Leadership

Leadership
Tomes and tomes have been written on leadership and the word has been the most widely used in every forum of inter – personal transaction. Despite this it could be the least understood word in management lexicon.
An old story is told of a dying King preparing his son to take over the throne after him. Part of the young Prince’s preparation is to spend time in an isolated place surrounded by elements of nature. The Prince is quizzed about what he heard in the seeming stillness of the night. The Prince’s test ends when he is able to answer that he hears the quietly shed tears of the wounded tiger, the silent pangs of hunger that gnaws the belly of the aged lion, the agony of the parched grass as it awaits the first drop of rain......... The ability to hear, see, smell, sense the needs and desires of the faceless majority.
Several of today’s leaders would be unable to sense a need in a faithful follower even if it was gift – wrapped and swung on a yo – yo below their noses.
Contrast this with the Leadership of Jesus Christ. The Bible recounts the tale of a woman who suffered from an ailment for several years and in pure faith she reaches out from behind Him to touch the hem of His cloak. Though engulfed by crowds Jesus still feels the touch at the hem of His garment, the transfer of His healing power and turns around to ask “Who touched my garment ?.” The frightened woman falls at His feet and is instantly forgiven.
How many leaders of today would be as sensitive, intuitive or as empathetic ? If the Leader is not engaged with his people, he cannot influence them. Only engaged hearts can move machines or mountains.