Leadership II

 

Leader of the Pack

I felt so helpless, what could I do?
Remembering all the things we'd been through
In school, they all stop and stare
I can't hide the tears, but I don't care
I'll never forget him, the leader of the pack

What does it mean to be a leader?

Ironically Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith is more of a republican than many US Republicans. The Queen is beloved by her Subjects, because she understands that she is a servant of her Subjects, and takes care to sign all of her correspondence to her subjects, “Your obedient servant”. The sovereign does not dominate their nation.  The sovereign serves their nation. Authoritarians dominate  their nation and then use that domination to rule the nation and may serve their own purposes, not the nation’s.  An authoritarian may act as if they are the sovereign, but they are not sovereigns if they are not servants.

The problem is that the leader of the pack is often determined by dominance, and that requires an individual, User Optimal, solution.  However, once that leadership position has been obtained, the position requires a group, System Optimal, Solution.  To become a leader may require dominance, but to be a leader requires service.  It is like many of us learned in Cub Scouts.

The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

If the leader, helps himself more than he helps the pack, he is not Akela. Give goodwill.