Leadership today

Abstract

Leadership starts with leading oneself before leading others. Purpose is a foundational aspect thereby. This chapter defi nes a perspective on leadership that may not be the most common one, but is highly identifi able for people of any age group and in any stage of life. It discusses fi ve interrelated qualities in fi nding our purpose: (1) awareness, which enhances the quality of decisions we make; (2) respect, which is an outfl ow of awareness and ensures proper treatment of others; (3) morality, which enables us to consider and deal with the consequences of our decisions; (4) vision, which guides our path and attracts others to it; and (5) understanding, which can help us adjust our direction if we fi nd it to become unfulfi lling. Cases are presented for each quality, discussing global and business leaders such as Muhammad Yunus; Princess Diana; Ray Anderson, CEO of Interface; Sir Richard Branson; and Nelson Mandela. The chapter ends with a brief narrative on fi nding our purpose, inviting the reader to engage in self- refl ective questions, responding to them, and defi ning his or her own life’s purpose.