The Leader
Content
The Leader.
The question often arises as to who is a Leader. Several quotes try to give us some
clarity. Foremost must be “Leadership is action, not position”. All said and done, we
still remain with a whole list of questions on leadership. Who? How? When? Why?
But most of all Why not me?
From the rudimentary concept of a leader as being one who leads followers – Army
Generals, Team Sport Captains, The Foreman on the shop floor, Site supervisors,
Sales Heads, Branch Heads and the usual list of persons in command; to a very
different parameter of the one ahead of the others! Market share, Brand recognition
and even job offers are now parameters to gauge Leadership. Irrespective of how
one views it, certain qualities are inherent in every leader.
“In order to be a leader, a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man
must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality for a leader is
unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it
is on a section gang, a football field, in an army or in an office. If a man’s associates
find him guilty of phoniness, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail.
His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need,
therefore, is integrity and high purpose.” – Dwight Eisenhower.
You will notice that these lines apply equally to individuals as to the largest
corporations. After all, “He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who
perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9)
The question often arises as to who is a Leader. Several quotes try to give us some
clarity. Foremost must be “Leadership is action, not position”. All said and done, we
still remain with a whole list of questions on leadership. Who? How? When? Why?
But most of all Why not me?
From the rudimentary concept of a leader as being one who leads followers – Army
Generals, Team Sport Captains, The Foreman on the shop floor, Site supervisors,
Sales Heads, Branch Heads and the usual list of persons in command; to a very
different parameter of the one ahead of the others! Market share, Brand recognition
and even job offers are now parameters to gauge Leadership. Irrespective of how
one views it, certain qualities are inherent in every leader.
“In order to be a leader, a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man
must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality for a leader is
unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it
is on a section gang, a football field, in an army or in an office. If a man’s associates
find him guilty of phoniness, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail.
His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need,
therefore, is integrity and high purpose.” – Dwight Eisenhower.
You will notice that these lines apply equally to individuals as to the largest
corporations. After all, “He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who
perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9)
