I am a leader by default, only because nature does not allow a vacuum.
Interpretation
Leadership often arises in the absence of clear direction, as individuals step up to fill the void when needed.
Desmond Tutu's quote emphasizes the nature of leadership as not necessarily a position of power, but rather a response to situations where guidance is lacking. It suggests that when there is a vacuum in leadership, some individuals will naturally take charge, regardless of their initial intentions or qualifications. This phenomenon reflects the human instinct to lead and take responsibility when circumstances call for it.
In practice
In a team meeting where no one is taking charge, I might quote Desmond Tutu to encourage someone to step up.
The fossil reserves that have already been discovered exceed what can ever be safely used. Yet companies spend half a trillion dollars each year searching for more fuel. They should redirect this money toward developing clean energy solutions
As much as the world has an instinct for evil and is a breeding ground for genocide, holocaust, slavery, racism, war, oppression, and injustice, the world has an even greateer instinct for goodness, rebirth, mercy, beauty, truth, freedom and love.
When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.
Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.
Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.
Gaza is going to test who believes in the worth of human beings.
There's some evidence that if you're recruiting, you tend to recruit a mini-me. Then you have a very comfortable group round a table. You all think alike. You agree. People are arguing that the banking crisis was because too many of the relevant bodies were thinkalikes, and that if they'd had more diversity, maybe it wouldn't have happened.
Your job is to umpire for the ball and not the player.
The prince must consider, as has been in part said before, how to avoid those things which will make him hated or contemptible; and as often as he shall have succeeded he will have fulfilled his part, and he need not fear any danger in other reproaches.
I have the consolation of leaving your kingdom in the highest degree of glory and of reputation.
Moving into an unoccupied village when there's no opposition, I don't call that a military victory.
My idea of management is that what your job is as the boss is to find really good people and empower them and leave them alone.
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