What it Means to be a Leader

Leadership is a term that is thrown around a lot. It is used as a generalization and an adjective. But what does it mean to be a leader? When one thinks of another as being a leader, what is it about that other person that causes such a recognition to surface? As well, just because someone characterizes another person as being a ‘good’ leader does not necessarily make them one. Is there a universal definition for what makes a great leader? Such a dynamic word could never be defined in terms of just a few adjectives. There are countless qualities that contribute to making a leader what he or she is. It can be acknowledged, however, that specific qualities are notably more important to possess than others. These include honesty, trustworthiness, and loyalty.
The act of being a leader implies that one person is leading one or more other people in some task. The concept behind being a leader is that the leader provides guidance to the group, and helps them to stay organized and on task so that whatever the undertaking may be, the group will be successful in reaching their goal. Great leaders are often recognized when the group they have led accomplishes something great and noteworthy. On the other hand, many great leaders are never recognized for their talent merely because their group is rarely ever in the spotlight.
How can one gain the trust of his or her constituents if he or she is not honest? No price can be placed on honesty, for it is the basis of all leadership qualities. Being honest does not just include honesty to one’s peers, but to one’s self as well. It is hard to go about one’s life living a lie, yet it can still be done. Some people feel remorse inside when they do just this- others feel nothing. Many times if a person feels bad about something dishonest they do, they attempt to make it right. But this does not mean that one should only correct a personal issue if they feel bad about it. Even those people who do not feel anything inside when they lie to others, or cheat their way through various obstacles of their life, need to correct the wrong they have caused. Leadership always finds its base in honesty. Honesty to oneself is also an important concept that deserves recognition when leadership is being analyzed. Being a leader means getting the job done, however, telling oneself that a task can be accomplished when in fact it cannot, is outright erroneous. A prolix venture up Mount Everest cannot be accomplished with two cans of Vienna sausages and a loaf of bread. A good leader is able to recognize when being honest with oneself is the only reality of a situation. A good leader does not give up in the face of hardship or adversity, but knows his or her limits when it comes to taking unnecessary risks.
Possessing an honest character ties in perfectly with the notion of trustworthiness. The group one leads must be able to trust its leader, meaning therefore that one must be honest with them. If a leader cannot be honest with his or her followers, then the group will never succeed. Success is based on a strong bond that must be present in a group that intends to succeed. Unconditional trust is a concept that many people find difficulty in accepting, however it is a necessary characteristic of any group that wishes to succeed. It is the leader’s job to build up and instill this level of trust between the members of the group. The leader must also trust that his followers will carry their own weight in the workings of the group. A leader cannot afford to be skeptical of his followers in a time of duress. John slips on some ice and slides 150 feet down the side of a snow-covered mountain. He finds himself holding onto a ledge of ice as his body dangles 1500 feet over a patch of jagged rocks below. John must trust that his team member’s arm reached out in front of him will not let him go. He must trust that the person whose hand is out is in fact strong enough to pull him to safety, and has a sure grip that will not let him fall. If the leader has done his job, then there is no question in John’s mind. However, if the leader has failed to designate the strongest member of the team to be the rescuing party in an accident, and Sue tries to reach her arm out, everything could result in total disaster. As can be seen that it is imperative that a leader can be trusted to provide for the safety and subsequent success of his or her team. Success in this realm results in loyalty. When one hears the word ‘mutiny,’ one generally conjures up images of pirate ships and the ‘good guy’ walking the plank. The same mentality can easily be applied to real life leaders. If a leader is honest and trustworthy, then he or she can expect loyalty from his or her followers. A mutiny on a pirate ship occurs due to a lack of loyalty of the crew to its captain. Although an actual mutiny is not that prevalent a risk in today’s day and age, the team invariably suffers from dissenting members. They do not work as hard, try their best, or give it their all when they really need to. A good leader has loyal followers, but just as trustworthiness, loyalty too is a two-way system. A leader is expected to be loyal to those he or she leads. Who would want to be led by someone who will ultimately leave the group in the dark by claiming all the fame to something the group as a whole has accomplished? A leader who does not possess loyalty is not honest, and his or her word is thereby questioned. Thus the knot is tied between honesty, trustworthiness, and loyalty. A triangle is formed that, when broken, destroys the basis of leadership. Every good leader possesses these three underlying characteristics, and although no one is perfect, he or she makes every attempt to preserve this triangle. A leader gains his followers’ trust by being honest with them, and thereby earning their loyalty. Simultaneously, by being loyal and trustworthy, a leader gains his followers’ honesty. It is this solid triangle on which great leaders expand upon and grow into the remarkable human beings they ultimately emerge as.