A leader can exhibit the requisite skills but it is the people whom the leader serves who define the effectiveness of the leadership. The leader is only as much as the followers make him or her to be. This happens only if the leader is perceived and validated as serving the needs and wants of the followers – that is, meeting the people’s expectations. The leader is not a static entity that moves within a vacuum. He or she exists only within the dynamic phenomenon of leader + followers. What exists between leaders and his or her followers is the realm of expectations and aspirations. The leader is a functional tool for the people to achieve what they want.

What people admire in a leader has not changed over time. The ideals have remained. The consistently top premiums are honesty, vision, ability to inspire, and competency. These prove that the people who are perceived to be effective leaders are the ones who can respond to the needs of the greater many.

The people’s perception of a leader’s integrity is also a reflection of their perception of themselves. A leader with no integrity who stays in power is a representative of a corrupt system that condones wrongdoing at the highest levels. In turn, this is also a reflection of a corrupt people because they tolerate dishonest leaders. A dishonest leader ultimately leads corrupt people. Vis a vis, a corrupt people make corrupt leaders. On the other hand, a leader who has ethics and principle make a constituency that is likewise determined to stick to principles.

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