Leaders get out in front and stay there by raising the standards by which they judge themselves - and by which they are willing to be judged.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.
I have seen how leaders rule by intimidation. Leaders who demonize and dehumanize entire groups of people often do so because they have nothing else to offer. And I have seen how places that stifle the voices and dismiss the potential of their citizens are diminished: how they are less vital, less hopeful, less free.
The leader must aim high, see big, judge widely, thus setting himself apart form the ordinary people who debate in narrow confines.
Leaders thrive when they feel creatively empowered, when they trust the people around them, when their confidence is swelling. Leaders make mistakes when they lose that same confidence, when they're fretting about their power base, when they're reacting instead of acting.
People look for their leadership to lead.
It's through a leader's actions - what he or she does and says on a daily basis - that the essence of great leadership becomes apparent.
How do leaders serve their people? They may pay good wages and treat employees with respect.
Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders and leaders one can hear in the next county. Some find strength in eloquence, some in judgment, some in courage.
Great leaders have a heart for people. They take time for people. They view people as the bottom line, not as a tool to get to the bottom line.
There are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flock, go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way.