It is unfortunate that war has so greatly shaped our ideas of leadership. Over and above thinking of leadership as some military exercise, it is essential to think about it as a means of creating and expanding the future. As Edwin H. Friedman stated, "Leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future." To be sure, leadership is not merely "leading" - it is creating an environment that nurtures communication and effective problem solving.
Leadership should never succumb to mere theatrics. The rousing pre-game speech or jingoistic battle-charge lecture are prime examples of how leadership has been co-opted by more militaristic factions of Western society. Indeed, manufacturing consent for any unpopular legislation is always framed as a "battle" or "fight." The war on drugs, the fight for security, the war on terror -- these are all manufactured attempts to lead people and create popular consensus.
Western culture, in large part because of our extensive militarism, equates leadership with violence and therefore destruction. Leading -- or leadership for that matter -- should be synonymous with creating. Creating an environment or dialogue is far more important than the reckless battlefield charge against the enemy position. Indeed, leadership should work in tandem with diplomacy. Understand the value of diplomatic solutions is essential if the base reaction of violence and military intervention are to be circumvented.
Leaders must elevate. That is, there is a kind of elevation of character engendered by effective leadership. The individual willingly and wittingly gives him or herself to the cause. From many one is born. This is the ultimate manifestation of well-considered leadership: when a group of individuals is willing to move above and beyond their habitual routines to correct or address a cause.
The path to leadership knows no gender, no sexual preference, no race, color or creed. Leaders must lead people. This means standing firm in the face of those who would revel at the chance to bring you down. You must convince, not cajole. Often the road to success is littered with the remains of those who would merely placate the public. True leaders must be true to themselves. They must know their topics, their purposes, and do their best to transcend their words to become beacons of hope.
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Finding an effective leadership program should extend far beyond deciding which arm of the military you should join. There are a variety of prestigious leadership programs at the university level that may prove far more effective than learning to do twenty push-ups.
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Article: The Manufacturing Of Leadership Author: James Pynn Publication Date: 2009-08-28 Total Views: 324 Word Count: 431 Category:Home /
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