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Exposing a Backwards View of Leadership

Writer's picture: john raymondjohn raymond

Leadership Is About Validating the People 


Not the other way around. 
Not the other way around. 

In a world where public figures often seek validation from their audiences, we’ve lost sight of a fundamental truth: leadership isn’t about being validated by the people — it’s about validating them. It’s about listening, understanding, and amplifying their voices, not drowning them out with our own.


The Backwards Approach: Seeking Validation

Many leaders, influencers, and public figures operate under the flawed assumption that their success hinges on being praised or affirmed by the people they represent. This creates a dynamic where:

  • Egos outweigh empathy: Leaders focus on projecting their own vision rather than understanding the needs of those they serve.

  • Silence replaces dialogue: Seeking validation often leads to disregarding dissenting voices, as critique is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity for growth.

  • Connection is lost: When leaders prioritize their own affirmation, they miss the chance to forge meaningful bonds with the people who rely on them.


This approach not only alienates the people but also undermines the very essence of leadership, which is rooted in service, humility, and trust.


The Correct Perspective: Validating the People

True leadership flips this dynamic. It starts with the recognition that leaders exist to validate the people they serve — not the other way around. This means:

  1. Listening Intently: Leaders must hear the voices of the people, especially those who feel unheard. This requires creating spaces for open dialogue and feedback.

  2. Acknowledging Humanity: Validating the people means recognizing their struggles, dreams, and individuality. It’s about seeing them not as a collective mass but as unique contributors to the whole.

  3. Acting with Integrity: Listening and acknowledgment mean little without action. Leaders must act in ways that reflect the will and needs of the people, demonstrating that their voices have weight.


When leaders validate the people, they foster trust, unity, and a shared sense of purpose. The people, in turn, feel empowered, valued, and motivated to contribute to collective success.


The Power of Listening and Validation

Leadership rooted in validation creates a virtuous cycle:

  • Engaged People: When people feel heard, they engage more actively, sharing ideas and participating in solutions.

  • Stronger Communities: Validating individuals builds stronger, more cohesive communities where diverse perspectives are respected.

  • Sustainable Leadership: Leaders who prioritize the people build lasting legacies based on mutual respect and trust.


A Call to Leaders

It’s time to shift the paradigm. The role of a leader is not to demand validation but to give it. To hear the voices of the people and ensure they echo through every decision, every policy, and every action. True leadership isn’t about the leader — it’s about the people.

The question we must all ask is simple: Are we validating the voices of those we serve, or are we still asking them to validate us? Leadership’s greatest strength lies in humility, and the sooner we embrace this, the closer we come to fulfilling its true purpose.


 

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