I read once that Leaders are born, not made. Throughout the history some great men have trodden this earth, mark the underlined word, a few or fewer leaders and whom we see most and many today,are managers.
As the world progresses through economic, social and scientific growth, much attention is paid to manage the processors and activities. Since the processors need supervision, meticulous attention to detail, every vile and hillock is documented, drafted and 'processorised' thus ways and means to manage these processors are blue printed, mandated and taught at business schools in which the academics take much pride in producing the Masters and Doctors who have acquired the mastery of the skill producing 'The 'Manager'.
So where is the leader? who is the leader? is it a better manager of processors? or is it a better manager of people?
Boleman and Deal (1991) presented their model on leadership and under Four key frameworks. Political, Human resource, Structural and Symbolic frameworks, they argue that a leader should play key pivotal roles to be effective.
A symbolic leader, according to Boleman and Deal takes up the characteristics of being a prophet, visionary, inspiratory figure whilst a more holistic picture can only be made when the contributing characteristics of the quadrant are met. [read more on their published research at Blake, R. R. & Mouton, J. S. (1985). The Managerial Grid III: The Key to Leadership Excellence. Houston: Gulf Publishing Co.]
Similar to these theorists Blake and Mouton (1985), and many other theories of leadership have only substantiated that a more emotional based trait lies at the heart and core of effective leadership.
Although many empirical references to define leadership can be sought, the true meaning of leadership is to make a human being of love, compassion, with respect to another human being. Leadership is careful articulation of the art of making men of respect, honour, making a man stand on his feet with dignity and pride, delimited to processors and followers of blue prints.
Paul (57 A.D) throughout his letters to the churches stresses on the art of leadership. If you dig deep it would unveil the true and clear message he had striven to get across.
He hypothetically assumes that he is the greatest orator, the most knowledgeable of that era, the greatest prophet, the evangelist and the visionary yet sums up these secular traits to clanging cymbal or a noisy gong, without one important element.
Dedicating a whole chapter in the New Testament, Paul writes to the witty, the hypocrite, the holy and the imbecile alike, the need to bear one another, virtues of patience, woes of tolerance, and value of kindness summarised in one word that binds the whole universe together - Love. (1 Corinthians 13)
Without love, all the knowledge of the universe, the gifts of Christianity and wit of the sage equals to zero. There exists no leadership without love, absence of love only complements a fine tuning of processors.
Paul stresses that Love lead God to send His only beloved Son to be crucified for us. Love lead God to feel compassionate for us, suffer for our sins and out of love stems the true characteristics of leadership.
Does the characteristics of leadership ring a bell with Love?
This article is open for your comments.
