Simply and plainly defined, a leader is a man who has follower. The leaders deserves to have followers. He has earned recognition. Authority alone is no longer enough to command respect.
The leader is a great servant. The leader sees things through the eyes of his followers. He puts himself in their shoes and helps them make their dreams come true.
The leader doesn’t say, “ Get going!” Instead he says, “Let’s go!” and leads the way. He does not walk behind with a whip; he is out in front with a banner.
The leader assumes that his followers are working with him, not for him.
He considers them partners in the work and sees to it that they share in the rewards. He glories the team spirit.
The leader duplicates himself in others. He is a man builder. He helps those under him to grow big because he realizes that the more big men an organization has the stronger it will be.
The leader does not hold people down, he lifts them up. He reaches out his hand to help his followers scale the peaks.
The leader has faith in people. He believes in them, trusts them and thus draws out the best in them.He has found that rise to his high expectations.
The leader uses his heart as well as his head. After he has looked at the facts with his head he lets his heart take a look, too. He is not only a boss- he is a friend.
The leader is a self- starter. He creates plans and sets them in motion. He is both a man of thought and a man of action- both a dream a dreamer and doer.
The leader has a sense of humour. He is not a stuffed shirt. He can laugh at himself. He has a humble spirit.
The leader can be led. He is not interested in having his own way, but in finding the best way. He has an open mind.
Written by (Wilfred Peterson) in 1960.
