During a conversation with two friends while we were in traffic, the subject of leadership came up. Opinions were divided between whether leadership is learned and whether we are born with the ability to lead. Although I partly agreed with each of my friends, I leaned more toward innate leadership. Just as the discussion reached its most heated point, the traffic slowed and the Duck family made an appearance. Right in front of us, an adult duck stepped into the road and stopped in a defiant stance. Silence fell inside the car, and a couple of seconds later, just over ten ducklings began hurrying across behind him. But who was at the end of the line of ducklings? Another adult duck, slightly smaller than the one stopping traffic, making sure every duckling crossed without mishap.
The three of us were astonished by the scene unfolding before us, and surely the drivers in the other cars were too. The larger duck, whom we will call Daddy Duck, stepped into the road, made sure there was no danger, and signaled to the second adult duck that it was safe to let all the ducklings cross. Once they were all well on their way, the second adult duck brought up the rear. A few seconds after that duck had finished crossing, Daddy Duck looked both ways to make sure everyone had crossed, rejoined the group, and they all continued on their way.
We were impressed by the lesson nature had just given us. Between our surprise and the laughter that came from watching Daddy Duck challenge the cars, we realized that yes, although leadership can be strengthened through hard work, some people—in this case, Daddy Duck—are born with the qualities needed to lead, just as we had witnessed in nature. What made Daddy Duck a leader in the fullest sense? He cared about his team, guided them, communicated effectively with them, knew their strengths, and made the most of them. He is responsible, sets goals and objectives and makes sure everyone reaches them, relies on his team, and radiates assurance and confidence. In short, he is an example to follow.
Daddy Duck is also an example for those of us outside his group. He does not go through life trying to show everyone that he is a leader, that he possesses the absolute truth, and that everyone has to be like him. Daddy Duck simply is. He cares for his own and makes the right decisions so everyone can achieve their goals—in this case, crossing the road in the middle of traffic. Daddy Duck has no idea of the life lesson we have just received thanks to him.
Let us be a little more like Daddy Duck. We do not need grand actions to change the world. Small actions change our world, and through our example we change the world of others.
“Wild ducks follow the leader of their flock because of the way it flies, not the force of its quacking.”
Chinese proverb