We’ve seen a significant rise in the number of motivational speakers in recent years. Corporations are increasingly hiring these speakers to instill leadership skills in their employees. Throughout our lives, we’ve all encountered various types of leaders during different stages. From childhood to our final moments on this planet, there is always someone we admire, someone we perceive as superior in some way. The word "leader" seems simple but is challenging to fully grasp. Who exactly is a leader? Is it your manager in a higher position? The CEO running the organization? Or the Prime Minister leading the country? While there are undoubtedly individuals in every field with the expertise and experience to manage large organizations, does that alone make them a true leader?
What
defines a leader?
People
often admire someone more powerful or accomplished than themselves, and
admiration often leads to imitation. I recall how much I admired my first
corporate manager—so much so that I subconsciously began to mirror his
personality. I adopted his email-writing style, learned the sophisticated words
he used when addressing teams, and even mimicked his approach to handling
client escalations on calls. Eventually, I became a near replica of his
character, to the point where some of my former colleagues noticed the
transformation. I wasn’t consciously trying to imitate him; it was my
subconscious, fueled by admiration and aspiration, that began replicating his
every action in an attempt to be like him.
One of the key traits of a leader is their ability to influence.
Take movie actors as an example. People follow them, wear the brands they promote, and use the products they endorse. Just as actors influence the masses with their beauty and charisma, a leader influences followers through their behavior and skills.
The Bhagavad Gitta offers deep insight into what it means to be a leader. In his discourse to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna explains why he takes birth in this universe, emphasizing the responsibilities and influence of a true leader.
Chapter 3 verse 21, 22 and 23 reads as below:
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः ।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥ २१ ॥
Translation: “Whatever action a great man performs, common
men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world
pursues.”
न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन ।
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥ २२ ॥
Translation: “O son of Pṛthā,
there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor
am I in want of anything, nor have I a need to obtain anything – and yet I am
engaged in prescribed duties.”
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥ २३ ॥
Translation: “For if I ever failed to engage in carefully
performing prescribed duties, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path.”
***translation source Bhagvat Gitta as it is by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
In summary, Krishna, as the Supreme Godhead, does not need to be born in this cosmic universe, as he is fully capable of achieving anything he desires without incarnating. So why does he choose to take birth and endure the cycle of pain, pleasure, suffering, agony, and, ultimately, life and death?
Consider the hardships he faced in Treta Yuga. Despite being a king, he relinquished his throne to live in the forest for 14 years. He spent months in deep sorrow, separated from his wife. He even allowed his wife to stay in an ashram while she was pregnant, all to restore peace and harmony to his kingdom. Do any of these actions seem joyful? Certainly not.
Krishna himself says, "In this entire universe, there is nothing I cannot attain, nothing that brings me greater pleasure, and no desire or greed that drives me." The same Krishna, who as a mere infant vanquished numerous demons—could he not have killed Kansa without taking birth? Of course, he could have.
Whether as the incarnation of Ram or Krishna, he chooses to be born, lives a human life, suffers, and dies—all to leave behind a legacy for future generations and Yugas to admire. By experiencing and demonstrating the pain, sacrifice, and hard work necessary to achieve something, he shows the true meaning of persistence and effort. Without these demonstrations, the value of dedication and perseverance would be lost.
In short, you cannot advocate quitting smoking if you are a chain smoker. People are unlikely to trust someone who doesn’t apply their own wisdom to their personal life.
This is the essence of true leadership. A leader doesn’t merely speak words of wisdom; he exemplifies them through his own actions. When a leader lights the path ahead, guiding others with the torch in hand, that’s when respect is truly earned. Leadership is not just about having excellent communication skills and impressing the masses—it’s about living the principles you preach, earning the genuine loyalty of your followers, and embodying the values you profess.
Whether you are an aspiring leader or simply a member of a household, be mindful of your actions, as someone may be closely observing and imitating you. Actions are imitated far more quickly and effectively than words. Focus more on what you do than on what you say. At the end of the day, it's not your words that matter most—it's how you lived your life. Perhaps this is why so many once-revered figures, including saints, have fallen from grace, finding themselves behind bars for failing to live according to the very principles they preached.
The next time you reflect, ask yourself: Do I command, or do I lead through action? A genuine answer to this question will determine the caliber of leader you truly are. After all, even Krishna, the Supreme Godhead, exemplified leadership through action, not merely by issuing commands.
