The past generation had figures that represented leadership in their time, the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, among others. Today, most of us quote their success stories and make great examples of them which is great. But did we in-depth research as to what drove them so passionately to achieve so much?
John Kenneth Galbraith gave us a hint when he said all of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common. John said it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. To solve crucial problems in society, you have to think beyond yourself. You will have to think about what worries the people. You can’t go far if you have been thinking about yourself. Widen your perspective, broaden your vision.
Like John Kenneth said, the essence of leadership is the willingness to solve the major anxiety of the people. That’s the key – proferring solutions. Leaders see beyond themselves, what bothers the people is what bothers them. That is why their impact cuts across generations. They chose to selflessly and unashamedly take the responsibility of making the lives of others better.
Now that you know, that the essence of leadership is the willingness to confront the anxiety of others, what will you do about it? Fold your hands or start proactively thinking about making an impact?
