Follow the Leader

It is my conviction that the best followers make the best leaders.
Though not everyone who is a good follower is a good leader.  Sometimes some are, and always will be, a great example of followers.  In one sense stealth leaders.  That is, there is not the desire to lead or the seen potential leadership, but the quality of their following is exemplary. It is done in such a way that others see and want to emulate.
I suppose it goes with what I think about all of us being leaders of ourselves.  I know I need to get that right in the first place.  If I can lead myself, I can lead others.  Not necessarily in a recognised leadership capacity, but based on just the way I inspire others to follow well.
Also not necessarily in a “I’ve got it all together” sense, as in my view no leadership could emerge as that is no ones experience.  But in the sense that I demonstrate the required skills in the necessary field.  In some things I can help, while in others I need help.
A good leader is to me a “company man (or woman)” but can think outside the box.  To me that is a bonus.  I do not feel innovation is achieved without the ability to see the way things are, and how they could be better.
Success builds on success and refuses to listen to voices that keep down or make the same as all others in the pack.  There was a reason for the success enjoyed.  What worked was implemented, while what did not work was at best learned from and discarded.
Good leadership to me at least maintains, and at best takes to the next level of success.  What is good is not measured by achieving good numbers only but also achieving good people.  It is not a case of either/or, but of both.  I heard of one company that exploited others to the max and people left in droves.  Eventually they got it, and people flocked to the organization.  Its success changed history.
To me leaders are born. Much can be done to “make” a leader but “making” makes a born leader better while making a “made” leader only, insecure.  I have often seen leaders given a title due to passing what is desired.  Yet followers followed because they had to rather than wanted to.
To me the best leaders also are not afraid to take others with them.  The success of ones under their authority is their success, while made leaders tend to want to hold their position and resent (and can be threatened by) the success of those under their authority.
Leadership is not something to be grasped at.  It often pays well but the responsibility can break even those born to it.  Often it seems to be to be a case of knowing what I ask for.