Out in Front

I find it easy to pick a good leader.  The word “leader” gives it away.  To me good leaders tend to lead.  Like all they are not perfect, but I willingly follow because I see them doing stuff.  It is not like they will ask me to do something I know they would not do themselves.
But I do the stuff.  It is my job.  But I know when I am not there if what I have been told is believed in and needed, they will do it for a bit while another is absent.
I have shared it before, but I used to see it at work all the time.  I willingly followed as I would see the leader doing stuff that was not his job, but they were willing to be seen as one of us.  Their authority did not make them an ivory tower person, but their authority was built on our loyalty which was willingly given because they would obviously do what we did.
It is funny, a leader to me is out in front and not driving from behind.  In the Ukraine at the moment the President is seen as a leader because he stays.  He is not asking others to do something he is not willing to do himself.  It may cost him his life, but he is inspiring a nation by example.  His quote when offered a chance to escape is a classic to me and always will be. “I don’t need a lift, I need ammunition.”
To me it is the difference between knowing of and knowing.  Knowing about may produce good things in my life but knowing someone personally as they are just over there and obviously involved in what we are all doing, makes me way more likely to want to do the same.
I reckon that is the difference between someone who is just doing the job because that is their position, and someone doing the job because that is their passion.
I was once told a neighbour wanted to be a nurse.  I thought to myself, “you are not a nurse.”  A nurse to me cares.  I have seen it in the practice I go to.  I have dealt with two nurses of late.  The first just did the job and did not do it well.  Things were missing that would not have been had care of others been evident.  They just go for it when tending to others without thought of the person they are dealing with.  The other nurse does their job and does it well, but the whole time they are thinking of the one they are dealing with and working together with them for a good outcome.
To me leadership is like that.  Working together for the best outcome for all.  Ruling by example rather than by decree.
My allegiance is not easily given.  If I feel the leader is one that is just in it for themselves then if I have a choice, I will not follow them.  They are looking out only for number one which for them is them and I am vulnerable, not just because of what confronts but what leads.
I see it in Ukraine at the moment.  One leader is in it for themselves and drives, while the other makes obvious we are all in this together and leads from the front.