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he amount of management literature about “Leadership” is huge and continues to grow. Leadership is covered from just about every angle, e.g. ethics, intelligence, heroism, cunning, character, risk, strength, meanness, weaknesses, spiritual, religious, sexual, psychological, historical and other traits ad infinitum. Personally, a lot of the material that I have read on the subject, at best it seems to be wishful thinking and at worse, apologetic drivel.

However, I cannot recall having read or heard, not even remotely question, if we should have leaders at all. It is as if this human paradigm is based on some mysterious, immutable and obscure physical or biological law. Why?

Trying to think of the essence of leadership, (Plato's theory of forms) I sometimes wonder if we are giving leaders, god like attributes that immediately distorts the true nature of their human frailties, separating them from us, mere mortals. I understand but do not share in the willingness from untold millions that try to live vicariously throughout the “rich & famous leaders” that they have chosen to follow; perhaps to get a boost from the drudgery of life.

Lastly, I am not being facetious nor flame baiting; I really would like to know. Now it’s your turn… what do you think?

And, in here lies one of the basic problems. If we have chosen to admire, follow or simply adore a leader, our capacity to perform a balanced and reasoned judgment goes out the window.

We hear that “we hold our leaders to the highest standard,” but do we really? Is there truly any accountability? Just as the ancient Greeks could not hold the Olympian Gods accountable because the whole idea would seem preposterous; are we not on the same boat?

When I say leadership you may conjure up images of Prime ministers, Presidents, CEOs, Captains of industry and the whole lot. But no, I mean leaders at every rung of our human civilization, e.g. foreman, supervisor, manager, counselor, tribal leader, etc. We give them money, power, some leeway and the pressures of the systems that bind them, and they are only human; how else are they going to behave? Do you think you could do it better?

Lastly, I am not being facetious nor flame baiting; I really would like to know. Now it’s your turn… what do you think?

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