Character Before Talent?

Character Before Talent  - John Maxwell - /

How many leaders have ruined their lives and damaged the lives of others through immorality? Character has become a crucial issue today precisely because of the myriad of leaders in the political, business, and religious worlds who have fallen morally. No doubt they fall partly because the enemy has targeted leaders for attack. Leaders need to remember that they influence many others beyond themselves; they never fall in a vacuum. Theyalso need to realize that replacing fallen leaders is a slow and difficult process.

So how can we guard against falling? First, we must take care not to emphasize the gifts of a leader over his or her character. We have an unhealthy tendency to see and reward the gift more than the character, but both are to be developed. We must strike the following balance if we are to finish well:

Gift Deposited = Character Built

What I Am: Humble

What I Do: Rely on God

The Result: God's Power

What I Am: Visionary

What I Do: Set Goals

The Result: High Morale

What I Am: Convictional

What I Do: Do Right

The Result: Credibility

Excerpt from The Maxwell Leadership Bible