“Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed, whatever follies I have witnessed in public and private life have been the consequences of action without thought.” – Bernard Barreh.
More than anything else, what we humans require today is competent, effective, visionary leaders in all works of life. Every person here on earth is being guarded, influenced or manipulated by someone one way or the other. It could be consciously or unconsciously, but still we are continually being led by those who are our official leaders as well as those who have become our de facto leaders by their influence over us. That’s why certain problems won’t be solved without an adequate emphasis laid on the foundational elements of positive and effective leadership. This is why countries, corporations, institution, or even organizations/departments and so on will be effective and successful if their leaders are effective and successful. When leaders in all realms of life make a commitment to strengthen their leadership, they will enable their society to improve, survive and progress.
The nations of the world do not lack people in leadership positions. They lack genuine governance in their leaders. A leader must know how to establish a social foundation for living that will sustain him and keep him on the right path in times of uncertainty and crisis. True leadership has always been built on strong character. As leaders we must focus on the prioritizing character over all, because character is the foundation for all aspects of effective leadership. Authority, gifts, skills, knowledge, experience, expertise and so forth are integral components of leadership but they can never substitute for character unless we want to see the condition of our world grow increasingly worse and unless we disregard the lives and legacies of our leaders- and that includes us. We can’t move into the future with the same methods that we are employing today.
Leadership influence is a powerful instrument and we must always be aware of its potential to bring either good or harm to others. Leaders without character demonstrate power devoid of principles. They often manipulate people to achieve their own ends. But true leaders have a commitment to ethics and principles; they build up others and offer them better life.
What is the strongest motivation in your life and leadership right now? Is it perhaps fame or status? What do you value more than your convictions? Is it money? Let me assure you that it will be much better for you to eat a slice of bread with your ethical conviction intact than to eat juicy meat with compromise. Long after the meat dinner would have been forgotten, you would still remember the slice of brad you ate because you stood for what you believed in.
When faced with moral choices, just do what is right!
Our character cannot be developed unless we make a personal commitment to our convictions and moral standard. We must accept the fact that the tempering process is necessary if we want to cultivate moral force. When we go through trials, do you often wonder why is this happening to me? Know this; it is part of your leadership training in character.
You cannot lead people who don’t trust you. Leadership is not measured by how many people serve you. It is measured by whether you are serving other people.
