While watching “The Lion King,” I was able to observe, and some research confirms, that lionesses must care for lion cubs until the age of three. Once this time has passed, they are called to leave the tribe or find another, but in any case, they must fend for themselves and take on their responsibilities. This illustration perfectly encapsulates what leadership is. If they fail, they will be devoured by other felines, but if they succeed, they can thrive in this jungle before becoming kings themselves.

Half of the people who want to manifest their leadership are not fully aware of the challenges and the price to pay to reach this stage in their lives. You can’t just jump into leadership; you must discover the dangers involved.

LEADERSHIP IS NOT A GAME, BUT A RESPONSIBILITY

If we take stock to discover the impact that some people we once considered leaders have had on society, the result would be catastrophic. The best example would undoubtedly be politics. The world has never been as uncertain as it is now. We wonder who will trigger the third world war, our individual freedoms are threatened by states and major web companies, and there are many other issues.

We see presidents accused of massacres and corruption, and amid all these problems, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. In our consciousness, we believe that becoming a leader is the best way to use others to achieve our ambitions and self-interest. After all, that’s what we’ve seen other leaders do.

Consequently, without role models, we no longer know what true leadership looks like and how a true leader is supposed to act. If humans were created to dominate, manage, administer, and steward the Earth’s resources, it means that the mandate given to the Earth’s first inhabitants was a leadership mission.

The sense of responsibility, that’s a notion that has disappeared in this field. Perhaps that’s why many people no longer trust leaders, whether they are politicians, entrepreneurs, economists, journalists, singers, lawyers, or artists.

Observing from the outside, one might get the impression that these people we consider as leaders are playing a game of joker while their lives and the lives of those around them are in danger. It’s important to restore this notion in leadership before it’s too late. The best way to do it is not to forget that:

LEADERSHIP IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT:

Whether you are a singer whom fans listen to, a politician who has been elected, or a football player who many people watch on television, you should never forget that leadership is a privilege, not a right. The fact that you have purchased this book is a privilege for me because you were not obligated to do so.

No one is obliged to listen to you, vote for you, or submit to you, which is why you must be responsible when manifesting your leadership. Without the people you serve, you would not be where you are today.

With this truth ingrained in you, it will lead you to treat the people you serve with respect, to have consideration for them, and to put their interests above your own.

EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE, INCLUDING YOUR LEADERSHIP

I consider Jesus Christ to be the greatest leader who ever lived, not only because of his leadership style but also because of the price he paid to accomplish his mission. When facing the darkest hours of his existence, he was almost about to give up because of the price he had to pay.

“Then, he went a little further and fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’” Matthew 26:29

The cup he was referring to alludes to the suffering he had to endure to fulfill his mission. All great leaders experience humiliations, false accusations, rejections, harsh criticism, and some even face depression because they are often alone in their battles.

Leadership is a unique domain because it can cost you your life. I’m not just referring to death, but to the numerous sacrifices you must make to become the leader you are called to be.

In his final speech titled “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” delivered in a prophetic voice, Martin Luther King seemed to accept the idea that he could be assassinated at any moment. He said in his speech:

“It doesn’t really matter what happens now. Some began to talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers. Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now because I’ve been to the mountaintop. I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity is important, but I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And he allowed me to climb the mountain! And I looked around me, and I saw the promised land. Maybe I won’t go there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, are reaching the promised land. And I’m so happy tonight. I have no fear. I’m not afraid of any man. My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”

Witnesses, including Abernathy, Andrea Young and James Jordan, who were present at this meeting say that Martin Luther King Jr had tears in his eyes when he took his seat. This time, he just seemed to say, “Goodbye, I hate to leave.“

I studied the price that most great leaders paid to achieve their missions, and I came to realize that no one can escape it. In a personal leadership text, the price you must pay is summed up in these principles.

This text is an extract from the book “PERSONAL LEADERSHIP EXPLAINED TO EVERYONE ” written by Clet N. MICKOLO