Security in Leadership

Have you ever heard the expression 'tip of the iceberg'? This usually refers to a negative situation where what is visible or known is only a small part of a larger problem. This principle where about 1/9 of the volume of an iceberg is above the sea level is a good example of Security in Leadership. Like the pyramids of Egypt, the stronger and greater the pyramids, the wider and more secured the base.

Now, what dose security mean? Security is simply the 90% of the iceberg underwater. The strong, secured base, which is sometimes not seen, but we build on towards effective leadership. If I had to break down the components of effective leadership, it would look like this:

Effective Leadership = 10% Skills + 90% Security

In return to the analogy of the iceberg, what we see and what we do is only 10% of an effective leader. These skills can be presentation techniques, public speaking methodologies or maybe reading body language. There are so many skill sets and techniques out there for us to learn but the truth is no matter how much skills and training we acquire, we can only stand strong if we have built a wide, strong, secure base (90% - Security). The bigger our security, the higher we can aim to achieve.

You might ask, what is this security that affects effective leadership so much? Security can be broken down into 2 main categories.


Security = 1 (Morals) + 2 (Values and Principle)



1) Morals - The First Level of Building the Leader in You

Morals are the most basic and simplest forms of belief that is logically indisputable. One example is 'Honesty'. No one in his or her right mind would want people to be dishonest towards them. This is not to say that they are truly honest people themselves but this is a moral trait that every human being can associate to. In other words, morals are the innate behaviours, both logical and emotional, that make us human.

As morals are the first step towards humanity, it is also true that all of us have it. The more we seek to understand about ourselves the stronger our potential to become effective leaders. Morals are not something we can hide or remove. It is the reason of our existence and the underlying cause of our actions. Without morals, we seize to become human.


2) Values and Principle - The Seed and Fuel for our Growth and Drive to be Leaders

Values are very similar to our morals in the way it affects our thinking, perceptions, mindsets and actions. However, the main difference is that while morals are a universal tie to humans, values differ from each individual person. Values are the experiences we face from childhood, it can be the upbringing we received or the environment in which we grew up in. These are all factors contributing towards our values.

For example, I grew up in a family where integrity was enforced from as early as I can remember. There were no holds in telling lies. I remember getting severely punished for telling a lie and it affected me as I felt that it was no big deal, just child's play. But little did I know, this value of integrity got associated with me because of the upbringing I received from my parents. Even now, as a teacher, I also seek to pass on this value to my children in my class. We are affected and we react based on our values.

There is however, something more than our values that drives us to stand up for what we believe in. This is our principle, a guide for our life in which we follow and set out to achieve. The principles of a man can differ as black is to white. There is no set of principles in which everyone follows. There is however, a set of socially norm principles that people are encouraged to undertake as their own set of principles.

To be a man of principle is in essence to stand by what he or she believes in without a hint of faltering or uncertainty. This is seen in our everyday life. Countless examples such as Martin Luther King believing in the equality of man in his 'I Have A Dream' speech. Mother Teresa believing in the care for the poor and desolate and showing this through her actions. These are just some examples of how their principles in them drives them to become leaders. It is a trait amongst effective leaders that they all have strong principles that they hold on to and firmly believe in.

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These morals, values and principles that we have is the security that we need to lead. A huge, magnificent iceberg that we see is only 1/9 of the full picture. The higher we want to grow and reach, the bigger our securities must lie. The tallest building has the biggest foundation. To be confident and to believe in yourself and those around you allows you to change and impact others more then mere fanciful usage of grammar, nouns and verbs. It is you that makes the difference to yourself and those around you.


In conclusion, an effective leader is not one who possesses great skill, technique, or ability. But he is one who firstly, understands himself, and then has a clear picture of what he believes in and what drives and motivates him. In channeling his energy and enthusiasm into these areas, he in turn takes the first step towards leading himself thus starting his journey towards leading others and towards effective leadership.













Jonathan Szeto has been working with youth and teens for many years and wants to encourages everyone to find that Leader in them. For more information on Leadership for Teens, Becoming an Effective Leader and Using Leadership to Create Change please visit http://the-effective-leader.blogspot.com/