I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?

I must be a great leader because many people follow me. Most of the people are police officers, if that gives you any indication of my character.

To lead the people, walk behind them.

Boston Mayor James Michael Curley once summarized the philosophy of many politicians as, “There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader.

M. Gandhi is reported to have said: “There go my people. I must find out where they are going, so I can lead them.”[a.]

Someone will declare, “I am the leader!” and expect everyone to get in line and follow him or her to the gates of heaven or hell. My experience is that it doesn’t happen that way. Unless you’re a guard on a chain gang, others follow you based on the quality of your actions rather than the magnitude of your declarations.

There are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flock, go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way.

If you want to lead them you must place yourself behind them.

When people follow a leader because they have to, they will do only what they have to. People don’t give their best to leaders they like least. They give reluctant compliance, not commitment. They may give their hands but certainly not their heads or hearts.

A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.

If you are a leader, the people are your work.

If you want to govern the people,
You must place yourself below them.
If you want to lead people,
You must learn how to follow them.

The Leader sets out for the people what they need and not simply what they want. Otherwise, the Leader is just a follower.

You are the leader and the troops will reflect your emotions.