Leadership

What is a leader? We could answer that question in a variety of ways. A very basic definition would be a leader is someone who has followers. (otherwise what good is a leader with no one to lead, right?) A broader definition may be a leader is someone who accepts responsibility for others. Some people would consider leaders as those who simply have the ability to hide their panic from others! You might laugh at this, but I think this is no joke. Deep inside, they are all 'kan chiong' people, but outside they display a cool and calm front. That is also leadership you know, because their countenance matters to those around that look up to them for direction. Another blogger commented that leadership means example. Wah jun! One word answer but nevertheless powerful.

Okay okay, someone a bit more heavyweight said that "leadership is getting people to do what they don't want to do so they can become what they've always wanted to be." - Tom Landry, Coach. I personally like and subscribe to his definition.

A need for disclaimer:
Just because the definition sounds powerful doesn't mean it is easy to carry out. Think about all the things you need to do to motivate others to do what they DON'T WANT to do. You can be sure you won't be the most popular guy around. Trust me, I have been there before. It is a thankless job.

But leading isn't about been popular. It's about balancing duty with devotion (another way of saying discipline with love). To me, it's really about accomplishing something that counts, achieving something that matters for eternity, and attempting something worthwhile.

So, my updated, 'rojak' definition will be: "A leader is someone who has set himself apart as an example and is committed to a group of followers to attempt, accomplish and achieve the goal of transformation to be the best they wanted to be by doing what they dread doing most, without showing signs of personal panic or confusion."

Why I ask about leadship? Because I needed some right now! Spiritually, I think I have slackeded enough! I am sick of been weak, spiritually. I am done with it. If no one come to my rescue, I will have to demonstrate "personal leadership", which most likely I will. It means I will have to take personal responsibility for my own growth and development. I will have to take personal ownership for my state of maturity and progress. I will have to time my own relay, break my own best record, set up a schedule for my own sweating regime, and push on. Bottomline: I needed to be accountable to my own growth. When you stop growing, you start dying. When you stop swimming upstream, you drift downhill. It was G.K. Chesterton who said that "a dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it." Yes, swimming against the tide is tough and tedious, but it develops muscle and stamina.

God help me, I pray.