Two Kinds of Leaders

Do you have a boss who yells at you 24/7? Do you have teachers who threaten to fail you if you don’t do certain things? How about political leaders or candidates who ask on your support by promising that they would keep the prices down?
These are our so-called leaders who speak from emotion to emotion. They would often speak from fear or from greed.
They often say things such as:
1. “If you don’t get good grades, you won’t get a good job.”
2. “If you don’t come to work on time, you’ll be fired.”
3. “If you elect me, I will make sure you don’t lose your Social Security benefits.”
4. “Play it safe. Don’t take unnecessary risks.”
5. “Join my business. You can make a lot of money.”
6. “Let me show you how to get rich quick.”
7. “Do as I tell you.”
8. “As you know, the company is having a rough time. If you don’t want to get fired, you’d best not ask for a raise.”
9. “You can’t afford to quit. Who will pay you as much as we do?”
10. “You’ve only got eight more years to retirement. Don’t make any waves.”


Now, do you remember the words of some of our great leaders? Abraham Lincoln? Ninoy Aquino? Martin Luther King? Mahatma Gandhi?
We have many great leaders, and these leaders are called great because they speak in a different way. They speak from their spirit to touch the other person’s spirit. They are the ones who can create changes without instigating fear.
Here are some noted words of these leaders:
1. “The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free or to be slaves.” –George Washington
2. “The Filipino is worth dying for.” –Benigno Aquino Jr.
3. “Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?” –Abraham Lincoln
4. “I have a dream…” –Martin Luther King
5. “Cowards can never be moral.” –Gandhi
6. “Don’t be humble; you’re not that great.” -Golda Meir
7. “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” –John Wooden

Between the two types of leaders, which one would you like to be? A leader who speaks from emotion to emotion? Or a leader who speaks from spirit to spirit? Feel free to share your insights and your experiences.