SEPARATING THE 'BOYS' FROM THE 'MEN'...

I grew up thinking that leaders, be they corporate leaders or leaders of nations, are people who have the interests of their people at heart. People whom we have entrusted to guide us and lead us to become better people as a whole. Surely, leaders who are leading nations must know what is best for their people. If not, how could they be there in the first place!

But I have been very confused lately. The leaders of my beloved nation, Malaysia, have not only shown their stupidity and ignorance in leading this nation, but what baffles me isn't so much of their lack of intellectuality, leadership acumen or management skills - my question is HOW THE HECK DID THESE PEOPLE RISE TO THE TOP IN THE FIRST PLACE????!!!

John Maxwell's 5 levels of leadership clearly illustrates that great leaders take time (sometimes a lifetime) to grow themselves to become who they are. People in the position of power may not necessarily be regarded as leaders simply because people and followers inadvertently have to respect someone in position - whether they like or not. And in most cases, followers don't have much of a choice anyway. Hence, we may not know if their followers are merely following them because of the office that they hold or if they are indeed great leaders. Leaders who remain at this level have a disillusioned notion of leadership just because they yield a certain amount of power or influence over their charges. However, most often than not, once these Level 1 Leaders leave their positions of 'power' and 'influence', their respect and influence diminishes almost instantaneously!

That's why we at D'Jungle People believe that leadership is not merely a position one holds. It's the action that one takes in whatever position that they hold that defines one as a leader. After all, quoting Paul ..."leadership is a way of life". Nobody said that being a leader is going to be easy. I find it tough and tedious at times. We have to act a certain way. We have to be careful of what we say. We have to be consistent in our character and behaviour and values. We can't just say 'to hell with it' or even 'who cares', because our lives and what we do are put on a microscope once we become leaders! Just because we are ... Leaders! That's the bottom line.

It is a burden. It's a burden that leaders have to bear because people are following them. And who do followers follow? A leader who is worthy to be followed. That 's why a leader needs to earn the right to lead. It's a privilege that the people are willing to give them. It's not a birthright! And because it's not a right, leaders must understand that it becomes a burden that they must bear. The burden that comes with the privilege to lead the people who put them there in the first place - even in a corporate world. If you can't bear the burden, then don't lead! It's that simple...

So, even if you may be a Minister or Prime Minister or an elected MP, it still doesn't necessarily mean that you are a leader, until and unless you exhibit traits, characteristics and behaviour that befits a leader. Thus far, none in the our current cabinet even come close to it! This is such a disgrace because we have so many more capable leaders in Malaysia who may not be politically inclined or aligned but are very much more capable in running this country than the so-called 'leaders' we have in the government and the cabinet!

So, stop running down our country. It is obvious you can't govern and no longer hold the mandate of the people in this country. It's time you ship out or we will ship you out ourselves!