What is the Essence of True Leadership?

Leadership by Obligation & Responsibility Or Leadership by Personal Desire, Power & Control

Since the sands of time, there has been the few that led and the multitude that were led; of those few that where in positions of leadership, we ask, what was their rational for taken up the mantle of leadership? If we look back into history or actively observe our world today, we can see that one of two concepts is the sponsoring thought. A ‘Leader’ might be in position of leadership by virtue of Obligation & a sense of Responsibility to the community they led, or, they maybe in leadership position due to a Personal desire for Power & Control.

So we have Leadership by Obligation & Responsibility or Leadership by Power & Control. When we observe a leader, and wonder, what their motives were for a particular chain of thought or action, it is always supported by one of the two rational mentioned. Further still, if we mentally step back or take a bird’s eye view of the outcome of these leaders action, we will perceive that these actions are all interwoven in order to achieve one objective.

The leader that leads out of Obligation & Responsibility is driven by aims of community development, as well as the well being of the inhabitants within the community. On the other hand, the leader that leads out of the Personal desire for Power & Control is driven by the solo aim of growing & fortifying their position at the top. Whereas in the former, evident of their leadership actions and decisions is a vibrant community, enjoying excellent commerce, high standard of education, standard of living, and social cohesion. The leadership actions and decisions of the latter leader, is a community poverty stricken, hungry & staving inhabitants, low standards of education, social underclass, intimidation & terror, power & means in the hand of a few, a society besieged with civil unrest.

Like politics, in which we have a substantial number of career politicians, the new world is now viewing leadership or the nature of leadership as an apex of ones career, a ladder that must be climbed. If leadership is a ladder, then in true essence the leader is at the bottom rung, there providing the support and infrastructure to raise and serve the people.
If we take the view that everybody wants to get to the top, the only reason why you, would want to stay at the bottom and help everybody else to get to the top and see the beautiful horizon, is because you, yourself have been to the top and seen the view, hence now it is, an Obligation as well as your Responsibility to help others.