The best leaders are often unrecognized

The first panel of a recent Beetle Bailey comic strip shows Miss Buxley asking Private Blip, “Is our leader in yet?”

One can sense the sarcasm in Private Blip’s reply: “Our leader?”

In the second panel, Gen. Halftrack is seated behind an ornate desk, paperwork in hand, appearing detached as usual.

Private Blip says, “Sitting at that desk doesn’t make him a leader any more than standing in a kitchen makes you an apple pie.”

Comic strips are meant to amuse us, but occasionally, a message gets tucked in, along with the art and dialogue. In this case, the message is true. There’s more to being a leader than getting your name engraved on a deskplate.

There are countless books, seminars and videos out there that, for a few bucks, promise to help you win friends, influence people, and become a highly effective person in seven habits or less — like Tony Robbins, who made millions selling sets of self-improvement CDs.

This writer has had no formal leadership training, just several years of volunteer experience, a few years in the workplace and more than two decades of parenthood. Hence, what follows is my humble, free, no-strings-attached list of qualities that make a good leader. There are many more characteristics than can be posted here.

A leader is courteous. He doesn’t belittle or talk down to those who serve under him.

A leader is organized — maybe not to the point that he alphabetizes the snacks in his desk drawer, but he keeps up with what’s important, and disseminates that information quickly to those who need it.

A leader sees beyond the to-do list and believes there is a greater purpose to his work. He wants to light that spark in others, rather than be the only one who holds the candle.

A leader seeks opinions. He’s smart enough to know he doesn’t have all the answers, and doesn’t pretend to be an expert on everything.

A leader won’t assign subordinates any task he’s not willing to do himself.

A leader accepts responsibility when things go wrong and doesn’t jump when he learns the ship is sinking. He works alongside the crew to help them bail out of the mess.

A leader gives credit where credit is due. If a project is a success, he’ll step out of the spotlight to make room for others. If it sours, he acknowledges the problem, and not only questions how the workers failed the project, but what he did to contribute to the failure.

Finally, a good leader teaches other how to lead. He delegates responsibilities and follows up to insure people understand and fulfill their assignments.

In a few weeks, the 25th class of Leadership Hopkins County will convene. A group of local citizens, including this writer, will learn more about the inner workings of the county, from the operations of city governments and the fiscal court to local industries and nonprofit organizations. It’s possible we may discuss some of the points I’ve listed above. It’s likely we’ll learn more.

Most important, we’ll discover that there’s more to leadership than putting your name on a ballot, getting the most votes or seeing your name engraved on a deskplate — or even across the front of a building.

Because there have been, are, and will be in the future, many people in Hopkins County who have great leadership abilities, who use their skills in capacities that get little recognition, but change the lives of others for the better — engaged citizens such as Boy and Girl Scout leaders, P.T.A. officers, 4-H workers, Sunday School teachers … and parents.

And I’ll bet none of these people own a single Tony Robbins CDs.