The Four Essential Elements of Leadership

In Season 2, Episode 9 of the Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, Uncle Iroh describes to his nephew (Zuko) the culture of the Four Nations as follows:

Fire--The element of power.  The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will.  They also possess the energy and drive to achieve what they want.

Earth--The element of substance.  The people of the Earth Kingdom are divers and strong.  They are persistent and enduring.

Air--Air is the element of freedom.  The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also, they have pretty good senses of humor.

Water--Water is the element of change.  The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things.  They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together.

As I watched the episode this week with my younger daughter, it occurred to me that Iroh's lesson to Zuko is a wonderful metaphor for leadership.  And, as he rightly observes: "It is the combination of the Four Elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful." 


So, I ask: as a leader, which of the elements have you mastered, and which require further development?