Two Kinds of Leaders

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who say, "There are two kinds of people in the world," and no one else.

There are two kinds of leaders.  One is the life giver.  This is the leader everyone wants.  This is the leader who encourages, who supports, who gives honest feedback--positive or critical.  This is the leader who puts others first, who puts the mission first, who puts the customer first, who puts self second.

This is the kind of leader that is in short supply in this and every age.

The other kind of leader is the life sucker.  This is the leader no one wants.  This is the leader who blames, who undercuts, who keeps you guessing about your performance.  This is the leader who puts self first, puts self first, puts self first.  This is the leader who is convinced that everyone else sucks.  Everyone else is at fault.  Everyone else needs to buck up and pull their weight.

This is the kind of leader in abundance in this and every age.

Problems occur when the life giver surrenders the field to the life sucker.  Edmund Burke had it oh so right in saying that all evil needs in order to flourish is the absence of good people.  Life givers are hesitant, often, to impose themselves on others, or to put themselves forward.  So they surrender the day to the dysfunctional.

Life givers risk being criticized.  Life givers tell the truth.  Life givers seek solutions.  Life givers build community.  Life givers make those around them better.  Life givers have courage, love and character.

What does it take to step up as a life giver?  It helps to have a supportive community.  It helps to stay centered and grounded in a spiritual program or path.  It helps to be clear about one's identity as a person and as a leader.  It helps to be passionate about compassion and positive in the midst of the negative.

Life giver is the hopeful leader.

Do you step up?  Do you want help stepping up?