A Dayak Future Leader

Gkm2020 in Dayak Baru Weblog on 20 December wrote on the criteria or characteristics of a Dayak Future Leader. It is quite a long article.

His opening paragraph is as follows:

What are the criteria to become a real and responsible serving leader?
Would it be:

One who asks the right questions or one who provides the right answers?
A shepherd or a catalyst?
A protector or a destroyer?
A savior or a terminator?
A defender or a spectator?
The one “numpang” in the driver’s seat or the navigator who sets the direction?
Would a future leader be a financial architect, a social architect, an educational architect, community development architect or the green architect?

And part of his concluding paragraph is as follows:

The timing for this article is great, as many of our Dayak leaders in the Government and/or organizations or associations are faced with the choice of survival in terms of “not dying” or survival by “succeeding”. In these pressing times, the choice of not dying may be tempting.

However, staying focused on: the true responsibility (Yang Bertanggungjawab); to serve the rakyat (Yang Berkidmat); courage, strength and honor (Yang Berani); transparency and accountability (Yang Benar); empowering and listening to the grassroots (Yang Berbudi) and visionary and goals (Yang Berjuang) of a leader is what leadership is all about. That’s positive “YB” not “Yang Berbohong” or “Yang Bersekongkol” other negative meaning.

---------------------------------------

I thought that was a good piece of writing for those aspiring to be leaders and for the followers to decide which leader to follow. For born leaders, which are of course not many in numbers, they are already endowed with those characteristics.

I just want to add a little bit to that article.

In my mind, in summary, a Dayak leader or Dayak leaders must have the FOUR PILLARS of a man's heart. The four pillars are:

1. The heart of a King, who can provide direction for his Kingdom and also protection for his subjects when his realm is at risk;

2. The heart of a warrior, whose bravery is untainted and willing to suffer risk for the safety of others;

3. The heart of a mentor, who gives life coaching and whose passion for the same knows no bound;

4. The heart of a friend, who is ever willing to be a man's best friend.

The keyword to be a leader is 'selfless'. The four pillars above have one thing in common-selflessness and sacrifice. Like a candle burning itself to give light to others. Mahatma Gandhi is a fine example, whose soul is beyond purchase. He continuously gave light to others and finally with his own life.

Edith Wharton wrote, "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it".

My conviction is that, not just being Dayak leaders. One should be a leader for all. Because the love for others and the passion for the service of others transcends racial or religious lines.

May all those who suffer in the service of others be given special mercy in God's divine kingdom, Amen.