Someone asked me “What is the difference between steps and footsteps ?“. I had no immediate answer but found it a good point to reflect on. All of us take steps in every stage of our lives. We study hard, work hard, take care of our family and society and always want to leave our imprints behind for the future generations.

While all of us take steps, not every imprint of our steps is followed. The ones which are followed by the next generation ,I may call footsteps. The difference between steps and footsteps is all about “Followership”.

How do we leave behind a legacy that generations after us ,want to follow us ? Our children do not follow us because we are their parents. We as students do not follow teachers because they taught us . Employees do not follow leaders because they were their bosses in their career.

Then what is the “X” factor in us ,which makes children, students, employees and even citizens follow us ,after we become past tense in our lives. In my view, it is this “X” factor which is difference between our steps and footsteps.

We can see in every walk of our lives ,that we have leaders who may be successful and very effective in whatever they do. It could be our own parents, teachers, friends, colleagues, sportspersons, politicians or corporate leaders. However, some we remember and follow while others fade away after their lifetime. What are the distinguishing factors between such leaders whom we remember and follow and others whom we forget ?

What are the qualities in human beings which makes people follow them during their lifetime and even after they are no more ,in human form ? Why do some people become role models for others and some do not quality for this title ?

The first quality which people look for ,in their role model ,is their behaviour. While excellence in whatever we do ,is considered a pre-requisite for being followed by others, it is our behaviour, which outlives our lifetime. People may forget what you taught them in life but never forget how you treated them.

The second quality which people want to follow is groundedness and humility. The people who excel in whatever they do, are always grounded and feel that their journey of excellence never ends in their lifetime. They always have their feet on the ground and are unassuming by nature.

The third quality of leaders in different walks of life, whose footsteps all of us want to follow ,is their selflessness. They live for others and are always willing to share all they know ,with everyone who could benefit from it. This makes followers fall in a bee line for such leaders.

So, in my book, the difference between “Steps” & “Footsteps” is “Followership”. The qualities which distinguishes whom we may follow or not ,are their impeccable behaviour, their humility/groundedness and their selflessness.

Let us try to leave footsteps rather then our steps behind us.

S Ramesh Shankar

23rd January 2023