By definition (mine) people follow a leader. Implicit in this statement is the concept that such following is done willingly. It is important to note that this is not about the relative "goodness" nor the "badness" of the leader in terms of values and morality, but rather about the leader's ability to have people follow them willingly.
A classic example of true leadership is illustrated perfectly in the British movie "The Admirable Crichton" starting Kenneth More. In this old movie, a British noble family is traveling on the high seas with its retinue of servants. The ship encounters a storm, sinks, and while the noble family and their servants survive, they find themselves shipwrecked on an island. Because survival is at stake, roles can and are reversed, and the natural leader takes over. The fact that this leader is the Butler and not the Lord makes for an entertaining movie but more importantly demonstrates the point of leadership and follower-ship absolutely.
So while the Lord had been born into a position of leadership, when circumstances opened the door for true leadership, the butler emerges as the leader. The Butler provided the vision (survival) and the means to execute the vision. Strictly against the mores of British society, the aristocrats willingly aligned their vision (also survival) with that of the true leader and followed him willingly, to their mutual success – they survived!
True leadership is simply the ability to have people follow you, willingly. When someone with natural leadership abilities leads, they are followed. And as in the case of the Butler, these abilities were not given by position or taught to him, they were God given! |
