reflection on a quote

Natuwa ako sa composition ko na ito, so I'm posting it here. This is actually one of my assignments in management. We were asked to reflect on the quote by Henry Miller. ============ Reflection on the quote: “The real leader has no need to lead, he is content to show the way” – Henry Miller The Light Bearer Henry Miller is a novelist and painter. As most painters and artists are, I think Mr. Miller is more of a right brain fellow, who thinks not in straight linear way but more on the artistic side, which sees the meaning of things on the intuitive and subjective manner. To illustrate my point, I would like to compare a left brain person with the right brain one. When shown a leaf, a left brain person would see a leaf and its parts – the vein, tip, blade, petiole and the like. Left brain people are more rationale and sees things the way it is. On the other hand, a right-brain person would see life, hope, and a vision of the future, a turning of a new leaf or chapter in one’s life. In other words, all that the leaf represents and not the leaf itself is what a right-brain person sees. What I am saying is that, Miller is not actually saying something different when he said that a leader is content to show the way. Because leading is actually not being at the forefront of everything – as most movies depicts heroes of war. They are actually the one at the background overseeing things and looking ahead, visualizing the impact of every move, anticipating actions and reactions. And because he is on the lookout, he is the one perfectly able to show which way to go. Leading is not in contradiction to showing the way. Sometimes, people tend to ignore or overlook what is actually under their noses. Precisely because it is near. The one who can better see it is someone looking at us. And that is what leaders are supposed to do, show us what we cannot see or comprehend by ourselves because we are so involve in it. Have you ever wondered why we could give proper advice to people in crises, but when we are the ones experiencing a crisis, we could not advise ourselves? I have a friend who is so rational and also artistic. She has faculty of both the right and left brain hemisphere. She could dissect any problem and suggest the best solution. She could see the big picture as well as plan the details. I could not. I could maybe see the big picture but not anticipate everything that needs to be done. But whenever she encounters emotional problems, she comes to me for advice and comfort. My friend and colleague who would always have a solution to any problem cannot solve her own, simply because she is involved in the problem. A leader shows the way because he/she sees where the kinks come from. Leading is actually showing the way and not being physically in front of everybody. Otherwise, he/she would not be able to see what and how his/her people are doing at the back. The leader stays at the back to serve as a guide. I remember one time when I was listening to the priest’s sermon, he asked the people, where should the light bearer be? The people answered in front. No, the priest said. The light bearer should stand at the back, holding the light above the heads of the people he is guiding. If he stands in front, the light would blind those who follow. The light bearer then should stand at the back so that the light would illuminate the path. So that people could see which way to go. Holding the light, the leader does not need to say which way to go because the people could already see it. The leader shows the way, by holding the light so that people would know where to go.