By Klaus Döring
Are you a guide, a commander or a conductor? Are you a leader, who knows how to play the first card in the team? Do you know how to direct, to persuade or to precede?
An equestrian is an expert horseback rider. If you only go riding for an hour while on vacation you aren’t an equestrian, but the person leading the group and riding the flashy horse probably is. When you know that equus is the Latin word for “horse,” the meaning of equestrian becomes clear.
All business owners and executives have varying experiences and perspectives on the approach and qualities necessary for effective leadership. And not all situations require the same type of leadership style. Great leaders adapt to their surrounding environments and empower the team to succeed together.
Many experts across countless leadership books and articles agree on certain principles required for leading a team to greatness, but when it comes down to it, the most important factor is whether or not the leader is getting the job done.
I found a very nice quotation shared by Dr. John C. Maxwell, the leading authority on leadership, who says, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way!” “Nearly all men can withstand adversity. If you truly want to test a man’s character, give him power”, already stressed Abraham Lincoln. Character is what you are doing in the dark. By the way, nowadays, I wouldn’t only mention “men” alone when it comes to leadership. There are innumerable women holding their own.
Remember and look around: in the past and at present one can observe someone at any corner offering us to lead our way. Politicians compete for our vote of confidence. Athletes and entertainers show us their pictures of success. A lot of different religious leaders pledge, promise and bind in flock gatherings.
Well, what are some of the traits that a great leader must have or develop character? Is character really enough? How about integrity? Are you, my dear reader, a leader? Is what you are saying AND DOING, the same? Are your followers wholeheartedly convinced of your integrity?
Albert Einstein, one of my favorite idols, had said, “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with the important matters!”
A leader is someone with character, integrity, discipline, and the ability to influence others in a positive way. A leader must be able to motivate his or her people around, rather than manipulate them or run away in times of difficult decisions… !
Albert Einstein claimed that he had no special abilities, only persistence. But that was enough to develop the General Relativity Theory. I learned from my Philippine mentor and book author (German-Philippine Relations), the late Monsignor Professor Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza already during the 1980’s: “It’s important to become your own best friend. Be your own coach. Take to your inner self as if you were talking to another person you care deeply about. And, pray!”
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