Lost blog two - leadership

I just finished watching S01E05, the White Rabbit. This is Jack's first flash back episode, also the episode when he decides that he must accept responsibility for leading the survivors of Oceanic flight 815. In this episode Jack has a conversation with Locke about what it takes to be a leader. Jack says "I am not a leader," to which Locke responds "They all treat you like one."

I have spent allot of time in my life contemplating leadership. In the simplest terms a leader is a person with followers. A leader can be competent, strong and intelligent or she can be scattered, weak and stupid but if people follow them they are a leader.

I have often debated whey some people are leaders and others are not. To me there seems to be two types of leaders. The first type of leader is the person who has the ambition to be a leader. The second type of leader is the one who has leadership hoisted onto him. Both are often competent and successful. However, as I see it the ambitious leader is easily corrupted. He is the leader who likes being in control and will compromise his values and his followers to remain in control. In comparison the leader who has leadership forced on her is more willing to share responsibility and reward but make the hard decisions for the best of the group.

I think people like Jack are the best leaders. If you don't want to be the boss but you have a plan and the answers and people follow you you will lead for the best of everyone and not just yourself.