Leadership or Dictatorship

There is a BIG difference between these 2 - Leadership & Dictatorship

Here's what Wikipedia had to say about these 2:

Leadership has been described as “a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task".

A Dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual: a dictator.

Very clearly, a Leader is someone that inspires and get the support of others. While Dictatorship is the governing of One person over others. 

The reason why I am inspired to write this post is because I felt that sometimes it is really very difficult to have great leaders in your life. Having worked in the workforce for about 10 years, I can count the numbers of true leaders in my workplace with one hand. Obviously, there are lots of dictator out there that thought they are actually "leaders" in their given positions. Having looked around the "leaders" in my workplace, I can't help but thinking why are they been placed in leadership positions? Instead of leading people, they dictate them instead. The reason why I left my previous company is because I don't felt empowered by my so-called "leader" (team lead) in my team. Instead of inspiring, motivating and getting the support to accomplished tasks, what we get is shit. Instead of standing for your own team, you sabotage them. So this is what you call "leadership"? When shared about what's your 5 year plan in the company, instead of encouraging and supporting your team mate's vision, you put them down by saying they are not good enough? All you do is just to sit there and get paid every month with the big-ass pay check. No directions, no motivation... just dictatorship. 

And just when I thought that grass is greener on the other side, I was wrong. I went from one dictatorship to another, thinking that I will get a better manager. Was it really so difficult to have great leaders in your life? Someone that is truly interested in grooming you, helping you to achieve your goals along the way. There are countless time where I self-motivate, self-improve and self-driven myself to be better at work. Making sure that I do exceedingly above and beyond what I am required of. But still, I'm praying for a leader in my life that can lead me. Someone that can inspire me to be better, to be greater. For many, the positions that was given to them was not really because they live up to it.. I agreed that most worked really hard to be where they are now. But if you just want to be someone that is only interested in getting your own backside covered, then i think you should not be a leader in the 1st place. 

A leader is someone that get their ass burn 1st, had their face slapped 1st. A leader is someone that stands for his/her team during tough times. Even when it's the team's fault, a leader will shield 1st and discipline later. A leader is someone that had a team of people behind him/her, willing to follow and fight for his/her vision, because they know that this leader will fight for them as well. The rise and fall of a company is based on the leadership.

A dictator is someone that boss around. Someone that fights for own rights and not the team's. When trouble comes, he/she will be the 1st to shield themselves and not others. Sacrificing others for the benefit of self. Someone that nobody wants to follow willingly for & lay their lives for. 

As what Dr AR Bernard said before: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Pls, let my teacher appears, to help me be a better person.

Leadership: The art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.
Dwight D. Eisenhower