Being a leader is better than being a follower |
Nowadays, all people try their best to be a leader. All parents talk about the importance of being a leader so as to succeed in their lives. Students go to private institutes to listen to the lectures about leadership, and even public schools offer leadership classes to students. However, I am convinced that there are more shortcomings than advantages to live as a leader. Leaders free from responsiblities and burdens. Also, leaders cannot have private life as a human being because their top priority is to become a famous CEO, not to have an enjoyable life with family members and friends. Accordingly, I think it is more enjoyable to live as a follower, as opposed to the current trend which is focused on being a leader. First of all, leaders have to take on the burdens at any time. Whenever they made a mistake, or whenever their followers made a fault, leaders are responsible of all the problems. Accordingly, they easily become streesed out and tired. To illustrate this point, my father was a CEO, chief executive officer, in a huge conglomerate. While he was famous among employees and often was the topic of the newspaper, he always looked so tired that he just went to bed whenever he came home from work. He did not even eat properly or talk much. The only thing he concentrated on was the work and to make the company more prosperous. However, one day, he decided to quit the work as a popular CEO without any hesitation. No one could ask the reason for the decision because he seemed so stressful. Later, when I asked the reason, he answered that everyday was like living in the hell. Even minor mistake was not allowed in the competition-based company, and everyone looked at him like an evil who have all the fame and power. Three years ago, after taking the rest, he started a small restaurant. Now, he is a totally different person who always smiles and enjoys life. Like my father's case, leaders cannot feel free from burdens and responsibilities. Had it not been for my father's decision to quit his job, he would not have been able to live an enjoyable life. Moreover, it is hard for leaders to lead a happy life as much as followers because they have to be engrossed in working. While followers can often go to movies and travel abroad to relieve stress, leaders always have to be in the company. Unlike people's streotype that leaders do not work much but just go to travel, nowadays, in this competitive society, they have to stick to their work in every moment. For instance, one of the most famous research institutes in South Korea did a research with three hundred leaders or CEOs. The member of the institute asked what they do whenever they are free from work. Surprisingly, more than ninety percent of respondants said that they do not have any free time to do hobbies or relax. Then the interviewer asked their daily schedule. Even though the answer varied from the person to person, more than half of leaders told that they work more than twelve hours every day, even in the weekends. This result shows that how busy leaders are and how it is difficult for them to have a good time with family members and friends. In conclusion, while leaders look splendid and nice at first, they suffer from so many problems around them, indeed. Not only do they have to take on the burdens, but they also cannot go to travel or watch movies with people around them unlike followers. Accordingly, unlike today's trend, I believe it is much better to live as a follower rather than trying to be a leader because people will be able to live happier as a follower who is free from all the responsibilities. |