Leadership

There are countless books; infinite combinations of ink and paper which have attempted to exact upon the role of a leader, and most importantly, to exact upon what it takes, and means, to be a leader. Why is so much energy, mainly time and money, being spent on such a simple quality? Is there no other quality present in people that deserves the same attention that leadership is given or is leadership simply one of the more desired traits in a person? I wondered on and on about this topic, and all the meanwhile, I was indulging in Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

By Stephen R. Covey
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I thought of myself as a hypocrite. I agreed with Covey, but when I thought about applying some of the habits he talks about in his book, I couldn’t bring myself to even read one sentence out loud. In my mind, I could yell it out so loud that my eyes would become distracted from the reading. There is logic within Covey’s argument. All throughout India, people are aware of the Gandhi’s quote, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” I was extremely fascinated to see Covey strengthen the power of Gandhi’s words within me. Before even explaining the seven habits, Covey explains the importance of starting any change from the “inside-out” (Covey, 42). Covey explains his reasoning to be that our actions are determined by our perception of things. Gandhi went about making that statement because he wanted peace in the world; he became proactive. Gandhi promoted all sorts of non-violent methods through which he would help India to gain its independence, and he was successful because he started this change from within himself. I thought myself a hypocrite because I thought leadership was easy, but when I try to follow Gandhi, I can’t decide upon a change that I want to see in the world. I think leadership is just another simple quality, yet the hardest part about leadership is that I must first lead myself before I can take upon the role of a leader for a group.

A Tribute to Gandhi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B26Uqk63Xfw&feature=related

I really love the fact that I could admit this to myself. The assigned reading on Covey forced me to realize that as a leader I must first understand the role of a leader. Is a leader necessary to keep order in a group or is the leader necessary to ensure that a group is headed in the right direction? Consider Covey’s use of Frank Koch’s article in the Proceedings, this article really identifies the perception affects decision. “[The Captain] spat out, ‘Send, I’m a battleship. Change course 20 degrees.’ Back came the flashing light, ‘I’m a lighthouse.’ [The battleship] changed course” (Covey, 33). Now, this captain was in a power struggle with another flashing light which he assumed was another ship, so as the captain of a battleship, he felt that he should not have to change course, but the moment he learned that the other flashing light was a lighthouse, not a ship, he immediately changed course. Using the same idea of perception, I asked myself, “What is a leader?” My first response was very simple. The leader must be a guide because others will be dependent upon the leader. When I moved to Austin, I didn’t know my way around town. My brother decided to drive me around town so that I could get a sense for my bearings. I was dependent on my brother for that entire trip. He was my guide, and without him, I wouldn’t have known how to get back home! He was my leader, and if there had been someone else in the car, then my brother would’ve been their leader as well. I think the most vital role of a leader is to make sure that the group continues to move in the right direction. I like making business connections, so imagine Apple to be a group, Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, would then be responsible for ensuring that Apple continues to make an annual profit.

Steve Jobs in an Interview.

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So a leader is the guide of a group, and in order for me to become a leader, I must start by “[becoming] the change I want to see in the world” (Gandhi). Covey states, “Any time you think the problem is out there, that very thought is the problem” (Anthology, 238). A leader must be proactive and start by first changing him-/herself. They must change their perception, and only then, will they be able to create a positive change in their environment. Gandhi was successful at this, and this very idea brings me to the last question. Why is leadership one of the more desired traits in a person? Leaders are perceived as being the people that cause change, like Gandhi, but the change is created by the masses who follow the leader. Gandhi had supporters who followed his principles; Gandhi was popular! Leadership is one of the more desirable traits in a person because leadership offers the opportunity to be remembered. Leadership offers a legacy; Covey arranges the four needs of people in a circular chart, and at the center of this chart, there is a need for the spirit “to leave a legacy” (Anthology, 230). A legacy offers glory, and the one person that always comes to mind when I think of legacy is Julius Caesar. His words shall always be remembered, “Veni, Vidi, Vici,” which means, “I came, I saw, I conquered.” When these words ring, like a siren, in my brain, I can relate with Caesar’s legacy, and a part of me would like for me to leave my own legacy so that people may remember me for generations to come.

Caesar has Conquered!

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After pondering for a short moment, at least 30 minutes, about what my legacy would be, I realize that I’m making an investment just thinking about leadership. As I sought to find the answer to my questions, I realize that I was actually creating a road which I may use to, one day, become a leader. I must know what a leader is and what his responsibilities are before I can decide if I want to be a leader. Now that I have a goal for myself, that “[I have begun] with the end in mind,” I can embark upon my journey to becoming a leader (Covey, 98). I feel like, with this investment of time and energy, I have arrived upon a great goal, and I also felt like I had acquired a new mental perspective; I had grown, intellectually. Again, I find myself indulging upon a quote, “Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment” (Covey, 62).