What Makes a True Leader? With so many people purporting to be leaders these days,how do we recognize a True leader?What is it that a leader is really trying to accomplish? A true leder wants nothing more than to give people pride,to make people stand on their own,as leaders in their own right.Instead of trying to bind us with his or her brilliance, a true leader reflects our own light back to us,so that we may see ourselves anew. Moses was the quintessential leader.We read in Exodus that he was a shepherd-a rather modest beginning for the man who would speak to God.He kept watch thousands of sheep wandered the fields.Moses noticed that one sheep was missing and went off to look for it,finding it at a distant brook.He waited untill the sheep had finished drinking, then he lifted it onto his shoulders and carried it back to the flock. When God saw this he realized that Moses was a man of reason, empathy and selfless devotion,a man truly worthy to lead his people.After all no one was watching Moses, he could easily have thought to himself,why be concerned with one sheep when there are thousands? In our secular society,we tend to think of a leader as a person who is well connected,who is powerful or charismatic or wealthy.We judge our leaders by what they have.But a true leader should be judged by what he has not-ego,arrogance and self-interest.A true leader sees his work as a selfless service toward a higher purpose.As the a great man say Leadership is not power and dominance, it is servitudeThis does not mean that a leader is weak,he derives great strength from his dedication to a purpose that is greater than himself.A true leader shakes people from their reverie and tells them,No, you dont need to live a life of desperation and confusion.Yes,you do have the ability to find meaning in your life, and the unique skills to fulfill that meaning.A true leader shows us that our world is indeed heading somewhere and that we control its movement.That we can rid the world of war and hate and ignorance and obliterate the borders separating race from race,rich from poor. Still many people have lost faith in contemporary leaders.The solution is not to resign yourself to this sad state of affairs,but to search for and demand a leader of sterling character.The ultimate goal should be to have all the benefits of democracy and benefits of a visionary leader.A demagogue may inspire people,but his motives are impure and his expectaions unrealistic.It is wise to be a bit skeptical when assessing a leader:Is he truly devoted to his mission or just seeking glory?Is he truly interested in the welfare of others or simply building a flock for his own aggrandizement? A true leader does not aeek followers,he wants to teach others how to be leaders.He does not want control,he wants the truth.He does not impose leadership on others,nor does he take away anyones autonomy.He inspires by love not coercion.He is so passionate about your welfare that when you consult him for guidance it is like coming face to face with yourself for the first time. A true leader must bea living example of his teachings.When we see that a leaders personal life embodies his philosophy,we too are inspired to learn and practice that philosophy.He must be a successful communicator whose vision can be translated into specific,applicable principles-not knowledge for the sake of knowledge but knowledge that can actually help improve the world. So a leader must be many things-selfless,devoted,visionary,courageous and above all humble. We must recognize the characteristics of a leader-not only so we can weed out the demagogues but so we can freely embrac a true leader when he does emerge.When people sincerely believe in a leader they can rise above their petty self-concerns.They become eager to accept his direction and input and are inspired to accomplish far more than they could have on their own.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 07:36:37 +0000
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