EPT“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.” Those sagely words are viewed by some as worn out dogma’s, but those words uttered above resonate through the classrooms, the stadiums, and the minds of leaders. These cleverly denoted words coined by Kenneth Blanchard show that leaders must not stray from their path, while filtering the opinions of other people. Though not as easily recognized in today’s society, the most important part of a leader is the creation of a leader.
“Leaders aren't born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” Those are the words of the great and late Vince Lombardi. Those words show that becoming a leader requires great work, determination, and most of all; a vision. I want to use an example of a leader invisible to the Western World, and his name is Lim Yo Hwan. Lim Yo Hwan started out as an internet junkie, making his way through the streets of Seoul. But unlike most other people staring at their computer monitors, this guy had a vision, and that vision was to become a pro gamer. During that time (and even sometimes now) being a pro gamer was socially unacceptable, but one of the keys to becoming a leader is not letting the influence of others or one’s self conscious stray one from their vision. One of the great oratory master pieces was uttered by a man named Adlai Stevenson, whose clever dogma unleashed on the world went “It's hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse.” Lim Yo Hwan was led by that mindset. During that time period most pro gamer followed set strategies and skill was measured by mechanics without anybody leading the way. Lim Yo Hwan entered with a storm introducing unorthodox strategies while using once thought inferior tactics. After all he had a vision to be the best.
The definition of a leader is “to go before or with to show the way.” The role of a leader is to set the path and allow people to follow it. Lim Yo Hwan did exactly that, as many people jumped on the band wagon and threw out the norm for something new. But for Lim Yo Hwan to prevent his path from stopping or ending in a dead end, he must lay new bricks down. For one to stay a leader they must innovate, stay keen, and continue following their vision. One must continue laying down bricks so nobody can catch up to them. But like stated previously the key to successful leadership is not authority, but influence. Although Lim Yo Hwan had authority in the stadiums, beating everybody he met, but he also had an authority in the practice rooms, beating information and wisdom into the younger one’s, or preparing the new generation. “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.” A leader must inspire his followers not to be like him, but to be better than him. Lim Yo Hwan grew another vision, and that was to take a student under his wing and grow them into a protégé with the ability to soar above him. Lim Yo Hwan did exactly that. Lim Yo Hwan picked a kid who some how made it on to the team, this kid was nothing significant, this kid was hanging on a thread, but Lim Yo Hwan saw something else in this kid.. Lim Yo Hwan taught this kid everything he knew, the ambition to innovate, but also planted the seed of his other vision; to be the best. This kid is Choi Yun Sung. Choi Yun Sung dominated the pro gaming scene, and in the people’s eyes dominated everybody; everybody but his mentor. Finally the time came for this young protégé to prove himself. He was in the finals of a major tournament, and his opponent was Lim Yo Hwan. They duked it out in one of the greatest Finals in history, with Choi Yun Sung standing on top. Millions of people were watching this shocking loss for Lim Yo Hwan, but only a few will recognize this as a victory for him, the greatest victory he could achieve. He had achieved his vision, and he broke down in tears of sorrow, but those tears of sorrow were from Lim Yo Hwan the dominator. Lim Yo Hwan the mentor broke down in tears of joy.
“Divorced from ethics, leadership is reduced to management and politics to mere technique.” These words iterated by James MacGregor Burns a leader in leadership show that being a good leader must be in the light of righteousness. Lim Yo Hwan can tell you himself that ones ability to lead can be hindered by moral instability. After his loss to his protégé, Lim Yo Hwan became very saddened, and he began to go out and party and drink heavily, and with that he threw out the vision. Most people familiar with the pro gaming scene recognize this as the “path of night.” After Lim Yo Hwan walked out on the path of night, his performance began to hinder not only in the blinding lights, but in the practice rooms. The fire was gone, and the team started losing, his influence was apparent, and with that gone those around him began to fail. One must be honest with not only others, but with oneself to be fit to lead. One must keep promises and never take their sight off their vision.
There is one more key attribute to leadership. "It is not a shameful thing to be unable reach the goal. It's becoming afraid and running away, even before considering the fact that the road is long and rough, that is truly cowardly." That final key is bravery. It is the bravery to step into a discomfort zone. It is bravery to take risks and lead the way. It is bravery to walk off the path of night. Lim Yo Hwan said that quote himself, and he made a come back. With his influence the team came back together and dominated. With his determination he mentored the young. With his bravery he challenged the world. In my eyes, you Lim Yo Hwan are a true leader.
Leadership is the characterized by ones ability to lead the way. A skill characterized by the ambition to mentor others and watch them prosper. Leadership is shown by always keeping promises, and never letting down goals. Leadership is to be brave and have an ambition to lead the boat through the storm, or take people the right path. The path of a leader is a long and arduous one, and only a few have walked that path. And those who have trekked that path have reaped the most valuable rewards.
