“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority”, Kenneth Blanchard
“Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position”, Brian Tracy
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves”, Lao Tze
President, General, Manager, Officer, and other titles grant authority. People holding these titles can give orders and expect others to follow the orders. People follow orders because they are afraid of the consequences like losing their job or being court marshalled. However, holding a title does not make anyone a leader. A leader inspires people to think a certain way and take actions. People follow leaders because they believe in the cause, not because because they have authority. The best leaders often don’t have authority.
Mass shootings are common in United States. Every time politicians give speeches but take no preventative actions, and provide no moral leadership. Following Quebec mosque shooting, there was outrage and speeches. No action taken to address the root cause. No moral leadership from Prime Minister Trudeau or any other minister. Following 2019 mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern showed moral leadership. She connected with the community. She grieved with the community. She took legislative action. She showed the world that this is wrong and how to help the community heal. The best part is that the community believes that the event forced them to come together. That is the best form of leadership, when everyone thinks they did it own their own accord.
In March 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine. Terrified by Russian military power, most people considered it a foregone conclusion that Russian military will simply run over Ukraine and take it by force in very little time. However, within a week, they faced a situation where the Russian military finds itself in a very difficult situation. Ukraine’s President Vlodomyr Zelensky turned out to be a leader. He refused to run away. He inspired his military to fight. He inspired his civilians to fight. Civilians are fighting. They are not taking orders from the president. They are fight for a cause. He inspired them to think they can win. He inspired them to risk their lives for their country. Ordinary civilians are fighting with light arms against a very powerful military force. Contrast this with former Afghan President Ghani. They had superior numbers, superior firepower, and support. Yet high officials chose to switch side and he chose to rob the country and run. He had authority but he was not a leader.