“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
This pivotal quote by John Quincy Adams is pasted on nearly everything associated with Wilks. But what does that really say about the nature of leadership? What this quote does best is linking the idea of leadership to that of challenge. It implies that leadership is, by nature, critically thinking and challenging others to do the same. Anyone with a mind can do that. This means that leadership is not exclusive to one type of person or to any singular position or title. Leadership is the essence of challenging – the status quo, the accepted ideas, tradition, etc. Leadership is scientific in the fact that it necessitates experimentation. But more than that, it is creative. Combining methodology with innovation, leadership is broadly defined and broadly applied.
This quote, however, embodies a rather non-traditional view of leadership which tends to be much more inclusive and all encompassing. Many people would define leadership by positions and titles. This is traditionally what leadership is assumed to be, and in the minds of many, there is a direct correlation between leadership and title, as well as leadership and formal power (i.e. financial, political, social, etc.). Non-traditional definitions of leadership, like John Quincy Adams’ involve power, just in a different light. Adams’ leadership philosophy assumes that leaders have more inherent power over themselves than over others. Because of this, true leaders influence rather than control. This dynamic places leaders and followers on a level of equality rather than hierarchy.
Personally, I find it amazing that leadership can be defined in such broad terms, yet, when asked what leadership is, most people point to positional leaders. I guess that is why Wilks is here – to educate people on the different types and styles of leadership. :)
Do you know the source of this inspirational John Quincy Adams quotation? It has been suggested that it is from the letters he wrote to his eldest son, George Washington Adams 200 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI'm an actor of solo history; JQA is one of my men. In "A Spirit Unconquerable!" I present him in the last decade of his extraordinary life.
Question: Was JQA a great or good leader?
He would say, "No." His was a failed presidency. He accomplished next to nothing of his goals. Yet, in the light of his words:
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
He still points the way.