theresa, from Bill Gates to Jack Welsh and there are even a few good political leaders whom I admire like …. There are good leaders and bad leaders, not to mention the downright ugly. However, for every leader there is a loyal band of followers. Without followers, there can be no leaders.
Given the innate need for direction and guidance in our human nature, it can be relatively easy to gather followers. All you need to do is to tap into your followers desires. You can be the leader of a small group or a large following. You can lead for good or evil or somewhere in between.
In difficult and challenging times, it can be easy to rouse people into action, if you have good leadership skills. However having good leadership skills tells us nothing about your values.
In the past and even at present, we have seen some very good leaders with very poor ethics and values who have created strife and chaos. A certain Mr. Hitler or Pol Pot just to mention two. The ability to lead does not always mean you are right or just or honest. We have seen a bit of that in the world of high finance recently.
The ability to lead places an onus on the leader. The leader has a responsibility not only to their followers, but also to society and the world at large. The leader must possess an honest and sustainable vision as their own guiding light.
In business and politics the quality of leadership has not been so important in quite some time. Most of the world is crying out for leaders. I’m not too hopeful that they will emerge from the world of politics. Politicians and politics just do not mix. Politics is about getting elected, it’s a power play and it never fails to take people’s eye off the mission of democratic service.
Will the next generation of leaders come from revolution or evolution? Will they arise out of chaos or will they arise by peaceful means?
Tags: democracy, Evolution, Leaders, Leadership, mission, politicians, politics, revolution, vision
