TWO KINDS OF LEADERS

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, an English writer born in London in 1874 and died in 1936, said:

“There is a great man who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great.”

There are two types of leaders. The first take up big issues, use grand slogans, and always speak in a high-profile way. They are noticed everywhere, talked about everywhere, and welcomed on every platform. Their personalities shine, and they make others feel small. These leaders become highly visible, but the people gain no real benefit.

The second kind are those who truly want to help ordinary people. They carry the pain of others in their hearts. Their nature leads them to work that may not seem big but is deeply useful. Their work does not make headlines, nor does it bring them praise.

Such a leader’s actions do not gain personal fame, but they elevate every individual in the nation. He makes each person a hero within their own sphere and boosts every person’s character, thereby lifting the entire nation.

Those who are drawn to greatness may admire leaders of the first kind, but the true well-wishers of humanity are the leaders of the second kind. They make themselves small so that others may grow. They place themselves in the foundation so that others may rise like tall towers. By setting aside their own prominence, they create opportunities for others to flourish.