What is Leadership

In the Western culture, leadership is the ability to be a person of character, within ones community, to be in charge of groups, committees and be an outstanding person in ones church, organization or school.

In the Eastern culture, a leader is the one who seeks to master himself first. Not that he/she has actually finished mastering themselves, rather that they continuously look within, to seek the better part of themselves.

So where the Western culture looks to a sign with eyes and ears, or for persons of character or outwardly signs of guidance to enlightenment, the Eastern culture look inward toward their own
soul, character, and how they react to a situation or thought.

Socrates said (and I paraphrase), that those who seek positions of leadership, should be the last persons to be put in that position. Buddha also stated that the correct path, is down the middle, neither leaning or favoring, rather in attempting to find the BALANCE.

While we see considerable talk and propaganda about leadership in our society, whether it is in the daily barrage of political talk or posturing, or in advertisements of martial schools, the interesting question remains. What is leadership?

To me, a leader is the person who on daily basis, seeks to find himself/herself, and the truth within themselves, and then reaches not to bring people to HIS truth, rather have others come to terms with their own truthful soul. As the truth is absolute i.e. water is two parts hydrogen, and one part oxygen, truthfulness is relative, i.e. most water is made of hydrogen and oxygen at base level, but carry different minerals, sediments, enzymes or such.

A leader is the person, who helps you face your weaknesses and shows you the possibilities of what or who you could really be, not what you achieve. Because in order to achieve, you must first become, where as we are taught in the Western society, that if your achieve, then you become.

For example, if I have a million dollars, then I would do this or the other, and I would feels good. The exact opposite has to happen first, first you must like who you are, or work hard to become the person you feel good about, then you will do what needs to be done, and at the end you will have your million.

When looking for leaders, I believe that one should seek those that help you walk alongside them, who teach you and help you to find your own way in time. Not those who wish to bring you to their way, have you walk behind them.

Good Luck.