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Memories...

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

I feel that in every organization and every state, the leader at the top is the one ultimately responsible for driving and pushing the whole organization and state foward. Many a times, what we see of an organization is symbolically personified by the leader at the top.

When people think of George W Bush's cowboy image and "u are either with us or against us", they re reminded of America's unilateralist policy. When people think of Osama Bin Laden, they re reminded of a jihad and global terrorism. When people think of Kim Jong II, they re reminded of North Korea's rogue state status. When people think of Kofi Annan, they think of the benevolent UN who tried their best despite getting their hands tied most of the time. When people think of Peter Schmeichel, they re reminded of the all conquering Danish team for Euro'92. When people think of Captain Jack Sparrow, they re reminded of the Black Pearl.

As such, how an organization is perceived by the public is often a times, regarded by how the leader himself is perceived by the public.

At the same time, how the leader works and behave is often unconsciously and unknowingly passed down to his or her subordinates. Every single step and action u take, 24/7. From what i have seen and read over the years, the best types of leaders are those that dare to lead by example, and dare to make tough decisions sometimes even to the point of subsuming the interests of certain individuals for the greater good of the organization.

These 2 traits are often easier said than done, because at the ground level, a leader is not dealing with rubber tires, computers, spanners, or rice-cookers, but rather fellow human beings. And nurturing human relations takes time, sincerity, effort, and lots of empathy.

A famous person once said "Show me the follower and i ll know their leader." I beg to differ on this because i believe there can be very strong followers but this doesnt necessarily mean that their leader was the one responsible for inculcating their attitude and character. An inspirational leader can make ordinary gentlemen become a league of extraordinary gentlemen, but a league of extraordinary gentlemen cannot make their ordinary leader an inspirational one. Just look at Thaksin for instance.

My point is that at the end of the day, there is only so much that the league of extraordinary gentlemen can do. And the league cannot survive without a motivated, inspirational, and capable leader committed to showing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Need more examples? Just check out the real League of Nations which collapsed soon after the US under Woodrow Wilson withdrew.

Avid readers of my blog and close friends of mine will noe that i love quotes, especially meaningful and inspirational quotes. Here is one from Captain Winters (a true WW2 survivor) from the Band of Brothers Episode <>:

" If you are a leader, you lead the way. Not just on the easy you take the tough ones too".

PS: Yes, i know i very free still got time watch Band of Brothers =)

The Incredible Hock