A Reflection written by

Zerayn D.

Perspective on Leadership Styles and Ideals

A few years ago, and even until recently, I was really struggling to accept the leadership situation in an area I’m involved in. I was frustrated with the micromanaging, always craving more transparency, and noticing how communication just wasn’t flowing. People were hurting, and morale was slipping. The culture had turned against empathy and real support, and it felt like I was putting in a lot of effort for barely any return. I even considered fighting against the injustice. However, that just led me to a new perspective on the true nature of injustice. Eventually, I got worn out. I stopped playing the games and stopped pretending everything was fine. But even now, deep down, I’m mourning the loss of true philanthropy, overshadowed by the rise of poor leadership.

I took some time to reflect on what I’ve learned about leadership and the experiences that shaped my leadership principles. It was eye-opening to realize just how different the ideals I look up to are from the reality we’re currently facing. For a moment, it really hit me, and I had to take a step back to reconcile what I believe in with the reality around me.

Here’s what I figured out: there are so many different leadership styles and principles. Where I come from, the ones that shaped me the most are servant leadership, transformational leadership, instructional leadership, and democratic leadership. When you combine them, you get leaders who always go the extra mile and put in the effort to build genuine connections with the people in their community. It’s like this beautiful tapestry that has formed my own leadership principles and what I expect from others.

On the other hand the leadership I’m seeing today in that particular area, doesn’t really reflect any of those ideals. So, I’ve spoken up about my expectations, hoping that it might spark some change or improvement. That’s when I realized I can’t expect everyone to lead the way I think they should. People are different, and they have their own leadership styles and principles. Suggesting ideal leadership principles doesn’t always lead to change—it really depends on how they respond to the suggestion. If they don’t see it as important or valuable, there’s nothing I can do about that.

When King Josiah began his reign, he inherited a kingdom marked by corruption and the aftermath of previous hostile leadership. Despite that, he was able to lead with godliness and integrity. This demonstrates to me that even in an ungodly environment, I can still live by my leadership ideals. I can pursue them in my own way and make it through.

So, I took some time to think about the reality of the situation. I realized I have to accept that I’m in a leadership environment that doesn’t align with my ideals. As much as I’d love for them to embrace the leadership principles I believe in, it’s ultimately their choice. That’s when I shifted my focus. I moved away from questioning their leadership styles. I started figuring out how I can adapt and make the best of being in an environment that doesn’t reflect my principles and ideals.