History

What does it mean to lead? Why are there separations and distinctions in leadership? Nearly every corner of society is laced with theories and expectations of leadership. One expert will state an inherited perspective of leadership, while others will argue that it is something that is earned. Purposely avoiding the theory, we must dive head first into leadership; a taste that is laced with pure emotion and controlled by logic. Great leaders demonstrate different characteristics. Lincoln is believed by many to be a savior, a deliverer who paved the road of freedom for many and helped to end slavery. While the later analysis is true, many fail to look at Lincoln’s greatest leadership characteristic: Loyalty. Journals that Lincoln wrote during the Civil War show his loyalty to the union and truth be told, beyond the warm fuzzy feeling of love and liberty, Lincoln was primarily concerned with the preservation of the union. He was in favor of preservation, even if it meant the continuation of slavery. He understood that leadership meant sacrifice and even though he may not agree with the concept or the moral configurations of slavery, he believed in the union. This was his passion, his cause, his success.

Leaders are often defined by simple things in life, and exalted by public achievement. The sadness of this truth is that it fails to capture leaders beyond the public spotlight, and it embraces fraudulent people as leaders in many scenarios? It is very easy to fan a flame when you do not feel the heat. If you are pushing the heat away from others that look up to you, you may be considered a leader, a representation of the people; however, true leadership is found in the flames, the trenches of darkness where the crawling takes place. When we look at higher education, the mentioned analogy is crucial. Students are entering schools as consumers. Why? As many studies show, it is the extrinsic factors.

In 2002,