The Leadership concept, really what is it? Part 4

Trapped within every follower is an undiscovered leader. Please read part 3 of this series to get the full context of this adventure. As fear came across the young lion, he tried to quiet down the great beast and make the same sound. However, the only sound he was able to muster up was the sound of a sheep. The great beast broke out with an even greater roar as to say, “Try it again.” After about seven or eight attempts at trying to mimic the great beast the young lion suddenly heard himself make the same sound as the beast. He also felt something in his body that he had never felt before. All of a sudden his mind, body, and spirit were being totally transformed.

In the river of life stood two beasts growling at and to each other. Then the Shepherd saw something he would never forget. The great beast stopped, turned his back on the young lion, and headed back for the forest. Then he paused for a moment and looked back at the young lion and growled as if to say, “Are you coming?” The day of decision had arrived for the young lion. He had to choose to live life as a sheep or as the self he had just discovered. He knew that to become his true self he would have to give up the secure, safe, predictable, and simple life of the farm and enter the frightening, wild, untamed, dangerous life of the jungle. It was a day to become true to himself and leave the false image of another life behind. It was an invitation to a “sheep” to become king of the jungle. Most importantly, it was an invitation for the body of a lion to possess the spirit of a lion.

After looking back and forth at the farm, then the jungle, the young lion followed the great beast into the forest to become who he always had been – a lion king. Doesn’t that story cause you to reflect upon your own self image, self concept, forks in the road we have to choose, and our own river of life? It does for me! We first need to discover the truth about ourselves; where we are from and what we are capable of. Until next time, remember to pursue the best and God Bless!

The Leadership concept, really what is it? III

Trapped with every follower is an undiscovered leader. That is truly my belief. An army of sheep lead by a lion will always defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. That quote is by Dr. Myles Munroe. I read a story about this African farmer who led his flock out to graze, and came across an apparently abandoned lion cub that was separated from its pride. So the farmer looked around cautiously so as to make sure the mother was not around to maul him. He took the young cub and raised him among his flock of sheep. Over the months the young cub grew into an energetic ball of shinny muscle. The young lion lived among the sheep, they accepted him and he became and acted just like them. After 15 months the young lion acted, sounded, responded, and behaved just like one of the sheep. The lion had become one of the sheep by association.

One day while the shepherd watched his flock as they drank at the river, across the river appeared a giant beast that the young lion had never seen before. In a panic the flock of sheep, including the young lion, ran back to the farm in fear. The beast made a sound that seemed to shake the forest. When its head rose above the tall grass, the farmer could see the beast had in its mouth one of his flock. Danger had returned to his part of the forest.

Days had passed without incident. Then one day while drinking at the river, the young lion, in fear, ran back to the farm once again. This time the sheep flock did not follow. The young lion slowly walked back to the river and saw that it was his own reflection that he was frightened of. While he tried to understand what he was seeing, suddenly, the beast appeared out of the jungle again. The flock dashed with breakneck speed toward the farmhouse, but before the young lion could move, the beast stepped in the water toward him and made that deafening sound that filled the forest. For a moment the young lion felt that his life was about to end. He realized that he saw not just one beast, but two----one in the water and one before him. The beast came within ten feet of the young lion, growling at him face to face with frightening power as to say “try it and come follow me.” This is a great story about leadership but a little long. I will finish next time. Until next time remember to pursue the best and God Bless!

The Leadership concept, really what is it? II

There is nothing as exclusive as leadership. You can make all the money in the world and that would make you rich. You can amass all the power in the world and that would make you strong, however I don’t believe these things alone will necessarily make you a leader. You can inherit a fortune from you father and his good name, but you can’t inherit leadership. We see topics of moral integrity, honor, values, role models, and respectable standards in our media everyday. We read of leaders having sexual escapades. We hear of business magnets, by the dozens, falling to corruption. We read of priest abusing and misusing the authority that has been entrusted to them. We see national leaders and their cabinet members being tried by their own governments for theft and other miscellaneous financial improprieties. So, where are the true leaders today?

In my opinion leadership has become a role that people play rather than the life they lead. Today’s leaders are attempting to divorce their personal lives from their public responsibilities and their personal principles from their public lives. To these so called leaders leadership is an act, not a calling. Then what makes a true leader? How then are authentic leaders produced? When does one truly become a leader? What are some of the distinct qualities that distinguish leaders from follower? Is there a gauge that can predict a leader? I believe there is a missing element in leadership development. Authentic leadership is not about going to the best schools, memorizing formulas, imitating methods, learning the latest leadership skills, or training and techniques. I believe it is an attitude of the heart. Please leave your comments; I would like your input on this subject. I’d like to know if we are on the same page here. Until next time remember to pursue the best and God Bless.

The Leadership concept, really what is it?

I have always been fascinated with the concept of leadership. What I have come to believe, trapped within every follower is a hidden leader. The most important quality of true leadership is the spirit of leadership. All humans possess the leadership spirit, but only those who capture the spirit of leadership ever become truly effective leaders. I believe we all have the capacity to lead within our own sphere of influence, which is called the leadership spirit. However, the spirit of leadership or the attitude of leadership, we must develop to really become the leaders we are meant to be. Simply put, the thinking of a leader is what separates him or her from the followers. I believe that true leaders are distinguished by a unique mental attitude that emanates from an internalized discovery of self, which creates a strong, positive, and confident self-concept and self-worth. This unique mental attitude is what I call the spirit of leadership. It’s an attitude that affects the entire life of the leader and controls how he or she acts or responds to life, danger, crisis, disappointment, failures, challenges, and stress. This attitude gives the leader a sense of confidence, faith, and the belief in possibilities.

You know what, life happens to all of us. The rain will fall on the just and the unjust. Our attitudes determine how we respond to the many challenges that all of us will encounter. The leader will inspire others to have hope in the face of great odds and cause the leader to cultivate a spirit of purpose, daring, passion, and conviction.

It is important to understand that leadership is not an exclusive club for the elite few who were “born with it.” Every human has the instinct and capacity for leadership, but most do not have the courage or will to cultivate it. Trust me on this; what we think is critical to becoming the leaders we are all destine to be. Your beliefs are a product of your thoughts, your thoughts create your beliefs, your beliefs create your convictions, your convictions create your attitude, your attitude creates your perception, and your perception dictates your behavior. I believe the question therefore is, from where or whom are we getting our thoughts? As I am writing this blog, I am talking to myself however, if it stimulates conversation in what you believe, please feel free to comment. Together let’s really explore what potential we all have personally and corporately. Till next time, thank you and God Bless!

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