“I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles, but today it means getting along with people.”

Mahatma Gandhi, who civilly led India to win its freedom from British rule in the mid 20th century, is arguably considered as the greatest leader of all time.

His attributes of leadership have been interesting to me since I graduated college and then became a teacher. I have mentioned in this column that in my 38 years as a public school educator, only one principal of my school got my check mark as a great leader who, like Gandhi did with his people, empowered both his staff and his students to make our school an excellent community of academic achievement.

You would see him pick up a broom and sweep a hallway. He would summon a teacher into his office, not for a reprimand, but to share a compliment he heard from a student about how interesting were the teacher’s classes. We came to work excited to teach because he never burdened us with policies and regulations.

We see far too many presidents, bosses, supervisors and coaches with self-serving egos and without humility, the most fundamental character quality that earns the respect from their legions.

You can easily see an ego. A president smirks at suggestions made from the people he serves. The boss boasts of his resume to his office department. The coach begins his sentences with the word, “I” instead of “we.” They all are excessively critical when someone screws up and they take the credit when performance brings success.

These “leaders” are often condescending rather than cooperative. They impose fear as a motivation for success. Those who challenge their leadership are eliminated or demoted. They are not “people persons,” but they will put on the image that’s exactly what they are when they are in the public eye.

They sit alone in their towers with only their mirrors as their friends. They try not to think that their big responsibilities can result in big failures. They tremble with the thought that the king can be ousted from his throne.

Gandhi said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.”

Ego in the mind becomes ego in action. Intelligent observers see obvious insecurity rather than unbreakable confidence.

We all know people in authority like this, don’t we? We know they are paranoid about their troops planning rebellion so they choose “yes” people as their close lieutenants. To be honest, we could feel sorry for them because we know that in time, to borrow an old phrase, they will dig their own graves.

Good leaders are around us, too. She’s the office manager who encourages ideas from her staff and tells them to put them into action. He’s the supervisor who backs a worker under his charge to carry through a plan outside the box of usual procedure and against policy.

He’s the baseball coach who steps behind his team in victory, allowing them to own the rewards of their efforts and to enjoy their unforgettable moment.

Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher, wrote, “A leader is someone his people barely know exists and when his work is done, and his aim fulfilled, they will say, ‘we did it ourselves.’ ”

This is the definition of humility that is lacking today. Many are seeking adoration and admiration to quench their thirst for attention. The captain seeks the camera’s eye and the microphone’s voice to get his fix from the resounding applause of an ignorant audience.

Unfortunately, leaders are often chosen because of whom they know and not because of what they know. Soon, their flaws and lack of qualification become obvious, yet they remain in power because they are protected by a friend or relative in top management.

We need humility from our leaders, not egos. We need those who empower us, not just enforce the rules. They’re out there, and are mostly unnoticed because they choose not to wave their banners after they have nurtured the success in others.

We need them in the White House, in the office and on the athletic fields.

If I could choose a coach for my fantasy baseball team filled with wide-eyed eager young ballplayers, I’d pick someone like Gandhi and I would love to be his assistant to appreciate the joys of the game and the virtues of life.

Let’s have leaders who have demonstrated exemplary character.

These simple words from a popular song say it best for me:

“When the work you put in is realized

“Let yourself feel the pride but

“Always stay humble and kind.”

Rich Strack can be reached at katehep11@gmail.com.