What makes a good leader?

At the beginning of the 20th Century the word “leadership” couldn’t be found in any dictionary.  It was always assumed that those in positions of authority were leaders, and had the skills necessary to lead.

Consequently teachers, ministers, elected officials and those who were successful in business, were given the benefit of assuming a leadership position within society.

But, that delegation of leadership to those in a position of authority began to fall apart as we exited the 20th Century.

The effects of Watergate, and the impeachment of two presidents made us understand that those we elect to public office aren’t always honest with us and the realization that positions of authority doesn’t confirm leadership.

The Fall from Grace of religious luminaries and the exposure of wide-spread sexual abuse by the clergy dimed our respect for the leadership skills of those who have been given the mantle of leadership in the moral arena.

The recent Pandemic and the breakdown of our educational system shows that even those who we put in charge of our children sometimes fail.  Our institutions of higher education have become self-centered and self-important and grasped the idea that they, and they alone, have the answers to society’s problems.

Big business, with monopoly control over the flow of information, has set itself up as the country’s savior to censor ideas which they have deemed unhealthy to the masses.

All of these failures of our institutions and people of influence show a lack of leadership on the part of all those we thought were leaders.

What makes a good leader?

We’ve all had leaders who we would follow anywhere.  We’ve had leaders whom we didn’t think knew a thing about what they were doing.

What is it that separates good leaders from the others?

We’ve all had teachers who may know their subject matter, but were unable to teach it.  Teachers who made the subject so boring  that you couldn’t understand it no matter how hard you tried.

We’ve also had teachers who gave us zip and zest – who made the subject interesting no matter how complex.  They created in us a desire to learn and made us want to do better.

We’ve all had bosses who find time to do other things rather than give us their time.

So, what is that makes the difference?

The answer is passion.  Sheer unadulterated passion.

People who are passionate about their product, job, skill or talent, make others passionate about those same subjects.   And, people who are passionate about something, get it done.