Around 500 BC, Confucius wrote much in regards to how one might best conduct life. To this, he also wrote on the principles of leadership, and how best to govern. His arguments could be surmised, that to be a wise King requires a well ordered kingdom. A well ordered Kingdom requires a well ordered family. A well ordered family requires a well ordered mind. A well ordered mind requires a well ordered soul.
It would follow, that there is an interconnectedness between that of the leader and the people. A thought echoed many years later in regards to the Arthurian Legends, and the Holy Grail. To this, in the movie Excalibur, it was said, That as the King thrives, so does the land.
One of the few truths I have found over time, is that every strength is its own weakness. When we look at Western Society, perhaps its greatest strength is its emphasis on Individuality. In return, this has led to great innovation, a diversity of culture, and a greater amount of freedom than the world has ever before known. Yet at the same time, it has led to a divisive culture, a rat race of sorts, where people cut one another down to achieve individual success.
While there is much to be said about Individualism, the strength of humanity has always been through cooperation. This is why leadership is called for. It is the role of a leader to bring people together, to give to them a vision, and to act in such a way as to bring about this vision to the society.
It should also be said, that leadership takes place in every aspect of life. From within the family, a group of friends, at the workplace, in our local communities, and our churches, and then from our leaders on a more national level. This is why it is important that we emphasize leadership as a skill for all people. For in the end, leadership is required from every individual in a functional society.
To that end, I offer forth three Axioms of Leadership.
The Wise Leader must First Learn to Follow
In order to make effective choices, leadership requires a functional chain of command. To this end, the first step of leadership takes place at the lowest levels of society. When a manager gives instructions to their employees, they expect those instructions to be followed. When people undermine this authority, it brings about a divisiveness, and a sense of insubordination. In contrast, when these instructions are carried out by the employee, then they are in turn rewarded with greater responsibility.
This in turn leads to a symbiotic relationship between a leader and their people. As people are found to be reliable, they are granted a greater amount of trust, and in turn the leader must follow the lead of their subordinate. It is through this process that people find themselves with greater amounts of power, and responsibility for their actions as well.
On another level, it is also true that a wise leader must have a vision. Perhaps it is as simple as just completing the task at hand, or as complex as creating a moral compass for society. At any event, by following this vision, the leader is given a set of principle to guide them in the process of decision making.
A Wise Leader must be Decisive
If we lived in a perfect world, there would be no need for leadership. However, this is not the world that we live in. Things break down, accidents happen, the unforeseen is always looming on the horizon. For this reason, one of the primary responsibilities of a leader is to make decisions.
There is perhaps nothing so frustrating on the work sight, than encountering a problem, one which requires a managerial decision, and then being left with no answer, and being forced to accept the consequences for a decision on the part of the employee. It's not that the employee doesn't have a solution, its just that the solution is often against company policy. This in turn creates a lose-lose situation. If they take the action that is probably required, they have become insubordinate through no fault of their own, if they do not act, then they have failed to complete the task at hand. This is why a leader must be decisive.
Along with the power to act, the power to make a decision, however comes responsibility. When a leader makes a decision, the result of that decision, the consequences of this act is upon their shoulders. For this reason, a leader must accept that when things go wrong, it is not the fault of the people, the fault is with them, and with the failure to respond to the unforeseen in an adequate manner.
Of course, it is unlikely that a leader will always make the right decision, however, many times, the wrong decision is better than no decision at all. For in hesitating to act, things have a way of breaking down. This is why the leader is called upon to make the best decision that they can arrive at, that is most in line with their overall vision.
To this end, perhaps the best guidance for a leader, is that they make a fair and just decision. If they are seen to be impartial, or unfair, then this will lead to a sense of injustice amongst the people. If they listen to all sides of an issue, and address all the concerns, then the decision, for better or worse, will be accepted by the people.
It is Wisdom to Lead through Example
Perhaps nothing is more outrageous to the people than when they find hypocrisy within their leaders. It is a basic violation of trust, and for this reason, when we see a leader involved within a scandal, it becomes an overnight headline.
When we look through the pages of history, we remember Alexander the Great, not only for his genius as a military commander, yet also for his courage. His people followed him into battle, because he fought alongside them. He took it upon himself to face the same dangers as what he asked his soldiers to take. Yet, later in his career, when he fell into decadence, and declared himself a God, this was found to be a betrayal of the very values of the people that followed him.
As we progress through the ages, the name of Hitler has become synonymous with villainy and hatred. As he rose to power, he led his people down a path of hatred and destruction, until at last, he left his nation in shambles, destroyed by the ravages of war, and stained by a legacy of genocide.
That is why it can be said, you reap what you sow. Which leads us to another great leader. That of the life and testimony of Jesus Christ. Here we see a man who practiced the principles which he taught. In so doing, this man of humble origins, through the sacrifice of his life has been remembered through the ages.
Now while I don't mean to advocate any particular view of Christ, for there are many, it can be said, that because Christ lived the example of his own teachings, today, throughout the many nations, and the many tongues, his name has been remembered as the King of Kings.
