Tag: Character

Essentials of Leadership…

What is essential is necessary, which moves leadership to a new level.

However, what is essential and what is not?

Character: General Schwarzkopf said, “Leadership is the potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without strategy.”

Passion: Passion involves sacrifice, or what we are willing to give up to achieve the goal.

Vision: Vision is about seeing the unseen, or insight. We might call that faith.

Goals: David Swartz said, “Goals are as essential to success as air is to life.” Goals help us know where we are going. 

These are four essentials to our leadership.

Character and Reputation…

People watch their leaders. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual leaders. The life of a spiritual leader is under the microscope 24/7. 

Consider John Wooden’s observation, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

Sadly, we live in a culture where we are afraid to hurt someone’s feelings, or offend them. Therefore, we tend to be more concerned with the way others see us, than developing the right character.

There needs to be a good balance in the way we approach relationships. 

If we focus on our character, the rest has a way of working out appropriately.

Character of a Gentleman…

As spiritual leaders, remember a true gentleman demonstrates great character. General Robert E. Lee said it best.

“The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone; but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman. The power which the strong have over the weak, the magistrate over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly; the forbearing and inoffensive use of all this power and authority, or the total abstinence from it, when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light. The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He can only forgive; he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which imparts sufficient strength to let the past be put the past.”