“Without pain there is no gain!” You have probably heard this popular saying more than once. It is universally accepted that if we want to win something, we must be willing to pay for its value. This is so true when it comes to leadership. If we want to enjoy the full benefits of leadership, we must be willing to pay the accompanying prices.
He began a rewarding journey to become a great leader. It was a very smart decision. In fact, the sky is the limit. However, it is never enough to hope to enjoy the benefits that come with becoming a leader in your area of passion. It requires us to acquire the prices of leadership and to remember them from time to time.
As we all know, anything of value has a price. We even suspect if something valuable is available for free. Leadership is one of those valuable things that requires you to pay what you deserve. There is nothing for free in leading our glorious destiny.
In fact, when we look back in history, we notice that those successful leaders we admire carried the burden of leadership and went through many challenges. These leaders, not only lived a quiet and peaceful life all the time, they also experienced chaotic moments and spent some time in nature. Not only did they drive down the highway, they also hiked the valley at some points on their leadership journey.
Unfortunately, many people appreciate successful leaders and the recognition, wealth, and power they possess and aspire to become leaders not counting the prices of these possessions. Many times, those who are inspired by the positives and positives of leadership may be surprised when faced with many challenges they never thought existed. The sad thing is that when they are faced with constant obstacles as they lead them towards achieving their dream, they think it is strange and it just happens to them. They may think that something is not right or they begin to doubt themselves and whether they are capable of leading. They don’t consider going through these challenges as part of the process. Some may even quit when the going gets tough.
Therefore, it is important to recognize the burden and calculate leadership prices in advance. When we do, we are immunized and prepared to take on the various leadership prices that may come our way. When we truly pay the prices that are required independently of us and continue to lead the challenges and obstacles that we may encounter as we make our way towards our destiny, we will become battle-tested leaders.
That is why the leaders who most impacted and left legacies are those who endured many challenges. They persisted to the end and that is why we admire and adore them. If we aspire to become great leaders, there are no shortcuts. We should be willing to pay the prices of leadership and train in the process.
There are numerous leading prices. The size and magnitude of these prices vary from person to person. We can face one or some or all of the following leadership prices, and even more:
- Scrutiny,
- Ridiculous,
- Rejection,
- Bullying and
- Murder.
When we lived without taking leadership in our area of passion, nobody cared. The moment we step up and take leadership initiatives, that is when some people begin to scrutinize us. They question whether we are capable and qualified to lead. They can go back to our past and try to find dirt and weaknesses. When they see that we are steadfast and continue to lead despite intense scrutiny, they increase their price and begin to ridicule us. If we are persistent, some people reject our relationship to show us how much they dislike our leadership lifestyle. Many people reject you and leave you alone, but some people are not nice. They can intimidate you using various mechanisms. You may not receive thousands of bullying letters per year, for example as presidents of the United States threatening your life, but you may find some forms of bullying.
If we are persistent and continue to pay the aforementioned prices, we may be challenged to pay the final price. It’s like making an offer. You must continue paying until no one matches your offer. 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. However, many of us may not face the murder, but at least we can face the murder of the character. People can murder your character so you don’t have credibility. Without credibility, our leadership is unconvincing.
The question is: “Are you willing to pay these and many other prices”? I hope so.
In conclusion, to enjoy the full spectrum of leadership benefits and rewards that can come with it, we must calculate leadership prices before the curve. Once we know the attached price tags, we would be immunized and better prepared to pay the prices while smiling. If we are determined in our hearts to lead our destiny regardless of the prices of leadership, the chances are high that we will finish our career and leave a legacy in the area of our passion.