Leaders find the path

January 9, 2019

When somebody is interested in leadership, in helping others lead their lives, one shall commence by examining the origin of the word “leader”. The word is Indo-European and derived from two words. The first part – “LEA” – means path, and the second part – “DER” – means to find. A leader is a pathfinder. Leaders find the path. They are the readers of the signs and the clues. They see and show the way.

Imagine a hunting party going out in the ancient days. Those who become the leaders see the sign of the game and stop and listen. They pause to catch their breath and get on their hands and knees to recognise the clues. They see the hoof marks. They are the ones with the best hearing who put their ears to the ground and listen to where the game is. They are the ones who touch the ground and can tell which direction the animal is travelling. In former times, finding the true path of the game was life sustaining.

Being a leader means finding the path. But before you can help someone else find their path, you must know yours. There is now a whole new meaning behind the word “leader”. Well, although a picture is worth a thousand words, a word is worth a thousand pictures as well. Our life is a journey. We are all on a journey. And when we follow our own path, we find those who show us the way. This is not some mystical, abstract concept, some metaphor. It usually is, a very real, very physical experience.

In a scientific survey by Dr. Gerald D. Bell, founder and CEO of Bell Leadership Institute and one of the world’s most respected human behaviorists, he studied the lives of 4.000 retired business leaders. He had asked them just one question: “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?” The top response of those seventy to eighty-year old, former executives, outranked by far any others and was: “I should have taken charge of my life and set my goals earlier. Life is not a rehearsal, it is the real thing!”

The other answers were: (2) “I would have taken better care of my health.” (3) “I would have managed my money better.” (4) “I would have spent more time with my loved ones.” (5) “I would have spent more time on my personal development.” (6) “I would have had more fun and joy.” (7) “I would have planned my career better. (8) I would have given more back.”

What would be YOUR answer???

Sequel follows…..