In our previous article, we wrote that we cannot speak of leadership without the use of power. Exercising power also requires having the authority to act. If we are not capable of acting, we cannot speak of using power. One of the key questions is what a leader uses that power for. The way power is exercised—especially the power to make decisions that affect many people’s lives—is one of the most important tests on the path to becoming a good leader. History is full of people who failed this test, a reality Lord Acton expressed in the definitive statement, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Yet this statement contains a dilemma. If leadership is impossible without the use of power, and power corrupts, how can we become good leaders?
There are undoubtedly many examples that support Lord Acton’s judgment. On the other hand, this absolute statement overlooks humanity’s potential to become the most honorable of creation and our ability to choose between good and evil.
Holding authority or exercising power inevitably results in the distribution of resources, producing positive outcomes for some people and negative outcomes for others. It expands the boundaries of some while narrowing those of others. This is why so many people eagerly seek power. To ensure justice—the foundation of social order—in the distribution of resources, and to make decisions that serve what is good, beautiful, and true, the criteria and starting point we adopt become crucial. According to the principle that “actions are judged by intentions,” it is our point of departure that gives meaning to our behavior.
When making a decision, a leader has two options:
- Acting for the ego
- Acting in order to serve
The difference between these two groups is as stark as black and white. In our tradition, every undertaking begins with “Bismillah”—in the name of God. What this means is: I perform this action for the Creator and seek His approval. That approval is attained through service to people. When we act for our ego, however, it is as though we say “in the name of the self.” The image of an adze that always cuts toward itself is an apt metaphor for such situations.
At the root of ego-centered action lies the feeling “I am lacking,” and our behavior is guided by fear. We may try to compensate for this sense of deficiency through the power and means at our disposal, but it does not work. It is like a thirsty person drinking salt water. We use our power for control, manipulation, defense, preserving the status quo, and judgment. Protective and defensive behavior contains a perception of threat and the assumption of an enemy. We then act out of the anxiety, “What must I do, and how must I be, in order to be loved, accepted, and complete?” This approach constricts and diminishes, distorts the use of resources, and fuels conflict. Ultimately, justice is damaged. Power composed of such individuals is destined to become corrupt.
In the second case, by contrast, the leader’s starting point is to touch the lives of the people around them and create a positive change in those lives. Such a leader sees themselves as inherently valuable and potentially capable of becoming their best self. On the one hand, they treat every event and circumstance as an opportunity to learn and grow; on the other, they seek opportunities to place their own qualities at the service of others. They understand that the greatest happiness lies in making people happy. The fundamental question this leader seeks to answer is, “What will make my life meaningful?” Many leaders who have left a lasting mark have answered this question as follows: “My existence on earth has a meaning: to serve others with what I have.” In doing so, the leader contributes to the civilization that humanity is striving to build. Power whose decisions are centered on contribution and service to civilization does not become corrupt. History offers the example of the Prophet Solomon, who, despite being endowed with immense power, entrusted himself to God and prayed to Him for guidance and self-control.
To summarize, the first question we should ask before taking action is: What is my intention behind this action? If the ego is driving us, the wisest course is to refrain from that action and reconsider our intention.
Dr. Hüseyin Çırpan
