The background: Oftentimes leaders are faced with the choice of doing what's right versus what's popular and would serve their self interest.  In my opinion the essence of good leadership is to be willing to lose the mantle of the leader if it means violating decent principles which serve the common good.  A good leader must look at the big picture and be willing to sacrifice his or her ambitions regardless of the pressures from within and without, particularly where the easy road leads to obvious ruin.  Unfortunately our humanness with all its flaws tend to override our better judgment leaving us somewhat bewildered

Deliberate Leadership

A misty blanket from the sky falls on the leader's face

For some reason he can't fathom, he feels so out of place.

He'd done nothing wrong; he's just supplying the usual spin

Yet all and sundry sing the same song, much to his chagrin.

They don't know what it is like when you're out there eating grass

How bad it feels when you want to act, but you are forced to pass.

Making promises that are grand, and then failing to deliver

Being the conductor of a band whose music makes you quiver.

Thus the leader's ship continues to sink deeper into crisis

The thought is, there's no need to fret, Paradise is used to this.

For hopelessness and despair are Paradise's biggest industries

So much so, one could argue, there should be two such ministries.

And the leader continues his walk; still lost in his own thoughts

How does a weakling fight the largest of the big juggernauts?

He alone knows the reason for what seems a foolish fight

But everyone will suffer should Superman unleash his might!

So, it is more fear; but then, Paradise is used to this

And as its citizens are hobbled, all know the genesis.

But sadly it matters not for it is just par for the course

Still it hurts badly, and there's a sense of buyer's remorse.

The leader concludes his walk; sucking the meat from his teeth

He looked down and sighed for he could not see his feet beneath.

His waist line had grown in size, despite the fact that things are rough

But then that's to be expected when your team lives at the trough.

Then he looked up once more and his gaze lingered at the skies

He's still confused; he knows not why the mist falls in his eyes.

He enters the house thinking that it's a shame, it's really a sin

The friends you make, the things you do, when a contest you must win.

Duhaney A. Smith

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