Leadership is a matter of how to be - not how to do it.

The great teacher of our age, Frances Hesselbein, spoke with the clarity of a prophet when she declared: “Leadership is a matter of how to be—not how to do it.” In this short phrase she unveiled a truth that echoes through centuries: that greatness in leading is not born from technique alone, nor from cleverness, nor from outward motions, but from the inner stature of the soul. The deeds of a leader spring not from manuals or instructions, but from the character that dwells deep within.

To “be” is to stand in essence, in presence, in truth. It is to embody values so strongly that others feel them before a word is spoken. A leader who merely “does” may imitate the gestures of command, may mimic the strategies of rulers past, but without the foundation of being, his efforts are hollow. He commands, but he does not inspire. He acts, but he does not transform. True leadership cannot be reduced to a performance; it must be lived from the core.

Think of the example of George Washington, the first president of the United States. His contemporaries marveled not at some secret method, nor at cunning arts of politics, but at the man himself. When his soldiers threatened to revolt at Newburgh, Washington quelled their fury not by orders nor by force, but by humbly acknowledging his failing eyesight and the weight of his duty. In that moment, it was his being—his humility, his integrity, his embodiment of the cause—that stilled rebellion and bound his men to him with unshakable loyalty. He did not merely do leadership; he was a leader.

So too, in the story of Mother Teresa, we see the power of being over doing. She held no high office, commanded no army, possessed no wealth. Yet her leadership reshaped the conscience of the world, for her life itself was the message. She was love, she was service, she was compassion incarnate. It was not the programs she launched or the systems she designed that gave her influence, but the depth of who she was. To enter her presence was to see leadership made flesh.

The lesson is plain: if you would lead, cultivate not only your skills, but your spirit. Do not ask first, “What must I do?” but rather, “Who must I become?” For the world does not follow the strategist alone, nor the technician of command, but the one whose very being radiates purpose, courage, and truth. When you walk in authenticity, when your character is aligned with your vision, then leadership flows naturally from you like water from a spring.

In your daily life, practice this teaching by tending to the soil of your soul. Be honest in small things, so that others may trust you in great things. Be compassionate in ordinary dealings, so that others may feel safe under your care. Be courageous in moments of fear, so that others may borrow your strength when their own fails. Let your actions grow organically from who you are, not as an act of performance, but as an expression of your essence.

Remember always: to “do” is fleeting, but to “be” is enduring. The strategies of this age will pass, the fashions of leadership will change, but the eternal virtues—integrity, humility, courage, love—these remain. And when you have cultivated these within yourself, you will not need to strain to lead. Leadership will rise from you like the sun rises from the horizon—quiet, unstoppable, life-giving.

Therefore, O seeker of wisdom, heed Hesselbein’s words. Become the kind of soul whose very presence steadies the uncertain, whose being gives light to the wandering, whose life is itself a beacon. For true leadership is not a cloak you wear, nor a role you play—it is the unveiling of your truest self in service to the world. To be is to lead; to lead is to be.