My wife and I recently returned from a vacation in Scotland. Among the many experiences we had (castles, hiking, fireplaces, whisky with no "e"), we visited a number of places that are identified as important sites along the Jacobite Trail. With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, there is a resurgence of interest in Scotland toward independence from England, and so our visit was rich with context.
The painting here, by John Pettie, represents one such (fictionalized) moment in time where "Bonnie Prince Charlie," self appointed leader of the Jacobite cause, is entering Holyroodhouse in Edinburg, flanked by loyal Scottish clansman. This scene preceded the Battle of Culloden, an historical conflict that changed Scotland forever, and by extension the course of Western History.
There were a number of factors that contributed to the epic defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden, but one thing certainly stands out; the clansman and their allies that stood behind, and fought for, Charles Edward Stuart, could not anticipate the poor leadership qualities of this Pretender to the Crown.
To bring it home-- as a creative industry, the performing arts is abound with leaders that have creative visions for advancing the arts. But it's not enough to espouse a grand vision for how the arts contribute to society and culture. To lead an organization, a leader must be able to communicate that vision to their team, and build support for that mission. If you aspire toward a leadership role, you have to be that person. If you want to work for someone with these aspirational values, be aware that without the leadership skills to implement that vision, they may be taking you down a path of illusion and defeat.