Every country, company, or business, large or small, has one thing in common; the need for leadership. Every once in a while a great leader appears. Sometimes their greatness does not appear until a crisis appears but their greatness will surface.
Every leader answers to someone. They have responsibilities, schedules to keep, people to keep happy, problems to solve, and many other things on their shoulders. Many leaders are very good. Others find themselves in leadership, and realize that they are not equipped and are very unhappy.
Great leaders come from good leaders who show up at just the right time. Men like George Washington or Abe Lincoln, or Moses. These men and many others in history were in preparation a long time before they were called upon to lead. All these men were men of passion, vision, and a persevering determination to achieve the goals they set out to do.
So, what makes good or great leaders so different? They get people to do the work and accomplish the tasks assigned to them. Any leader can do that. But great leaders get people to want to do the work assigned to them. It is because they don't command people but inspire people. That is the difference.
A leader who can inspire people is always in great demand. Their style comes from their personality and character. They know how to communicate, not dictate. They know how to motivate without manipulation. They are morale builders, not whip- crackers.
Those who can inspire can lead, whether it's into battle or to run a business. They inspire their followers to do more than is expected of them. They instill in their followers, pride in who they are and what they do. People love to be a part of whatever or wherever this leader is doing or going.
Great leaders make their visions and goals clear for their followers. They communicate them constantly and clearly. They motivate by recognition and praise for work well done. They don't waste time with excuse and failure. They have no time for weakness. Also, they demand more of themselves than they do of others.
The world is starved for good leadership. And we need great ones too. So, where do they come from? They come from good homes. Yes, parents that gave them the right starts in life. They may have a good education or they may have little education. But, they understand life. The understand responsibility and the true purpose of hard work. They learn the basic principles of life from good parents, good manners, and respect for others, honesty, no short cuts, honor your father and mother, etc.
Yes, their journey to the top started many years before they got there. They knew failure and disappointment. However, failure and disappointments were not setbacks, but preparing times. They knew what they wanted and how to get there. They had desire, determination, and disciple; the three D's of success. People like this, will get there some day.
Chaplain Bud