Saturday, April 11, 2009

On Leader and Leadership


The Lost Leader 
By Robert Browning

Just for a handful of silver he left us, 
      Just for a riband to stick in his coat—
Found the one gift of which fortune bereft us, 
      Lost all the others she lets us devote;
They, with the gold to give, doled him out silver, 
      So much was theirs who so little allowed:
How all our copper had gone for his service! 
      Rags—were they purple, his heart had been proud!
We that had loved him so, followed him, honoured him, 
      Lived in his mild and magnificent eye,
Learned his great language, caught his clear accents, 
      Made him our pattern to live and to die!
Shakespeare was of us, Milton was for us, 
      Burns, Shelley, were with us,—they watch from their graves!
He alone breaks from the van and the freemen, 
      —He alone sinks to the rear and the slaves!

We shall march prospering,—not thro' his presence; 
      Songs may inspirit us,—not from his lyre;
Deeds will be done,—while he boasts his quiescence, 
      Still bidding crouch whom the rest bade aspire:
Blot out his name, then, record one lost soul more, 
      One task more declined, one more footpath untrod,
One more devils'-triumph and sorrow for angels, 
      One wrong more to man, one more insult to God!
Life's night begins: let him never come back to us! 

      There would be doubt, hesitation and pain,
Forced praise on our part—the glimmer of twilight, 
      Never glad confident morning again!
Best fight on well, for we taught him—strike gallantly, 
      Menace our heart ere we master his own;
Then let him receive the new knowledge and wait us, 
      Pardoned in heaven, the first by the throne!



Am I a Leader? 
By Mike Wash

Do you care about others 
Are you willing to give them time 
Can you get angry about the failure 
And waste caused by crime? 

Do you have a passion to make a difference 
Can you help others see another option 
Are you prepared to make a stance 
And communicate clearly your position 
Standing boldly stating what’s possible 
And excite those around you, 
Who in turn you inspire 
To work beyond the ordinary 
With passion, zeal and fire. 

Can people read you and your values 
Know what you stand for 
See your bold and good intent 
So they can rely on your candour. 

Do you seek out opportunities to learn 
From your own and indeed others mistakes 
Thriving on new knowledge and yearn 
For the opportunity to release the brakes 
On people’s potential so they can grow 
From the seeds you sow. 

Can you cry about other’s pain 
Shout about injustice 
Guard against false fame 
And listen carefully in case you miss 
The wisdom of others. 

Do you put into practice 
Those values you hold dearly 
Those principles you preach 
Those behaviours you desire 
And those standards you hope to reach. 

Can you reflect on your day 
And admit to learn 
That maybe another way 
May lead you to earn 
The respect of others who say 
We have ideas too 
If you let us follow through 
And do 
For you 
To 
Achieve extraordinary results 
That reflect the spirit and pride 
You often hide 
Until the applause and roar 
Of success are so evident 
You may as well sit back and enjoy the ride. 

Leaders are big, leaders are small 
Leaders don’t always walk tall 
Quite often they talk with their actions 
Quite often they speak with knowledge 
And confidence that within a fraction 
They can and will take themselves to the edge 
Of the unknown to achieve that bit extra 
So others learn and benefit 
From the legacy of a unique contribution 
That makes a difference. 

If deep down, these qualities highlighted here 
Stir with recognition and instil 
That sense of purpose to be true 
To an ideal and way of being 
Then yes, 
Perhaps this is you. 


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