The Essence of Leadership

I recall a conversation that I had with my pastor once about what a leader is.  The answer for which he was looking was extremely simple.  The answer to the question “What makes a leader?” was “A person who has followers.”  This answer begs a new question.  What makes people follow a leader?  There are many reasons a person would follow a leader, but I want to focus on two particular areas—vision and character.

The essence of leadership is in the question “Why should people follow you?”  Leadership denotes movement.  However, the movement cannot be without aim.  If people are to follow you, they must know that you are not going to wander.  The vision defines the leader’s desired destination.  Charisma will attract people to you, but your vision tells them whether they want to go where you have set your course.  The leader must know how to communicate his/her vision persuasively, realizing that those who follow him/her are partners and investors in the leader’s vision.  If the leader is not fully persuaded of his/her vision, then those who observe that leader will not invest their greatest asset into him/her—their time.

The next critical ingredient of leadership is character.  Regardless of the greatness and depth of your vision, your character can be its undoing.  The leader must prove never to be his/her own saboteur.  Your character defines the consistency of your behavior.  The collection of your thoughts and habits often is unmasked under pressure.  Your following will be thinned if your character is fickle.  People want to follow leaders who are consistent, meaning the leader’s public and private lives agree.  Charisma draws.  Vision compels.  Character secures the leader-supporter relationship.

Many identifiable qualities define the essence of leadership.  However, vision and character often differentiate successful leaders from the mediocre and the fledging.  We must now decide what type of leader we will become.  After we have determined the depth and course of our leadership, we must honor the character that will encourage further investment into our vision and lives.  Cast your vision and strengthen your character.  Then, those who will collaborate and support you will come, carrying their gifts, talents, and abilities to accomplish the task ahead.

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