Inspiring Leadership

If it was easy, everyone would do it

“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” ~ Nelson Mandela

Many people have the capacity to lead when things are going well. It builds our people up to experience professional successes, so give them opportunities to show you what they can do. We don’t always need to be the one getting the credit.

But being responsible in crisis—being able to build our people’s courage to rise to the challenge and overcome the danger—that is much, much harder. The people who have done it (including Lincoln, Churchill, Mandela, etc.) are held up as examples for generations because of they were able to lead their people through those dangerous times.

It’s hard. It’s lonely. But it’s the true test of great leadership.

(image generated using Midjourney)