You know that sucking sound you hear?  It’s caused by the vacuum of leadership we continue to experience. At this exact time in history we continue to muddle through the mess we’re in and there is an absence of leadership to show us the way forward.

Is that too bleak?  I’m not a pessimist even while I try to stay realistic.  Since the worldwide “reset” (recession, currency devaluation, drop in trade–whatever you want to call it) that began in 2008, the signs are clear that we’re looking for direction and the old order has passed.  We’re not too sure what the new order is, while many act confused, some put their heads down and soldier on while the true entrepreneurs smell opportunity and are moving aggressively into action.  You’re going to hear their stories become public in the coming years, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

What are some signs of the times?  First, lackluster performance in the markets.  Investors continue to seek places to put capital to work and get a good return, but the old rules no longer apply.  Stock markets gyrate up and down.  Currency markets are in a frothy turmoil (euro, yen or dollars anyone?).  Property prices are stagnant except for some bubbles in Asia.  After big bailouts in the US private sector in 2008-2009 (financials and autos particularly), now it’s Europe’s turn with sovereign debt (the PIIGS are ready for slaughter).

Second, geopolitical unrest.  Voter disenchantment in the US and now in the UK brought about regime change, but the “changers” have brought little that is new or innovative, just more of the same old.  The tone may be different, but the substance is the same.  The Middle East is no closer to peace and in fact destabilization in the region seems certain with Iran playing the spoiler.  Pakistan remains the premier jihadi training ground.  The brightest spot is the economic vitality of Asia as the faster developing nations (China and India principally) expand their realm of influence.  Even in Asia the picture is not all bright as Thailand finds it hard to shake it’s political unrest and Japan enters its third “lost decade”.

Third, there is the unsettling feeling that the earth itself is not resting easy.  Whether it is natural or manmade events–major earthquakes (Haiti, Chile and China), a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a lack of consensus and will to act on climate change–the planet itself seems more restless and also vulnerable.

A real defining sign of our times is the lack of leadership.  Name 3 great leaders today.  Not famous people or inspirational people, but real leaders.  It’s tough, isn’t it?  Those in power are either disappointing us or making people madder.  Ineffective leaders linger on instead of making way for those who are more competent and able to step up and lead.  Executive pay continues to rise even as performance plateaus or declines.  Those in charge seem very capable of growing their personal power, their budget and their spending, but unable to make the tough decisions.  Even as Asia leads economically, the lack of leadership is felt acutely.  The experience and “bench strength” is just not there, so today’s leaders resort to trial and error–a slow and inefficient way to learn.

What is most needed in these uncertain times is true leadership, great leadership.  A clear mark of great leadership is looking out first for the people you lead.  This is not simply a high-minded ideal; it is essentially what all effective leaders in any time period do.  Shaun Rein recently wrote about this in Forbes, and he came to same conclusion.  Make the work, the life of those around you better, and people will follow.  Take from people, steal from them (either legally or illegally, there is little real difference), tell them untruths or half-truths, and the real truth will eventually come out.  Truly serve and you are on the path to leadership.  Take that path long enough and you’ll find yourself at the head of a line of people willingly taking the same path and following as their own lives improve.  This mark of great leadership is not complex or hidden, but it is in short supply in these times.  May more true leaders emerge soon!