This new century is one of profound confusion. Humanity has never been so influential in knowledge and technology, yet we have never been so weak regarding our so-called leaders.
So, who is a leader?
Fundamentally a leader is the one who shows the others the way to go. The key word in this sentence is “shows”. To be a leader is not simply to speak, order, and command but to demonstrate, educate and empower.
We see the truth in words. Initially, a leader “leads the way”.
What makes a leader successful.
The genuinely successful leaders are those who no longer need to lead. They have already shown their followers the way.
This is increasingly alien to many western cultures, which is rather unsettling. The politicians talk much and micromanage, so people across the globe have stopped believing them and the values of our entire “democratic” societies.
A 2014 study conducted by scholars Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page published by Cambridge University Press demonstrates that the “greatest democracy in the world” is not a democracy but rather an oligarchy. The same reasoning can be applied to many other countries.
Also, the 2021 Global State of Democracy reports underline the number of countries that veer towards authoritarian or oligarchic values.
True leaders set an example for people to follow.
A leader’s real power lies in their being able to influence people by setting an example that others can follow and look up to. A true leader is the embodiment of a system of values. This setting makes it easier to coordinate their movements and energies as they move towards their well-being.
Where we find that the signs of this equation are flipped, we find dictatorship rather than leadership.
What are the qualities of good leaders?
In the words of Albert Einstein, “Setting an example is not the main mean of influencing others. Good leaders must set a good example and know how to communicate it through actions rather than words.
A great leader must be fair and honest with their followers. This way, others will be inspired to live by such values, and trust and respect will be formed inside the group.
Leaders must know who they are and what they represent. This implies a deep sense of self-awareness and responsibility. Great leaders understand that they must not stray from the path that they indicate, even though it can be challenging.
Thus, the hard work and effort of the leader towards becoming the best version of themselves are what inspires people to follow in their footsteps. This way, many great companies are started, where a dedicated development team follows its leader and creates great services and products.
True leaders must not expect more from their followers than is reasonable. A good leader must possess excellent situational awareness, deep understanding, and empathy for the needs of their followers.
A leader must be flexible and tolerant toward people who are still on the path to self-discovery. The job of the leader is to guide, not judge.
Leaders sacrifice themselves before asking people to surrender.
The true beauty in leadership is that a good leader makes no claims to divinity, yet the example they set is of the highest spiritual and political order. A true leader brings out the divine in the people.
The value of the great leader comes from the fact that they do not aspire to personal power but instead inspire and empower their followers to unite and discover their collective strength.
A leader is far more powerful than a dictator because they need not resort to force and coercion to influence the lives of their followers. This is far more energy-efficient than forcing everyone in a group to adhere to certain norms or work towards specific scopes.
To sum things up.
Being a leader is more than a job. It is a responsibility, a calling, a way of life.
<<Popular etymology among the later ancients (Servius, Lactantius, Augustine) and the interpretation of many modern writers connect the idea of religion to religare “to bind fast” >>.
In this sense, a good leader can be considered a “religious” figure, although they may not be religious per se. A good leader represents and inspires higher values and, through these shared values, brings people together in a similar way to the old prophets.
The question now remains; what examples are we setting for future generations.
Author’s bio: Anastasiia Lastovetska is a technology writer at MLSDev, a software development company that builds web & mobile app solutions from scratch. She researches the area of technology to create great content about app development, UX/UI design, tech & business consulting.
