Wednesday; April 30

Often, when I do a presentation on leadership, I talk about how leaders are positive influences on the people around them – period.  I believe the true definition of leadership is helping other people become the best they can be.  Inevitably, someone will bring up the influence Adolph Hitler had on people and say that even though he was evil, he was an effective leader.  Folks, you will never be able to convince me he was a leader, much less an effective one.  Sure, he had a bunch of people he manipulated and threatened into doing what he wanted, but he wasn’t a leader!  At the end of his life (which occurred with his suicide on this day in 1945) he left a wake of devastation and destruction.  He convinced his people to sellout their prosperity for lie … a deception that cost the lives of millions of people.  Was Hitler powerful – yes!  Was he influential – yes!  Did he leave a legacy – yes!  Was he a leader – absolutely not!

I think there are a couple of lessons that come out of the life and times of Adolph Hitler.  First, we must be careful who and what we believe.  Let’s make it a point to evaluate the impact people are having on others before we line up behind them or their policies.  Second, we must ask ourselves why we want to influence people.  Is it because we have a self-serving agenda that we need the masses to help us attain?  If so, that isn’t leadership, it is control.  Let’s apply wisdom to leadership – in who we follow and in where we go.

Think About It!


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