Leader?
I went on a search to become a leader.
I searched high and low. I spoke with authority, people
listened but, alas, there was one who was wiser than I and they followed
him.
I sought to inspire confidence but the crowd responded, "Why
should we trust you?"
I postured and I assumed the look of leadership with a
countenance that glowed with confidence and pride. But many passed me by and
never noticed my air of elegance.
I ran ahead of the others, pointing the way to new heights. I
demonstrated that I knew the route to greatness. And then I looked back and I
was alone.
What shall I do, I wondered? I've tried hard and used all that
I know.
And I sat me down and I pondered long.
And then I listened to the voices around me. And I heard what
the group was going to accomplish.
I rolled up my sleeves and joined in the work.
As we worked I asked, "Are we all together in what we want to
do and how to get the job done?"
And we thought together and we fought together and we
struggled towards our goal.
I found myself encouraging the fainthearted. I sought the
ideas of those too shy to speak out.
I taught those who had little skill. I praised those who
worked hard.
When our task was completed, one of the group turned to me and
said, "This would not have been done without your leadership."
At first I said, "I did not lead; I just worked with the
rest."
And then I understood: leadership is not a goal. It is a way
of reaching the goal.
I lead best when I help others to go where we have decided we
want to go.
I lead best when I help others to use themselves
creatively.
I lead best when I forget about myself as leader and focus on
the group, their needs and their goals.
To lead is to serve, to give, to achieve together.
