“Is Leadership a Passing Cloud?” - Professor M.S.Rao

“Leadership is not a popularity contest.  It is taking responsibility.” – Professor M.S.Rao

Leadership depends on the longevity of the leader.  If you look at leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, and Martin Luther King Jr, to name a few, they are great leaders remembered even today.  They have left indelible impression in minds of the people, and are remembered beyond their generations.  Popularity of these leaders is intact whether their time was good or bad because of the trust, goodwill and respect they enjoyed among the people.  

There are a number of leaders who come and go and whose popularity is like a passing cloud.  However, there are exceptional leaders who are beyond popularity and time, and are remembered forever. These leaders are undeterred by temporary downfalls as they are true leaders born for the people, and they not only remain in the minds of the people but also in the hearts of the people.  

To ensure leadership longevity, leaders must constantly innovate and reinvent, find out what people want, and serve them with a sincere heart. Above all, they must be continuous learners and take feedback constantly.

Remember that real leaders remain in the hearts of the people irrespective of generation as they never crave for popularity but crave for making a difference in the lives of others. John Bytheway rightly put it: "It is better to be respected then it is to be popular. Popularity ends on yearbook day, but respect lasts forever."

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Email: profmsr7@gmail.com

Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com

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