DEFINITION CURSE

 

 

Definitions they follow us our whole life, the better you define a word the more effective it is.  Are we defining leadership wrong? Is our definition of leadership too shallow that is affecting our lives, community, country and even generations to come?

Who is a leader?

Is it the big fancy vocabulary speech, or that fancy suit or the fat wallet?

Well, taking the current sate of the country into consideration it isn’t.

Who then is a leader?

A true leader wants what’s right more than what will win. If an injustice is being done to an adversary, he’ll protest about it. He wants a fair fight. A true leader will try and find a way to make it all work, without a fight. A true leader will walk away in defeat if he feels his cause is lost. He accepts something new. A true leader knows when his time is up, he can gracefully step aside and allow someone else a chance to make it work.

A true leader isn’t out to lead. A true leader isn’t interested in following. It may be what the true leader would have done anyway. He’s got confidence in knowing that he’s in charge of him. He knows he will only be able to blame himself if he chooses something that he’ll regret.

In this era of the 21st century, we as a society and as a nation has become habitual to criticize and blame the leaders for our every problem. But really is that wrong?

Here’s the thing- as a leader, anything that happens on your watch is your responsibility whether you like it or not. (It is just what you signed up for)

This level of responsibility just goes with the territory, and leaders who cannot accept this do not deserve to lead. Last time I checked we all make mistakes – I know I do. Most of us don’t look for perfection in leaders, we look for leaders who see mistakes as a chance for opportunity, growth, and improvement, not an opportunity to “blame shift”.

We need to find a definition that doesn’t only wear a coat but also who when it’s time to get a game of 4 on 4 in before the end of 4th-grade recess, he shouts, “First two to make it are captains!” He goes to the line with the ball and faces the rim. Bounces the ball. Before he shoots a single file, line has formed behind him. They are choosing to follow.

 

We need to redefine leadership.