Thank you for this post. I am currently in a leadership position and this has brought up some good questions to ask myself as a leader. I lead a crew of wildland firefighters. We work in a very dynamic environment that requires quick thinking and action and sometimes I have to make some really unpopular decisions and take ownership of those decisions. That ownership has been the most important part of my growth in this field and as a leader. As such, I have to recognize that, yes, at times being in a role of authority has played on my ego and enabled some of my worst habits. But amongst my fellow crew leads, we try to remind ourselves to stay humble and work on ourselves as leaders everyday. I think this post serves as a good reminder that I am in this position to serve those I lead and to serve the communities we help protect everyday.
That's what I am and have been practicing it forever. I never had the definitions pointed out to me and do wish I were better. Very few accept this form of leadership and put it down. To me it is a reflection of the times - sadly. I will persevere with your help guiding me.
A great post that certainly shines a light on why - certainly with respect to political leadership - democracy as an institution, as a foundation, something that was always intended to be fundamental, seems to be failing, all around the world. Leaders are elected based on their charisma, their fluency, and we overlook their egos, their ambitions, their intentions and desire for 'power'.
A great leader knows it's not about them. If they can help those around them to become great, to succeed in their roles, then that will ultimately be the true measure of their success, contribution and greatest value.
Well said. Thank you for sharing this. Leadership is difficult. To maintain a moral and just leadership throughout time is even more difficult. Purpose, reflection and staying true to the good of the future and others can be even more difficult.
For me the hallmarks of a good leader are Compassion, Honnor, Integrity, Empathy, Patience, a strategic mind, competency, ambition, a drive to excel, the ability to solve problems effectively, courage in the face of adversity, the ability to protect, the ability to change when need be, the ability to admit failure when it happens, emotional intelligence, the ability to remain cool headed under pressure, and the ability to make impactful decisions that benefit you & everyone else around you.
How do we get back to serving out of a desire to make change that benefits all not a few? I think it’s harder than we think, we have created a society that values a false sense of importance, that is based off of how many likes can be generated from the expense of others privacy and pain or their own delusional importance. The value gained from how many likes one receives from a social site is false value and the need to keep that false value creates a vicious cycle and it can all be shattered by one comment made by someone who doesn’t care about you but who you base your value in society off of. We have created a society that is self centered and self serving and some of these people call themselves leaders of religious organizations, big corporations and even presidents. Yes they may be important but in their minds their importance is much greater than the importance of those they serve.
A good business leader combines vision with execution. They see the big picture, make decisive moves, and adapt quickly. They inspire and empower their teams, communicate with clarity, and lead with integrity. Above all, they build a strong culture and create long-term value, not just short-term wins.
Thank you for this post. I am currently in a leadership position and this has brought up some good questions to ask myself as a leader. I lead a crew of wildland firefighters. We work in a very dynamic environment that requires quick thinking and action and sometimes I have to make some really unpopular decisions and take ownership of those decisions. That ownership has been the most important part of my growth in this field and as a leader. As such, I have to recognize that, yes, at times being in a role of authority has played on my ego and enabled some of my worst habits. But amongst my fellow crew leads, we try to remind ourselves to stay humble and work on ourselves as leaders everyday. I think this post serves as a good reminder that I am in this position to serve those I lead and to serve the communities we help protect everyday.
That's what I am and have been practicing it forever. I never had the definitions pointed out to me and do wish I were better. Very few accept this form of leadership and put it down. To me it is a reflection of the times - sadly. I will persevere with your help guiding me.
“false comfort ultimately causes greater harm than honest difficulty”
This post was excellent and have always returned to read and learn from the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius.
A great post that certainly shines a light on why - certainly with respect to political leadership - democracy as an institution, as a foundation, something that was always intended to be fundamental, seems to be failing, all around the world. Leaders are elected based on their charisma, their fluency, and we overlook their egos, their ambitions, their intentions and desire for 'power'.
A great leader knows it's not about them. If they can help those around them to become great, to succeed in their roles, then that will ultimately be the true measure of their success, contribution and greatest value.
Great post, I hope many read this piece.
Wow, says it all. How can we rededicate our citizenry in this entertainment age? Tk u for this, hope it gets wide dissemination and discussion!
Well said. Thank you for sharing this. Leadership is difficult. To maintain a moral and just leadership throughout time is even more difficult. Purpose, reflection and staying true to the good of the future and others can be even more difficult.
Yep! Well said.
loved it
Loaded with wisdom
For me the hallmarks of a good leader are Compassion, Honnor, Integrity, Empathy, Patience, a strategic mind, competency, ambition, a drive to excel, the ability to solve problems effectively, courage in the face of adversity, the ability to protect, the ability to change when need be, the ability to admit failure when it happens, emotional intelligence, the ability to remain cool headed under pressure, and the ability to make impactful decisions that benefit you & everyone else around you.
How do we get back to serving out of a desire to make change that benefits all not a few? I think it’s harder than we think, we have created a society that values a false sense of importance, that is based off of how many likes can be generated from the expense of others privacy and pain or their own delusional importance. The value gained from how many likes one receives from a social site is false value and the need to keep that false value creates a vicious cycle and it can all be shattered by one comment made by someone who doesn’t care about you but who you base your value in society off of. We have created a society that is self centered and self serving and some of these people call themselves leaders of religious organizations, big corporations and even presidents. Yes they may be important but in their minds their importance is much greater than the importance of those they serve.
A good business leader combines vision with execution. They see the big picture, make decisive moves, and adapt quickly. They inspire and empower their teams, communicate with clarity, and lead with integrity. Above all, they build a strong culture and create long-term value, not just short-term wins.
Powerful conclusion 👊🏻
Virtue matters, but the rarest leader is the one whose presence makes the current obey.
Thank you so much, this post was brutal! It was a wonderful read.