Reading all that is happening. Hearing views about what is a leader. I have been reflecting.

I realized that leadership is an essence. Leadership never asked to be contained or bound by space or time. It is definitely not a title or the lack of a title. It is not a moment in time. It is not stepping up when. It is not an act like “an act of leadership.” It is what it is.

📖 essence /ĕs′əns/ The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things. (American Heritage)

Leadership is seemingly almost captured in “set the example”, “eat last”, “lead the way” and “do as I do, not do as I say.” Almost. It reminds me of Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. The act of observing causes the object to move. All these definitions are “almost”….but not sufficient and never will be.

Leadership is an essence. A way of being that may manifest as eating last or leading the way or add your example here. But it shows up regardless of the observer’s presence. No if then. It is not uncertain. It is not a role. It is not an act. It is.

If you want to attempt to capture the essence of leadership..to name it…go be with someone you “know” that has the essence. They could be the local shopkeeper, alderman, school teacher, the kid on the soccer team, your parents, a friend. Be with them and just sense, sense, sense. No framework, checklist, mental model. You know when you know. Don’t ask them, ”What are you doing?”…as they may not be able to even put it in words…and even if they do, you will leave wanting.

I am lucky. In the Army, in my development, over many years, we were ingrained with traits of leaders, expectations of leadership, and the challenges we were signing up for. But one thing, we were not ingrained with was that our role as leaders of soldiers was a part time job or even a “job”. Regardless of the clothes you were in, you were who you were to your soldiers, to the community, and to yourself. You were on even when you were off. You were a leader by essence which is particularly needed when the figurative or literal bullets start flying. Even so, the essence of leadership was never entirely in my grasp. But I am grateful for the glimpse.

So what I am trying to convey is leadership is an essence which is why it seems so fleeting especially when we close our hand to grasp it.

Do with that as you may. Perhaps, let go of fighting to name it or blame it, try it on, and become. 👊

#unleashtheoh 🔥