The Leader

(This picture was taken when I visited Acadia National Park, Maine, USA. The leader leaves a trail for others to follow.)

My inspiration for this post came from the impending leadership transition at school. A good manager may not be a good leader, but a good leader is certainly a good manager. Managing is “hard” while leading is more “soft” than "hard". Mastering the art of balancing between the “hard” and “soft” is the most challenging part of leadership.  

Character shows over time, and especially in times of hardship. No leader will endure the test of time without integrity and humility because he will not have any followers. Character is shaped by one’s education and life experiences. No one is really born a leader. Predictability, consistency, fairness, and stability are hallmark of great leaders. Instead of describing all the desirable qualities of great leaders like in this paragraph, I wrote a few short stories on people in my life who have demonstrated remarkable leadership.   

It was my birthday in 2008 and one of my birthday cards wrote, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” It was from my superior and I was slated to take on a higher appointment. The next sentence was, “It is a heavier responsibility which you will not shoulder alone.” Together with the card was a nice torchlight, which I needed. His simple words and gesture had a great influence on me.

It had been three long days of sweat and a team of engineers had been troubleshooting an aircraft problem to no avail. My teammates and I were demoralized. We tried almost everything we could. When we got down the aircraft, we saw him in his long sleeve shirt and pants, squatting near the belly of the aircraft and staring at the antennas. He didn’t need to, but he came down from his comfortable air-conditioned office. He went on to share his 30 years of aircraft engineering experience with us. From that day, he came everyday and stayed hours with us until the issue was resolved. His dedication and rapport with the engineers were outstanding.

The commanding officer of an infantry battalion was one of the eldest soldiers in the unit. Nonetheless, he was the fastest runner. He was also the top graduate for his commanding officer course. He knew the names of all the officers, and most of the specialists and soldiers. Knowing most of them in person, he struck conversations just like their good friends. He used language and gestures that struck a chord with the soldiers. He made everyone a hero whenever possible, but held himself accountable. Soldiers with existing medical conditions stepped up and came forward when it was crunch time. Outside his military obligations, he has a successful career. He is also a good husband and a caring father of three. 

The team had good but not the best players in the soccer league. Each player had his strengths and weaknesses. They were of various background, religion, race, and spoke different languages. The coach prepared the team for the inter varsity competition, and the team went on to clinch the championship for the first time in history. He was the chief architect of the team’s success. He harnessed the best out of the players he had, and timed the peak of the team’s performance to perfection.

She is extremely busy but provides undivided attention during one-on-one conversations. Because she listens so carefully and attentively to everyone, her perspective is always holistic and balanced. She sees things that most people don’t. That is hard work. She speaks her mind as appropriate. Even when the situation is tricky, she gets her point across with grace and finesse. She has a great sense of humor and her laughter is contagious. Even when she doesn’t know the answer, she is able to point to the right direction or someone who can help. Once she knows that you are reliable and eager to learn, she empowers and elevates you, mentoring you along the way. When mistakes are made, she is magnanimous. Forward looking but always keeping in mind the lessons of the past, she advances with confidence and optimism, focusing her energy on things that matters most. She becomes a good follower when she needs to.

Last but not least, the true measure of a great leader is nothing but influence. When we meet great leaders, learn from them. Follow them. 

Thanks very much for reading.