Leadership or Gamesmanship
There are two types of leaders.
The first is most common and includes almost all politicians.
These are the folks that want and use power over others. Their methods may vary, but are always self-serving and uncaring of those they wish to rule. Their primary characteristic is that they are always seeking to present an image of action, rather than actually create solutions. You end up with two main categories.
The first is those who try to anticipate what current ruling powers want and provide it before asked -- or those who try to see which direction the crowd is headed, then run to get in front of the crowd. Their drive is to do whatever is necessary to advance.
There is a second style, more benign, but equally focused on control. These are the gamesmen. They learn the rules of the game, then maximize their efforts at winning. You find them in bureaucratic (regulated) businesses more than politics, as they advance they adapt quickly to more difficult levels of rules. Most discover, and some use, "game cheats" to get closer to victory.
There is a third, minuscule, minority. These are those that see a need and realize they can galvanize others to assist them in meeting that need. This is what politicians claim to do as they run to get in front of the crowd so they can personally profit.
The quality of tools used to achieve a goal are important.
The goal itself is also important. There are several hot issues currently debated where leaders on both sides know the truth, but one side is willing to back lies and slander so they can profit over the short term. The crowd may be wrong, but leading the crowd is highly profitable. In the long term almost everyone will finally realize they have been bilked.
A true leader is someone that creates an opportunity for many to assist in positively changing the future; and then empowers their efforts. True leaders realize it is better to fight a difficult battle that will eventually see victory than lead a powerful movement that is doomed to fail.
You can be a true leader.
.
The first is most common and includes almost all politicians.
These are the folks that want and use power over others. Their methods may vary, but are always self-serving and uncaring of those they wish to rule. Their primary characteristic is that they are always seeking to present an image of action, rather than actually create solutions. You end up with two main categories.
The first is those who try to anticipate what current ruling powers want and provide it before asked -- or those who try to see which direction the crowd is headed, then run to get in front of the crowd. Their drive is to do whatever is necessary to advance.
"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others?" - Thomas Jefferson
There is a second style, more benign, but equally focused on control. These are the gamesmen. They learn the rules of the game, then maximize their efforts at winning. You find them in bureaucratic (regulated) businesses more than politics, as they advance they adapt quickly to more difficult levels of rules. Most discover, and some use, "game cheats" to get closer to victory.
There is a third, minuscule, minority. These are those that see a need and realize they can galvanize others to assist them in meeting that need. This is what politicians claim to do as they run to get in front of the crowd so they can personally profit.
"There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." - Daniel Webster - 1782-1852
The quality of tools used to achieve a goal are important.
The goal itself is also important. There are several hot issues currently debated where leaders on both sides know the truth, but one side is willing to back lies and slander so they can profit over the short term. The crowd may be wrong, but leading the crowd is highly profitable. In the long term almost everyone will finally realize they have been bilked.
A true leader is someone that creates an opportunity for many to assist in positively changing the future; and then empowers their efforts. True leaders realize it is better to fight a difficult battle that will eventually see victory than lead a powerful movement that is doomed to fail.
You can be a true leader.
.
Labels: leadership, meeting a need, supporting a cause, true teaders
<- email this journal entry
2 Comments:
Good points on leadership.
You seem to enjoy quotes. Check out Avenues to Success Notes. It has quotes specifically chosen to help college students succeed. A new one is added daily.
Tom,
Thank you for the comment. I've looked at your Avenues to Success Notes and would recommend that others check them out also.
Quotes are shorthand for ideas, if one strikes you in a positive or negative manner - dig further.
Post a Comment
<< Home