Some fresh thoughts on leadership

"Above all else, leaders for the next generation must be motivated by a sincere desire to serve the entire community and must understand that leadership is a responsibility; not a path to privilege. For too long, leadership has been understood, by both leaders and followers, as the assertion of control over others. Indeed, this age demands a new definition of leadership and a new type of leader."

(Baha'i International Community, Turning Point For All Nations)

Dear G R,

The quotation you cited is very nice - but I'm not sure
that I quite get what sort of leadership did you have in
mind because there are various styles of leadership.

Different conditions require different leadership qualities.
The kind of leadership required in a military battle or the
after-math of an earthquake may call for different qualities,
and different people, than the kind of leadership required
at a corporation board meeting or a political convention,
or running a country.

Could you please explain just a little further as to what
exactly you're after with this thread?

Thanks.

I've worked with and for both types of leaders over the past decades.

One type leads from the front, sets an example and inspires others to follow.

The other just gets behind and pushes.

Both can deliver results but one seems to create other leaders and better followers in his/her wake.

G.R. you write

'Above all else, leaders for the next generation must be motivated by a sincere desire to serve the entire community and must understand that leadership is a responsibility; not a path to privilege.'

nice thought G.R. but unless the adamic nature is dealt with you have no hope. Each successive generation over the last few have grown more and more selfish. Your wishes are good but don't hold your breath. These days people are considered saints if they keep marriage vowels (except for 'wicked ' Abbott). The new atheist deny the adamic nature despite being miserable failures when it comes to morality.

It is a dream, constructed on a fantasy.
No such leader ever lived or will live.
A leader must lead, at best for most.
No person even a God, any of the many, can please every one.
I feel the inclusion of a religion in the thread is a question with in a comment.
Is the thread to air the religion.
Or to put a fanciful comment forward
Reality is much more thought should be given to what is achievable in leaders.

Over my twenty plus years as a boss, both as a hired manager and an owner, I have adopted both methods of leadership lead by example, or get behind and crack the whip.

There is no doubt that best results come from leading by example.

I often say, if you can catch me, I will reward you.

The problems I see in the future are mainly issues that have festered from the good old political correctness, whereby so many today are frightened to step on ones dick as to say.

For me, you either lead or follow, but there can be no middle ground, and bullying seems to be the buzz word these days.

You have to wonder if we would have still been here today if our fore fathers, who led the way in battle, had been restricted by todays PC and anti bullying laws.

A vast majority out there today simply need to harden the F up.

there is much difference..bewetween words and works
all good leaders have good works..

where good works are
good words follow

to give an egsample
here is words

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=4792&page=0

they reveal..the works of an honest man
upon whom..the unspoken words of the vile..in their works..remained mute..

im over using many more words

by our works will we be judged
not upon the silenced utterance's from our
vile heart murmerings..realised[made real]..via our viler lips

It's simple enough- stop voting for parties where the candidates have been of recent past, corrupt, and only here for the gravy train.

The truth is, every party applicant goes through a rigorous screening process by its members- and they would easily pick up careerism in everyone they recruit- but they are more concerned that their candidates think the same way they do (which often includes supporting them when they do the wrong thing). Either way, for them to allow such people proves they have no problem if their members aren't here to do their jobs.

In other words, simply stop voting for the Liberals (Abbot, Turnbull), Labor (Keating, Gillard, Iemma, Carr, Kineally), The Nationals (Joyce, Crook) and the Democrats (all the members that sold Telstra).

Look at your remaining candidates and start checking them out.

Whether for good or ill leaders set the example (and leaders need to be aware of this).

They can inspire people to do great things or maintain a system of personal gain, self-aggrandisement and bullying. We only have to look around our to see much of the latter and little of the former.

A good leader or a good boss is a rare animal these days even accepting nobody is perfect. Too many careerists looking out for number one instead of concentrating on the job at hand and getting the best out of staff just by treating people with respect. It is not that difficult.

I am glad for a bit of PC in regards to some work behaviours. Who would wish to go back to the good old days of sexually aggressive managers and all that entailed. At least one can go about their jobs for the most part without worrying about some cretin with a hand up one's dress.

Bullying may be overstated but this does not mean the baby should be thrown out with the bath water (excuse the cliche). A good manager does not resort to bullying however a bad employee should also be accountable for their own failures. I know of one case where a manager had to endure an accusation of bullying for giving a poor performance review. After more than one investigation the manager was exonerated. A victim of a false claim of bullying is as equally traumatised as a legitimate victim of bullying.