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PRICE OF LEADERSHIP

Written by: James Ladd

Article Overview: We all know that the world is starving for individuals who are prepared to step up and lead us. Men and women who are capable of rising above the mediocrity and narrow mindedness that seems so pervasive in the world, men and women who possess the strength of character, the vision, charisma, passion and energy to take us all to a better place. Much has been written and will be written still about leadership; what it is, where to find it, who can lead, even how to grow it. But you do not often read about or even witness the incredible cost that leaders often have to pay for their willingness to lead.

PRICE OF LEADERSHIP

We all know that the world is starving for individuals who are prepared to step up and lead us. Men and women who are capable of rising above the mediocrity and narrow mindedness that seems so pervasive in the world, men and women who possess the strength of character, the vision, charisma, passion and energy to take us all to a better place.
Much has been written and will be written still about leadership; what it is, where to find it, who can lead, even how to grow it. But you do not often read about or even witness the incredible cost that leaders often have to pay for their willingness to lead.
In the March 31st edition of The Personal Coach Bulletin (see website NEWS page) I used Martin Luther King Jr. as an example of a man who clearly knew his life purpose. In the pursuit of that life purpose he paid what for all of us would be the ultimate price of his life.
Because most of those who choose to lead and some who don’t but do lead, do not lose their lives, they still must pay a price that can and does profoundly impact their lives and sometimes the lives of those close to them; family, friends and work associates.
Most often what leaders report experiencing is; aloneness, weariness and abandonment. These three overlapping experiences operate together multiplying their impact and if to be survived by a leader require that incredible strength of character mentioned.
Having the ability to see something that no one else sees, the vision to imagine or create in the minds eye something that does not exist can be a very lonely, isolating and arduous business.
It’s not just the energy required to translate the vision into reality but the energy to convince others of its value to them. People resist change, especially change that they do not understand or that will require them to experience some discomfort. The more they resist the more alone, abandoned and sometimes exhausted the leader can feel.
Vision or the ability to see ones “life purpose,” belongs to all who are willing to commit their lives to their goals. After commitment, the decisions are simple because vision is that quality that enables and empowers leaders through their strength of character to pay the price.
Some say that leadership is not personality, title or endowment. Leadership is a price, and that
price often leads to; aloneness, weariness and abandonment. Thank God there are those who are prepared to pay it.

IF YOU WISH THE COLOUR VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE CAN BE DOWNLOADED AND/OR PRINTED FROM THE "NEWS" SECTION OF MY WEBSITE.

~James Ladd

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Article Tags: 31st edition, abandonment, aloneness, charisma, experiences, family friends, leadership, life purpose, luther king jr, martin luther king, martin luther king jr, mediocrity, men and women, minds eye, passion, personal coach, strength of character, weariness, willingness, world men



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