Leadership is about making the right decision and the best

The words of Martin O’Malley, former governor and servant of the people, cut with the sharpness of timeless wisdom: “Leadership is about making the right decision and the best decision before, sometimes, it becomes entirely popular.” In these words he unmasks the true burden of leadership—that it is not to chase applause, nor to bow before the winds of public opinion, but to see farther than the crowd, to act before the world is ready, and to bear the loneliness that comes with vision. For the leader must stand not in comfort, but in courage, knowing that truth often shines brightest before men have eyes to see it.

The origin of this truth lies deep in the ancient struggle of rulers and prophets alike. History shows us that the greatest leaders were rarely celebrated in the moment of their hardest choices. They were mocked, opposed, doubted, and resisted. Yet because they chose what was right rather than what was popular, their legacy endured while the clamor of their critics faded into silence. O’Malley reminds us that leadership is foresight married to conviction, and that the measure of a leader is not the cheers they receive, but the justice of the path they choose.

Consider the example of Abraham Lincoln. When he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, it was far from universally popular. There were voices of outrage even among his allies, who feared that freeing the enslaved would fracture the Union beyond repair. Yet Lincoln chose the right decision, not the easy one, and by that decision redefined the soul of America. At the time, it cost him dearly in criticism and doubt, but history vindicated him, and his courage lit the way for generations to come.

So too, in the ancient world, did Socrates embody this principle. Surrounded by the opinions of the multitude, he chose to follow the best decision as dictated by truth, even when it cost him his life. His refusal to abandon philosophy in exchange for safety was not popular, but it was righteous. He drank the cup of hemlock rather than betray wisdom, and in that act became immortal in the memory of mankind. Here we see that true leadership is not survival at any cost, but the willingness to stand by principle before the crowd awakens.

O children of tomorrow, remember this: the popular decision is often the shallow one, born of fear and convenience. The right decision is harder, for it demands courage, patience, and vision. The leader must act not for the fleeting praise of the moment, but for the enduring good of the people. This requires the strength to walk alone, to be misunderstood, even reviled, knowing that truth will one day reveal itself. To lead is to accept this burden, and to endure it with dignity.

The lesson is clear. If you are called to lead, do not measure your choices by the noise of the crowd. Measure them by conscience, by wisdom, by the long horizon of justice. Seek counsel, yes, but never sell truth for popularity. For the cheers of today may turn to jeers tomorrow, but the right decision endures forever. Leadership is the art of seeing not only what is, but what must be—and having the courage to act before the world applauds.

Practical action lies before you: in your family, workplace, or nation, choose principles over approval. When faced with a choice between what is easy and what is right, take the harder path. Stand firm when others waver. Be patient when others clamor for quick fixes. And when your decision is scorned, hold fast to the knowledge that history is the final judge, and that true leadership is always vindicated in time.

Thus let O’Malley’s words echo in your soul: “Leadership is about making the right decision and the best decision before, sometimes, it becomes entirely popular.” Take this as a charge to rise above the fleeting desires of the crowd. Choose truth before praise, justice before ease, courage before comfort. For only then will you walk the path of the true leader, whose decisions are not for the moment, but for eternity.