What Makes a Great Leader

A great leader does not need to assert his leadership. Others follow him of their own volition. Such a leader is not perpetually high-status. Leadership should not primarily be about always winning an argument and imposing one’s will. If that’s the goal, the leader might gain authority, but never respect. The ultimate goal should be bigger. A better product. The world’s best company. Deeper knowledge. Aesthetics. And so on.

A great leader can come down in status to talk to the lowest person in the pecking order (keeping his status just a little bit higher, of course). While a leader can create a sense of awe and authority by being perpetually high-status, I think this is damaging in the long run. Steve Jobs (RIP) sent out company-wide emails and signed his name off like he was everybody’s best bud. He wasn't – but can you imagine an insecure person doing that?

Ultimately, the leader’s merit is the quality of his leadership, not how high-brow he is. It’s in how logically persuasive he is and how much he believes in himself. A leader must have a vision that’s 20/20 clear about how to go about thing. If the leader believes in himself, others will follow suit. People love to be led, after all, by someone who knows what he’s doing.

Therefore leaders have the over-logic. They can think beyond the curve. They do not fall prey to herd mentality and have that feeling in their gut that tells them they’re right. They’re willing to put everything on the line for that feeling, including reputation, self-respect and money.

And Steve Jobs, you were all the above and so much more. May you rest in peace.