Leadership Crisis

This may be controversial, or maybe I’m late to the conversation, but I see a lot of leaders these days that are given the titles, hold the position, but aren’t led by initiative, authenticity or disrupting the status quo.

Most leaders are leading from ego and trying to play it safe, ensuring the money and the status rise, but not the truth.

Now, don’t get me wrong – one person’s truth isn’t the whole truth, or global truth. But it may be a healthy challenge to change what has always been done, and maybe what’s always been done isn’t right.

Some leaders are more content hiding behind titles and keeping the ship afloat than questioning whether they’re sailing in the right direction.

Some leaders are happy to let others throw themselves overboard in order to maintain the status of captain, than really ask: is there a better way for each and every one on my ship, and for the long run? Not just the majority in the short term.

Real leaders question the status quo. Real leaders are courageous enough to speak up. And real leaders are able to listen and hold both simultaneously, whilst seeking solutions for everyone’s best interests – not just their own, or the ones they think serve them the most.

Real leaders lead with wisdom. It is not enough to just have knowledge nor linear experience. True leaders have a wealth of experience to lean on in the real world, applied with knowledge, and adapted with reflection and awareness, ensuring wisdom leads over arrogance and limitations.

Real leaders, as Robin Sharma once wrote, do not require a title. They lead through inspiration, honour and action. Not one. Not two or three. But all of the above. And it need not be given a role – they naturally lead life from that sense of integration and values from within themselves.

From here, true leadership is born.

You do not need the promotion, the job title, the permission.

We are all leaders of our own lives, and here lies our strength.

Start questioning.

Start challenging.

Start debating.

Because the world has enough compliance, and turning a blind eye in favour of status and money. The world has enough optics over ethics. The world has enough of the integrity crisis; it demands truth-seekers.

How about we bring back leaders who have a voice with integrity and wisdom? The world doesn’t need another copycat leader driven by people-pleasing and egotistical gains. Let’s make standing up for what’s right and leading with integrity the new standard. It’s time for principle over performance.

Starting with you.