LEADERSHIP – JUST WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Mention the word “leadership” and you get some strange reactions from people, depending on whether they are in politics, commerce or just everyday living.

To those in the political game, leadership is, in the main, perceived to be a combination of firm resolve with an ability, machiavellian like, to get “those” behind organised in such a way not to mount a challenge.

In business, and/ or commerce, especially the world of the “Corporate jungle”, leadership is often misconstrued with the scenario of intimidation and wielding of powers in business hours that are taken away when that person returns to the area of domestic life.

In everyday living, it is also misconstrued as those that can talk the loudest and fastest and make the most points are “leaders”.

My dear friend and mentor Sergio Carlos Maresca once defined “leadership as being all about having others do what you want for their reasons” whilst no lesser leader than Napoleon once said that “leaders are dealers in hope”.

So where does that put us into the leadership equation?

I have been singularly fortunate in that I was raised by a man who was not only the fairest man I have ever met but also a natural born leader, both in war and peace, and that was my late adopting father Clarrie Fountain.

So when I look at people, either supposedly a leader or aspiring to be that, I apply what I call my “Clarrie test” and to which they must come through on various points, amongst which are:-

• do they have leadership through raving and ranting or do they chose to lead by example? Are they in the latter case then followers of such men as Nelson, Alexander, Rommel et al?

• Do they know and understand what motivates their people, especially the key ones?

• Do they have compassion for others who have not been as fortunate in life and

• Do they care what effect these decisions have on their people?

Leadership, whilst having it’s moments of glory (hopefully) can also take people to the edge of, and sometimes over and into, the abyss of life.

If you are to be a true leader then not only does “the buck stop here” but also you will be called upon to make hard decisions, some of which will certainly not be popular at the time but which hopefully will be seen, as time and circumstance pass, to have been the correct ones.

Being a leader also involves having to live with yourself in those decisions. As someone once said " honour is the gift you give yourself"

What are your thoughts?