Lean on Me Leadership

Can we do it alone?

I was driving around the city that I live in, extremely happy because I had just had a great trip to Target, when the song "Lean on Me" came on my iPhone. I started to really listen to the lyrics and how it is applied in leadership. What really stood out to me was the portion of the song that stated, "Lean on me when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long until I'm going to need somebody to lean on."

Than I began to think of the great leaders I have encountered, I began to noticed 1 huge trait about all of them that was visibly absent from the "not so good leaders." None of those good leaders have attributed their success and excellence to themselves. No one can do it along, everything we do in this world require assistance from someone. 
Success is not created in a vacuum.  "Please, swallow your pride if I have things you need to borrow. For no one can fill those of your needs that you won't let show." Somewhere along the line, someone gave them a hand. So now think back to your career and personal development, when that someone gave you a hand, did you return the favor later? Did you, while building your personal success, build up those around you?

The great leaders pull people up with them. By pulling people up I mean that throughout their careers and lives they have built up the people around them. Therefore, by building up the people around them when they as a leader begin to stumble, the loyalty factor  kicks in and the people that have build up with them, will not allow them to fall.

On the other hand, you have the "not so good leaders." Those are the people who have excelled, but done it through means that has left what one might say is a "bad taste in your month" for that individual. These are the people who have cut others down, to shine a light on themselves. These are the leaders who have shifted accountability to remain in favors with a few, while demoralizing and demonizing the many. So, when this sort of leaders begin to stumble, the people around them lack loyalty, will more than likely stand back and watch them fall. (And remember it is always a long fall to the bottom from the top.)

So with this in mind, what type of leader are you?