Introduction to leadership
Napoleon once said: "One bad general makes more than two good ones". It takes a moment to grasp the meaning of this, but it is the same as ours. The modern saying goes that "too many cooks spoil the broth." It is preferable to have one set of instructions, however flawed, than to have two sets of perfect instructions that, when enacted together without reference to each other, wreak havoc. This is the principle of leadership in a nutshell. It's about maintaining focus and creating positive results. The same can be applied to people striving to become leaders. There must be focus and determination. Advice can be given, but it should not be heeded. History is full of leaders whose beginnings were disastrous, and if they had listened to the naysayers of this world, the world would be a poorer place today.
Leadership can be learned. Some people are certainly born with leadership skills, but this is not a prerequisite for becoming a leader. More important is dedication to the art of leadership. Leadership involves understanding how to inspire, influence and control people's behavior. It is not a simple matter of shouting, or having a deep, booming voice, or having great physical stature; Gandhi possessed none of these attributes, but he managed to lead a nation and inspire millions of people around the world.
