On Leadership

What is leadership? It should be self-evident that it is more than the title on a door or the seat at the head of a table. Leadership is a testament to one’s ability to navigate through the murky or even dangerous waters, and for the common good rather than personal gain. Given that our world is one in which political rhetoric is often reduced to sound bites and leadership itself is often conflated with celebrity status, many people find themselves asking: What does it mean to truly lead? And why does it matter? Let’s get one thing straight. Leadership isn’t about popularity or poll numbers; it’s about principles. It has been said that, if you consider yourself to be a leader, but nobody is following you, you’re not a leader. That isn’t always true. A leader must be willing to stand alone if necessary. That is precisely what Martin Luther King, Jr. did when he strongly opposed the Vietnam War long before doing so was popular. Leadership is the ability to stand firmly on one’s principles when the winds of political convenience blow hardest. This is what distinguishes a true leader from a mere politician. Anyone can play to a...