Throughout history, leadership has been a widely misunderstood concept.
Leaders have always been equally feared, revered, blamed, praised, and, above all, misunderstood.
How many of the people throughout history, who have feared, revered, blamed and praised their leaders, have made an honest and serious effort to understand what their leaders feel like, carrying the burden of leadership? Leaders have essentially been envied and admired, and little understood.
A little more than hundred years ago, my great-grandfather, Ignaz Porkert, who was an entrepreneur with twenty employees producing leather gloves, became mayor of his hometown.
He was more selected than elected, people insisted they wanted him to be the mayor of their town, and he accepted. He was popular without seeking to be so. He simply was serious about his attitude to serve anyone he came in contact with to the best of his ability.
His son Bruno studied physics and engineering and was the supervising engineer when electrical power was first introduced to their town in the 1920s. Before the Second World War, Bruno was running a business with about thirty employees producing electrical appliances that he had designed. His son Manfred, as a little boy, often overheard the term “induction”, as my grandfather was quite fascinated with the work of Nikola Tesla.
Children are open-minded and playful, and they like to explore their surroundings. When little Manfred would mess up something, his father would patiently explain to him – for instance – the details and the workings of an electrical device, or whatever had caused trouble or confusion, and was always happy to do so.
Bruno knew that commands, prohibitions, and rules cannot compensate for or take the place of understanding.
And so, he always took the time to explain accurately and comprehensievly what had been misunderstood.
Asking for the “Why” in any situation is the first decisive step towards greater understanding, and clarity.
How often have you asked yourself how you became the person you are today?
How often have you asked yourself what is your most compelling motivation to be present in the world?
How often have you asked yourself why you exist?
How often have you managed to immerse yourself in answering this question in a way that eventually led you to deeply rooted self-confidence?
Leadership basically is about asking for the “Why”.
Always ask for the “Why”!
Always keep asking for the “Why”!
Never stop asking for the “Why”!
Never ever stop asking for the “Why”!
– Franca Borgia –
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