sparkpaw

"As I look back across the last decade of leading Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club, there are fundamental truths I've learned about leadership of this awesome organization that might be helpful to the next generation of leaders.

Firstly, being a good leader isn't defined in the creation of a thing, its defined in the growth and sustaining of a thing. In order for this to happen, the leader must commit themselves to the duty of leading. You can never foresee what your creation will become, only what you would like it to be, and to achieve this requires a major life commitment to making it successful. If there comes a time when you question your ability to continue the commitment leadership demands, then its time to step aside and let someone else man the helm. Doing so, however, doesn't have to diminish your role as the "founder/creator" but for that role to remain respected you must remain involved at a minimum level with the running of things.

Secondly, be prepared to make personal sacrifices. Leadership in and of itself is a sacrifice, and this needs to be realized very early on. For the group to succeed, the leader must make personal sacrifices to guarantee that success. Time, money, and personal freedoms are some examples of things I've had to learn to sacrifice at one point or another for MMCC to succeed the way it has. Leading without sacrifice is reaping without sowing, and your creation will eventually die of starvation. I've always felt that sacrifice is best represented by the color white, which is why it's so prominent on my armor. Sacrifice; it is the most personal of all leadership traits.

Thirdly, you must assume and embrace the role of leader. Originally I was not the "anointed" (for lack of a better term) Mandalore of MMCC, merely the founder and Alor'ad (Commanding Officer) of Talon Clan. I've never been a fan of assuming titles not earned, and I felt that title was bigger than me. It wasn't until 2008, when a good friend imparted eye-opening wisdom to me, that I would decide to embrace the role of "Mandalore". His words of wisdom; "If you want this thing to succeed, you're gonna have to be like the Pope of Mandalorians." While it seemed rather outlandish to hear (and still seems outlandish today), I pondered on his words for some time before making the decision to embrace it. Once I embraced it, I dedicated my life to it. The role of leader is about being an example to others, inspiring others physically/mentally/spiritually, and making decisions both easy and difficult. It is not about having power over others, personal gain, or making up for inadequacy in your personal life. A good leader does more than see the vision, they become the vision that inspires others to success.

Fourth, get ready to have enemies. Winston Churchill said it best: "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something at sometime in your life." There will always be someone or some group that tries to tear down your good work, or who thinks they can do the job better than you. The key to dealing with these types of people/groups is to not let them get you to a state where you do the work for them. However, it does mean you have to guard yourself and your actions. This points back to what I've written about sacrifices, because guarding yourself means losing some personal freedom. I tend to fight these types of battles with patience, letting time and the person/group destroy their own credibility through impatience. I get flack from officers sometimes regarding this type of tactics, but it has always worked. Always remain righteous in your duty as a leader, and you won't give your detractors the ammunition they need to use against you.

Fifth, always look through the eyes of the group but listen with the ears of the individual. As a leader, your vision must always be on the big picture. You don't have the luxury of looking at issues from the ground up, and you can't be expected to. This is why you must have a strong and enforced chain of command, so that once an issue gets to your level, you can see how it's transpired from start to present. However, this doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't listen to your members. Members present a leader with what I feel is the most powerful element of success: Perception. It is paramount that a leader be diligent on cultivating a positive perception to his/her members. A common disconnect happens when perception of those who govern becomes negative by the governed, and a change in perception often times signals the need for change. However, change spawned by perception should always be applied patiently and within the best interest of the group. It is crucial that a leader keeps the door open for everyone to speak, and ensure the group that he/she is listening.

Lastly, surround yourself with driven officers and individuals with both knowledge and wisdom. Good leadership is cultivated, not expected. Respect is earned, and should never be required. A good leader cannot hope to accomplish success alone, and one must learn to delegate with the growth of the group. Listen to your officers, then make decisions based on their input and your own personal knowledge. A good leader nurtures their officers, acknowledges their success, and tells them when they are wrong. However, a good leader should never be afraid to hear that their ideas are wrong. The difference between a leader and dictator is accepting the fact that you don't know everything and aren't always right. Success is built on failure, and not being afraid to fail. Wisdom is built on experience and the ability to make informed decisions.

Anyhow, if you made it this far then we can agree it's a long winded post.  This is just a bit of what I've learned over the past decade, and I hope it helps you in some small way just as its helped me."