The Leadership Manifesto

There are three types of leaders; regular leaders, great leaders, and the best leaders. However, in general leaders are the controllers of a group. They are the ones who guide the decisions, interactions, the timing, and the tone. Leaders do not necessarily have an official title or authority, but they are the force within a given group. We have seen leaders throughout history who had no position, title, or authority, and yet they led the masses with their desire. The French Revolution was started regardless of the king. Alexander became The Great by his actions. Hitler took Europe. Americans wrested freedom from England. They were not simply born into these roles, nor were they forced into them. They did, however, have a lot in common as to who they were as people, how they conducted themselves, and the visions and actions they had and took. They developed into the world-altering people that history memorializes them as being. Leaders are made.

                Regular leaders have similar characteristics and behaviors, that they learned, that gave them the opportunities that life eagerly threw at them. Leaders influence, guide, shape, and inspire those around them. They are analytical, disciplined, inspiring to others, visionary, engaged, active, creative, detailed, passionate, confident, persuasive, respectable, focused, ambitious, communicative, resourceful, clear, direct, organized, responsible, and decisive. Some would argue that certain physical traits would make someone a leader, and although it doesn’t hurt to be “tall, dark, and handsome” if you’re a leader, it is not a necessity. Napoleon Bonaparte was the exact opposite of those traits, and yet he conquered Europe. They possess communication, presentation, persuasion, and analytical skills that are vetted, tried and tested. They evolve over their lifetime. They are constantly learning about their passions. They wake every day with personal vision, mission, and goals that they will reach that day. They have a plan in action to reach their long-term vision, mission, and goals. They are engaged with their own success. They have strong self-control. They took Socrates “know thyself” to heart and could state clearly its’ applications upon request. In all these characteristics and behaviors, they are consistent. Fortunately, all of these can in fact be learned regardless of birthright, but consequently this means that bad people can also learn them. Hitler, Stalin, and Mao all learned these things and used them to massacre millions upon millions of their own people and others. Liars, thieves, murderers, and thugs use these same things every day to their own ends. Leaders love learning.

                Great leaders have an additional set of skills, and styles that make them stand out. They receive, give, and share information well. They understand the needs and resources of those around them, and how to help them. They delegate responsibility with trust. They guide with caution the group using a lot of teaching and counseling. They are the example of the standards that they hold for others. They plan ahead, evaluate their plans, acknowledge faults and adjust their plans accordingly. They are honest, genuine, grateful, kind, caring, compassionate, supportive, empowering, collaborative, humble, observant, and human. Great leaders overcome external and internal barriers to reach a desired and beneficial end. It is noteworthy that soldiers tend to take on the personality attributes, skills, and styles of their commanding officer (especially if they are secluded from other groups for some length of time). If the commander has a bad attitude and poor communication skills, then the results are bad. However, if the commander is a good leader then the soldiers will be happy, healthy, and successful. Great leaders also have a high level of emotional intelligence. They are very aware of who they are, how they relate to others, their communication styles, how others perceive them, who their peers are, and how they best understand and receive communication and direction. They are in total control of their own emotions and adapt to the needs of others or the situation. Great leaders are great listeners.

The Best leaders of history have an additional single thing that set them apart. Winston Churchill, George Washington, Queen Elizabeth I, Martin Luther King Jr. and many more are considered the Best leaders of all because of their Moral cause. Winston Churchill stood against the evil of Marxist Nazis. George Washington stood for Freedom from the tyrannical King George III. Queen Elizabeth I stood against the absolute domination of Spanish catholic imperialism. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for equal standing for everyone regardless of race. Moral causes translate into the business world today, and are seen in the Vision and Mission statements of many companies. One of the Founding Values of Enterprise Holdings Incorporated states, “Personal honesty and integrity are the foundation for our success”. In other words they want employees that are morally and ethically bound. Companies like The Red Cross, exist to aid in the protection of life itself. The best leaders not only have the previously mentioned skills, characteristics, and styles of great leaders first, but they also have a moral guidance for what they do. The Best leaders are Moral leaders.

Leadership is the action of these attributes, skills, styles, and causes. Followers are plentiful, but if no one takes action then there is no leadership. We can see this reality in sheep. Left to themselves, sheep are lost, wandering, victims. However, if the sheep have a shepherd that takes care of them (learns and knows their needs), they will follow him. If the shepherd protects them from the wolves (the shepherd must be a great listener), they will stay with him. If the shepherd shows his care for them (moral), they will trust him no matter what he does. Every human, however, is unique and intelligent in their own right, and thus the qualifications are far more extensive and complicated (as seen above), but the metaphor still holds true. Many followers know what it takes to be a leader, but they never take the action necessary to be that leader. Their reasons are their own, but those who do take action utilizing these skills, characteristics, and styles consistently, will become not just leaders, but the best and most effective leaders of their group.