Written by Konstantinos Konstantinidis Amphiktyon
The Greeks were the first to study the subject of leadership and acquired the best leaders in the world – crowned by Alexander the Great, who is at the top of the list of the greatest leaders of the world in the West Point amphitheater (US Military Academy). And yet we have long lacked competent leadership.
The first lesson in leadership is from Homer’s Iliad, who when he asks to be a leader in a tyrant in a king gives us a lesson in unity of administration. But when Odysseus whips the impudent Thersites, who insulted the commander-in-chief Agamemnon, he again teaches a lesson in leadership with the humiliating punishment of beating.
But Plato also examines the great problem of leadership and considers it unique to the Greeks, because we are few in number and are always called upon to face numerous enemies. Therefore, the leader must possess Courage, Virtue, Sharpness, Ingenuity, Prestige and a rich Education. Aristotle said that the leader must have “brilliance”. The priest, the community leader, the teacher in the village, the sergeant in the company are also leaders, but not the irresponsible civil servant or the current high school principal.
How many of our last ten prime ministers, ministers and MPs had these qualifications?
. They say that a leader is not made but born. However, talent alone is not enough because in difficult problems and complex situations, if he does not have a broad education and comprehensive knowledge, he will appear inadequate. Therefore, he must constantly cultivate himself morally, spiritually and physically so that he remains healthy and adequate, so that he does not present gaps in his subordinates. However, if he stops having gaps in himself, then his collapse has begun. The position of leader, in addition to honor, also has enormous responsibilities: “He is responsible for what his administration does and for what he fails to do.” This translates to being responsible for what his subordinates do, good or bad, and for what they fail to do. He will receive praise, censure or sit in the dock.
In the high military echelons, military leadership is combined with politics. This is the reason why in other countries military men are preferred as leaders, especially when there is a threat. In our country, however, they are dismissed from every position, with the consequence that highly educated personnel and leadership skills remain unused. Are politicians afraid of them? In the USA and other Western countries, retired soldiers are preferred in higher positions and in multinational companies.
The leader must have a moral personality and not have moral stains and other extreme defects:
1. Honesty – tells the truth and has “clean hands”
2. Courage – defends what is right, even when it is difficult.
3. Justice – respects the rights of others and treats them with equality.
4. Respect – recognizes the value of every person.
5. Responsibility – assumes the consequences of her actions.
6. Self-control – controls her passions and impulses.
7. Solidarity – shows interest and help to others.
8. Empathy – understands the feelings and needs of others.
9. Humility – recognizes her mistakes and seeks improvement.
The leader must have moral and physical courage. Diodorus Siculus said: “If you put a lion in charge of hares, the hares will become lions, and if you put a hare in charge of lions, the lions will become hares.”
If these qualities are lacking in a leader, all the others are nullified. Why do we Greeks elect incompetent and problematic leaders is a matter for examination.
We have examples of great leaders such as: Miltiades, Themistocles, Xenophon, the Spartans: Agis, Kallikratidas, Lysander, Agesilaus, but also the contemporaries Th. Kolokotronis and G. Karaiskakis and the generals MacArthur, De Gaulle, Guderian, Rommel, etc.
Conclusion: The country needs a morally clean leader. Mr. Mitsotakis, with his old party status, plunged the country into scandals and a deep crisis. Time to go (14/12/25)
*Amphiktyon Major General (retd) Konstantinos Konstantinidis
Author, Member of the Society of Greek Writers
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