The Call to Leadership

I have no desire to become a leader. I'm critical, analytical, an observer, and introspective...thus, I write. Being amongst those that do aspire for leadership though gets me thinking...

Every single person that has taken a stand and voiced their position publicly has received scrutiny. Even as a modestly read writer, I have heard my share of people's opinions. It's never easy. Opposing and unexpected reactions can cut deep, thus the test of a leader is how well they manage through their reception.

Considering greatness, we can see that leaders are careful to make the distinction between a different perspective regarding an issue and attacks on their character. An example can be seen in President Obama's approach to criticisms. Time and time again, I have seen President Obama carefully separate other people's comments from his political policies and who he is as a person. The entire campaign he ran on emphasized that the opposition was weak at criticizing his economic policies, therefore they were focusing attention on his character. Despite the often effective manipulation of reasoning, President Obama successfully showed America that working towards discrediting the person does nothing to discredit the argument, the issue, the policy, the idea.

The call to leadership comes from an intense desire to change the status quo. The test of leadership comes from the actions a person takes while being under uncomfortable circumstances. It takes more than a sincere desire to be a positive influence. One must walk through the fire and pass the test to earn the right of followers.

A saddening observation is that too many of us pride ourselves on how well we cope with scrutiny after the fact, rather than the actual importance of how well we act during the moments we are being scrutinized. We tell ourselves that we are strong and respectable because we brush other people off like dirt on our shoulders. But that borders too close to purposeful ignorance for comfort. I admire those that grow, evolve, and change to become the best response for which each circumstance demands. I pay no mind to the ones that disregard the difficult opinions. And, I grit my teeth as some mistake varying perspectives as complete ad hominems.

We assign blame and are quick to point fingers. It's because it's easy. We derive the term and define others as "fair weather" friends, as if true friendship is only born from the ashes of trials and tribulations. Although the ideal is romantic and well intended, judging social ties upon the after effects of negativity rides within the margins of abusive relationships. It is a walk along the edge of a well-greased cliff of insecurities for the temptation of purposefully instilling chaos is often too hard to resist. So, a leader must be wise with their relations and individuality. The greatest leaders seek to invite friends to fair weather, instead of critically punishing with judgments about others staying to weather the storm.

We are living in remarkable times. This is an age that few, if any, had ever thought they would see with their living eyes. Even beyond the breaking of racial barriers and evolving past pigeonholing stereotypes, we are of a new world of substantially networked communication. Anyone with the will has a voice. The ease to which we may be heard empowers our generation to global extents that those before us could only dream of. Although this also eases the access for receiving difficult criticisms, our privilege of infinitely vast communication signifies that we just need to grow ourselves to the next level. Thicken your skins and use the opposition as the voice for your support.


Thank you for your time reading this glimpse into the actual and non-caricatured me.