Who is an effective leader? Is it someone who yields to public opinion and abandons principle for the sake of compromise? Or is it an individual who adheres to his principles? I believe that an effective leader is the one who stays true to his principles and objectives, regardless of the popular opinion.
In the early part of the 20th century when India was fighting the British for her independence, Mahatma Gandhi was the national leader. Though the popular opinion was to take up arms against the British, Gandhi did not relent. He held true to his principle of ahimsa and nonviolence. An epitome of an effective leader, Gandhi was successful in turning around the general public’s opinion, convincing them to abhor violence and embrace his principle of passive resistance . Under his able leadership, the country ultimately obtained independence through its nonviolent struggle, in 1947. A similar case in point is the demonstrations held in the latter part of the 20th century in USA, where Martin Luther King, inspired by Gandhi, led the nonviolent protests against segregation and racial discrimination.
A great leader should guide his followers through the right path to a brighter future. The definition of the right patch is always vague. An effective leader is guided his his honesty and integrity. His ultimate goal should be public beneficence. He should be open enough to consider different opinions, including the popular opinion, and alter his path if needed, while staying true to his principles. If he is an effective leader, he would be able to show the public, through his words and his deeds, the basis/significance/benefits of his decisions.
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