We seem to be a world obsessed with “No. 1”s. “Leadership” is used as a management buzz word, people in all walks of life are judged on it as a trait, business schools and coaches even teach it on a regular basis. I have dabbled, and this is pretty bold coming from someone who is no authority on any such issues, in entertaining the insolent thought that perhaps we are losing sight of what actually makes a leader or a No. 1.
Whether Leaders are made or born is a much-debated topic which is not to be discussed here; that is for another day perhaps. I have often wondered for a few years now, whether Leaders or No. 1s deserve the demi God status that we bestow on them and if not, what makes them look so good that we end up doing so. I will excuse myself and eliminate from this population of No. 1s spheres of individual effort such as Sportsmen, Science, and Medicine etc. where No. 1s are often the direct result of meritorious commendation. People such as No. 1 Tennis players, Nobel Prize winners, literary figures who are deemed No. 1 based on their skills that are evident, apparent and directly measurable are exempt from this discussion. I write this with those Leaders and No. 1s in mind that manage large operations & corporations, lead political parties, and start revolutions & movements. These are people who are charismatic. These are visionaries who command respect; they are visible and awe-inspiring.
The question that has troubled me is that a leader is so often the face of an effort, but the effort resides in the many people who make the machinery move; the many faces that form the nuts and bolts of the whole structure - as such, do we end up glorifying the leaders when success follows? I wonder. Every charismatic leader has a reliable “right hand man/woman” who executes. I will be so bold as to admit that the thought has crossed my mind that this right man/woman is the real leader – the one who makes the Leader look good. The leader is a visionary, the one who provides the crazy idea, the one who dares to dream. But this right hand man/woman literally takes the idea and runs with it, makes it a reality. He/she is less celebrated, less visible but quietly goes about lining up all the ducks for the revered leader.
In no way am I suggesting that the concept of the charismatic leader is redundant. Rather I do believe in and admire the courage of a visionary. All I am aiming to provoke thought for is that the right hand man/woman deserves more credit than given. He/she is the most important in the grand scheme of things.
In recent times I have come across some interesting shifts that have transformed my hunch to a conviction. Recently, I came across an interesting clip on TED that assured me that I was not entirely wrong in thinking so. I encourage you to have a look –
Of course, I was not entirely convinced yet; surely there are leaders out there who are people of action, who are their own right hand man/woman. I have personally always respected, admired, aspired to be like and worked best under people who lead by example. I thought hard about what these people have that other charismatic leaders don’t stir within me. After much thought I was convinced it boiled down to one thing – humility.
Perhaps it may be fitting to say that great leaders are men/women of courage, people who dare to dream the extraordinary, who have the will to transform our world, who give birth to revolutions and who motivate us to be better, to partake in the vision to excel. However, these people need their right hand man/woman to execute and deliver. They lead us & we glorify them, celebrate them. But when a leader in humble, it transforms them from just a leader – they become their own right hand man or woman, they transcend and deliver, lead by example and truly inspire. Gandhi, Mandela comes to my mind as transcendental leaders.
More recently, my theory received a boost when, as an ardent sports fan, I came across an article in The Times of India talking about the art of “humble” leadership. I leave you with it, and urge you to think about this – do we over glorify our leaders? And real leaders often fly under the radar.
Times of India: http://www.bolegaindia.com/gossips/Dhoni_Puyol_sets_example_of_humble_leadership-gid-4131-gc-14.html (originally appeared in the Times of India on 31/05/2011)
Another article: http://www.thee2coach.com/2011/03/the-value-of-humility/
Certainly this is a topic that can be debated over an entire lifetime and its possible never to reach any resolution. In no way do I expect a 900 word insignificant blog to solve this or convince anyone of this. My intention is to express myself and invite comment. Hope I have stirred some thought regardless of whether anyone agrees with what I have proposed or not.
Extraordinarily ordinary, nonetheless, yours truly
