Prices of leadership

“No pain no gain!” You most probably heard this popular saying more often. It is universally accepted that if we desire to gain something, we should be ready to pay its worth. This is so true when it comes to leadership. If we desire to enjoy the full benefits of leadership, we should be ready to pay the attached prices.

We joined Toastmasters and started a rewarding journey towards becoming great communicators and leaders. It was a very smart decision. Toastmasters is the right place where one can improve his or her leadership skill. Indeed, the sky is the limit.

Yet, expecting to enjoy the accompanying advantages of leadership alone is never enough. It requires us to acquaint ourselves with the prices of leadership, and remind ourselves about them once in awhile. As we all know, anything valuable has a price tag. We even become suspicious if something valuable is available for free. Leadership is one of those worthy things that demand paying its dues. There is no free ride in leading our glorious destiny.

For that matter, when we look back in history, we notice that those successful leaders we admire shouldered the burden of leadership and passed through lots of challenges. These leaders, not just lived a quite and smooth life all the time, they also experienced chaotic moments and spent some time in the wilderness. Not only they drove on the highway, but also they walked through the valley at some points in their leadership journey.

Unfortunately, many people appreciate successful leaders, and the recognition, wealth, and power they possess and aspire to become leaders without counting the prices of these possessions. Many times, those who are inspired by the bright and good sides of leadership may find themselves shocked when they are confronted with lots of challenges they never thought exist. What is sad is that when they are faced with consistent obstacles as they lead towards achieving their dream, they think that it is odd and only happens against them. They may think that something isn’t right or they start to doubt themselves and whether they are capable to lead. They don’t consider passing through these challenges as part of the process. Some may even quit when the going gets tough.

Therefore, it is important to acknowledge the burden and count the prices of leadership ahead of time. When we do so, we are immunized and prepared to shoulder the various prices of leadership that may come in our way. When we actually pay the prices of leadership, we would become battle-tested leaders.

Leaders who impacted the most and left legacies are the ones who endured lots of challenges that shaped their character. While they were passing through challenges, they persisted till the end and that is why we admire and adore them. If we aspire to become great leaders, there is no short cut. We should be willing to pay the prices of leadership and get shaped in the process.

There are numerous prices of leadership. The size and magnitude of these prices may vary from person to person. We may face one or some or all of the following prices of leadership, and even more:

•       Scrutiny,
•       Ridicule,
•      Rejection,
•      Intimidation, and
•      Assassination.

When we were living without taking leadership in the area of our passion, no one cares. The moment we step out and take leadership initiatives, that is when some people may start to scrutinize us. They question whether we are capable and qualified to lead. They may go back in our past and try to find some dirt and weaknesses. When they see that we are firm and continued to lead regardless of intense scrutiny, they step up their price and start to ridicule us.  If we are persistent, some people reject our relationship to show us how much they distaste our life style of leadership. Many people reject you and leave you alone but some people are not nice. They may intimidate you using various mechanisms. You may not get thousands of intimidation letters per year like US Presidents that threaten their life but you may encounter some forms of intimidations.

If we are persistent and continue to pay the aforementioned prices, we may be challenged to pay the ultimate price. It is like in bidding. You should continue to pay until no one is matching your bid. Many great leaders we admire such as Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. paid the ultimate price, assassination. Nonetheless, many of us may not face assassination but at least, we may encounter character assassination. People may assassinate your character so that you may not have credibility. Without credibility, our leadership is lame.

The good news is that Toastmasters gives you the platform to equip yourself to lead. The environment at Toastmasters is supportive where you may begin as no body but ended up a great leader. You gain practical experiences of leadership and develop the necessary skills and character you need to endure challenges you may face outside of Toastmasters. There are lots of leadership opportunities that would prepare you to pay the prices of leadership while smiling. You will be shaped to endure challenges, and finally become a battle-tested leader.