Where Have all the Leaders Gone?

Where have all the leaders gone? There has never been a more urgent call for quality leadership than now. So, what makes a great leader? I think that most of us would agree that integrity is the foundation of all great leadership. When the foundation crumbles, everything else falls. A great leader must be courageous. Courage is not the absence of fear, but it is pressing onward to do what is right in the face of great difficulty. A great leader must be compassionate. A great leader without compassion is nothing more than a dictator who seeks their own interest at the expense of others. A great leader must be confident in their ability to get the job done. Without confidence, a leader will be insecure, and insecurity breeds all types of dysfunction. They will step on others and hold their followers back because they want the recognition. They constantly need their ego lifted and seek the approval of others—this is the hallmark of a narcissistic leader. A great leader must be humble. Humility is something that is earned through blood, sweat, and tears. A humble leader recognizes that all they have at the end of the day, is their character and the love they showed others. Everything else will pass away. In life, isn’t it true that money often reveals character. Many people talk a good talk; however, money is the quickest way to reveal true character. What’s sad is that character was their all along…waiting for the opportune time to wield its power and take control. Fortunately, we have a few that can’t be bought out—they will go to their grave with honor, dignity, and commitment to excellence in all they do. 

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today” --Abraham Lincoln