If it’s one thing that the current COVID-19 pandemic is showing us is that the world right now lacks leadership. Not going to call names, but some of the largest democracies out there are just showing us how wrong this can go.

Lack of people who show leadership is nothing new, and it’s one of the reasons that I try to help people become leaders themselves. I do this through mentorship, empowerment and responsibility. I do this, even though I don’t think I’m such a great leader myself.

I don’t often feel like I’m succeeding, though. I see sparks, and sometimes a little flame, but then it dies out. Then I find myself feeling disappointed. It happens too often, I find.

I’ve written before about what I consider to make good leaders. One of those key elements is the ability to make independent decisions, yet, this is something that few people display, especially in organisations. Another is the willingness to take responsibility, which often comes up short as well.

Creating leaders out of non-managers or non-supervisory employees is an even more significant challenge, as they wish to pass almost every decision and responsibility to the manager, even the smallest of things. Sometimes they would ask for a decision without also providing enough information to help you make one.

I keep trying with them, but find myself getting frustrated sometimes; the frustration shows. I have to remind myself that this is not a sprint, but a marathon. I hope I don’t hit the wall.

True leaders take responsibility when necessary. They understand that the buck stops with them.

They don’t look to cast blame at others but try to find solutions. Nor do they throw their hands in the air when the shit hits the fan.

In highly political organisations, though, you find the dynamic changes. People are in full-on “cover your ass” mode trying to ensure that no one sticks any blame to them. Or try to keep their heads down whenever problems pop up, so they don’t get dragged in.

And these are the so-called leaders—the people at the highest levels.

But to truly make progress, we need people who just steps up and owns the shit. Who sees things going wrong and takes the wheel if no one intends to drive.

They’ll deal with the consequences afterwards. Unfortunately, for many, these people get the shaft. Leaving only the incompetent and irresponsible behind.

But to heck with it. It means you didn’t belong there anyway.

We need leaders like that to bring real change—the people who will stand up and take ownership.

Someone has to do it, so it might as well be you.