Well, the first quality of being a good leader is you have to be

Lisa Leslie, champion of the court and voice of wisdom, once declared: “Well, the first quality of being a good leader is you have to be able to follow. See, a good leader can’t just be the leader all the time, I have to be able to follow.” These words, though spoken in the rhythm of sport, carry the gravity of an ancient truth: that true greatness is not found in command alone, but in humility, in listening, and in the willingness to walk behind as well as ahead. For leadership is not domination—it is service, and service demands the courage to follow.

The ancients taught this paradox often. The generals of Rome, clothed in armor and crowned with laurel, were once soldiers themselves, following orders and learning discipline. The samurai of Japan bowed first to their masters before ever wielding authority over others. Even kings were warned by their priests and philosophers that to rule wisely, they must first obey the eternal laws of justice and honor. Thus Leslie speaks not of weakness, but of balance: to lead, one must first know how to follow.

To follow is to learn. The one who listens gains wisdom, the one who observes gains clarity. Without the humility of following, the leader becomes blind—commanding without understanding, demanding without empathy. But the leader who has walked in the place of the follower remembers the weight of obedience, the struggles of those who serve, and thus leads with compassion rather than cruelty. Leslie’s words remind us that following is not lesser; it is the foundation upon which true leadership stands.

History gives us a shining example in George Washington. Before he became the first president of the United States, he was a soldier under the command of others. He learned not only the art of war but the burdens of those who marched, hungry and cold, at his side. Later, as commander of the Continental Army, he was not too proud to take counsel from his generals, nor too arrogant to recognize his own limits. His greatness as a leader came from the humility he gained as a follower, and for this balance, he became the father of a nation.

There is also a deeper wisdom here: life itself shifts us between following and leading. In one season, we are apprentices, learning from teachers, mentors, and parents. In another season, we become guides, shaping those who come after us. Yet even in leadership, we continue to follow—whether it be the wisdom of tradition, the counsel of peers, or the guidance of higher principles. To deny this rhythm is to break the harmony of life. To embrace it is to walk the true path of growth.

The lesson for us is clear: cultivate humility as much as strength. When called to follow, do so with respect, eagerness to learn, and readiness to serve. When called to lead, do so with memory of what it is to follow, leading not with arrogance but with empathy. Ask yourself daily: whom can I learn from? Whom can I guide? By living in both roles, you will gain balance, wisdom, and the respect of those who walk with you.

Therefore, let Lisa Leslie’s words stand as a guide for your journey. Do not chase leadership as a crown, nor despise following as a burden. Instead, see them as twin flames—each illuminating the other, each necessary for greatness. The leader who knows how to follow will never lose the heart of the people, and the follower who learns well will one day rise to lead with honor. This is the eternal dance of growth: to follow, to lead, and in both, to serve the greater good.