If we look at how the generations before us thought of authority/leaders it would be vastly different from our attitudes now. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Queen of England, President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II might be some examples of leaders that our parents and grandparents remember. Former presidents and heads of state were considered our "leaders". Although they led our countries, religions or historical movements, they would differ from our examples nowadays. My eight grade health/PE teacher is the epitome of my idea of leadership. Mrs. Paula Dugan has taught thousand of students. However, her selflessness and sincerity are the traits that I am drawn to. She motivated and supported so many of us, always with a positive attitude and outlook. 
Younger generations may consider Malala Yousafzai and Evan Spiegel as their leaders. Malala became a female education activist at the age of 11 and is the youngest Noble Prize laureate after writing for the BBC "detailing what it's like to live under Taliban rule" (Giang, 2013). Evan Spiegel is a young entrepreneur who reportedly turned down a $3 billion all-cash buyout from Facebook in 2013 (Giang, 2013). He is the founder and CEO of the popular App SnapChat and in 2015, he was named the youngest billionaire in the world.
There is a changing trend in leadership. It used to be that leaders were those who presided on high, or dominated those who followed. Now leaders persuade, inspire and motivate. 
Obolensky writes that "we hold our leader to account more now that we have done. In the past we assumed they were more capable than us and we were therefor happy to follow" (p. 4). Our idea of leadership has changed as well as how we lead. Technological innovation allows people to communicate and interact more and faster than ever before. The internet and the rise of social media creates an opportunity to forge new partnerships, collaborate and exploit new markets. "People have higher expectations and faster access to what is going on around them, and thus in many cases know more than the leaders do (especially as knowledge and skills have shorter ' shelf lives')" (Obolensky, p.18). This may lead to the apparent gap in the quality of leaders we have. Our past ideas of leaders being all-knowing is no longer valid in today's society. Obolensky sums it up perfectly, "we have changed the context within which we lead faster than we can change our assumptions about what leadership is" (p.19).
Obolensky writes that "we hold our leader to account more now that we have done. In the past we assumed they were more capable than us and we were therefor happy to follow" (p. 4). Our idea of leadership has changed as well as how we lead. Technological innovation allows people to communicate and interact more and faster than ever before. The internet and the rise of social media creates an opportunity to forge new partnerships, collaborate and exploit new markets. "People have higher expectations and faster access to what is going on around them, and thus in many cases know more than the leaders do (especially as knowledge and skills have shorter ' shelf lives')" (Obolensky, p.18). This may lead to the apparent gap in the quality of leaders we have. Our past ideas of leaders being all-knowing is no longer valid in today's society. Obolensky sums it up perfectly, "we have changed the context within which we lead faster than we can change our assumptions about what leadership is" (p.19).
In order to close this "gap", we must transform our society's concept of leaders. People confuse power, fame and wealth with leadership ability. Authentic leaders are looking to make a difference. Once we shift our thinking and understand what a true leader is, we will see that they are all around us making differences every day.
Giang, V. (2013, December 31). 8 Young Leaders to Watch in 2014. http://www.businessinsider.com/8-young-leaders-to-watch-in-2014-2013-12
Obolensky, N. (2014). Complex Adaptive Leadership. Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
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