What it means to be a leader

The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been. The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there. Leadership must be based on goodwill. Goodwill does not mean posturing and, least of all, pandering to the mob. It means obvious and wholehearted commitment to helping followers. We are tired of leaders we fear, tired of leaders we love, and of tired of leaders who let us take liberties with them. What we need for leaders are men of the heart who are so helpful that they, in effect, do away with the need of their jobs. But leaders like that are never out of a job, never out of followers. Strange as it sounds, great leaders gain authority by giving it away. A good leader delegates, rather than separates control. Leadership is intentional influence. Leadership cannot really be taught. It can only be learned. A good leader must have specific qualities. A good leader must have charisma. Nobody likes an unlikable person. Charisma influences the thought and actions of those who follow. When people who follow you like you, they respect you, when they respect you, they'll follow you. A good leader must be confident in his or her abilities.The leader must know, must know that he knows, and must be able to make it abundantly clear to those around him that he knows. If a leader is unsure of something, that will make those who follow him unsure as well, and will result in confusion. A good leader must also be strict when he needs to be. To be able to set the tone when the time is necessary for it. Not to say that a leader must act like a dictator, but rather as a strong voice over the noise of calamity. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations. Also, a good leader must also be a good follower. Not only must he establish a common goal or direction, but he must also listen to his followers for insight or opinion. Shutting that out also shuts out their respect. A good leader must be able to think on the go. Premeditated reactions are a rare luxury, and time is an even rarer commodity. You must be able to analyze the situation, pinpoint the exact source of the problem, calculate solutions, pick the best course of action, and execute it, all within a moments time. Good leadership should never be based on fear, fear only leads to unrest and lack of cooperation. It is a team effort between leader and follower, working for the same goal. Respect is the currency of leadership. Rather than fear, reverence can spark more reaction. A leader must be an example, for those to look up to. A person to depend on when they don't have the answers. A good leader must be consistent. Consistency makes or breaks success. If you are not consistent, people can't rely on you. Basically, your followers must be able to reflect your actions, to mirror your movements. This codependency not only strengthens them, but the leader as well. Sometimes, doing everything for a person, although may seem helpful, can actually be hurtful to the learner. Some things must be experience through, simply enough, experience. A leader must have a voice of guidance, not a direct hand in the actions of those who follow. The best example of leadership I could ever give you, is the example of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him..... He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.