Great leaders are imperious. Great leaders are infallible. Great leaders are something more than human. This is the narrative that hero-worship has pushed upon us in the past, and, of course, it is somewhat far from the truth. A great leader is a great person, certainly, but they are still a person. And what do people do? People make mistakes.
Leaders, at all levels of society, are called to model these attributes, demonstrating how they can be applied rather than simply extolling their virtues. This means the politicians that serve in government, but also the managers and team leaders in our workplaces, the teachers in our schools, the community figures who work so hard for our society, and the parents and guardians in households across the country; so often the unsung heroes of society.
As people, we are inspired by what we see, what we experience, what we learn from the world around us. But so much of what makes us who we are, probably more than most of us imagine - comes from within.
There are great pleasures in life. Some of which are complex, difficult, and require significant resources if they are to be achieved. Others may occur only once or twice in a lifetime. But some of the greatest pleasures are simple; they are commonplace. For example, sitting down to a meal with your nearest and dearest in your family.
To prepare the minds of our young people as they embark on this journey of self-knowledge, the team here at Learning Ground use the 'orange' analogy.
Well, at Learning Ground, we are helping to build and nurture the next generation of leaders. As we have said before, we are not necessarily talking about future prime ministers or organisational leaders; instead we are talking about a generation of people with the knowledge and skills required to lead society towards a better state, be that in the work place, in the classroom, or simply in the home.
What is it to be a leader? We are not talking about future Prime Ministers or politicians - at least not necessarily. We are not even talking about organisational heads or other elevated positions. Good leadership permeates every aspect of our society, and is a vital component of all social structures.
How do we recognise a leader?
The first concept that may spring to mind when we consider this question is one of 'command' – of being 'in charge' – but there is more to it than this.
We are taught from a young age that doing good is its own reward and that we should not be kind to others or do positive things simply because we expect something in return. While there is some truth in this – and altruism of this nature is certainly a vital part of any functioning society – rewards and recognition are powerful forces, particularly during our formative years.
When leadership is good, it can be the catalyst and the galvanising agent for truly amazing things. When it is bad, the effects can be as devastating as they are far-reaching. In this article, we look at what happens when leadership doesn't work, and how this situation can be changed for a brighter future.
One of the most frequent questions that a leader must ask in a disadvantaged areas is "is it practical?" This is because leaders in such areas do not have the luxury of experimentation or trial and error. They must first understand if a suggestion is going to provide a genuine, practical benefit to them as they seek to do the best job they possibly can.
The concept of 'belonging' in a certain area, city or country has been a key political driver for decades. Whether we are displaced refugees searching for amnesty, teens starting school in a new suburb for the first time, or proud community members who still live down the street from where we were born, a sense of belonging and feeling at home is what we aim for. This is what makes us feel secure and linked to something greater than ourselves.
In Australia, the most advantaged and the most disadvantaged people tend to live almost side by side. Take Sydney for example; the New South Wales city is home to Emerton and Busby, which rank among some of the most disadvantaged areas in the country, yet these are just a few kilometres from areas such as St Ives and West Pennant Hills, which rank among the most advantaged.
The Goldilocks Zone – the situation in which everything is ‘just right’ and running smoothly – is so rare that it may as well not exist at all. Instead, almost all of the decisions we must make are fraught with compromises, and with unforeseen variables which exist beyond our control.