Excellence in parenting, coaching, military command, teaching, or spirituality is achieved or lost by the ability of the one in charge to exhibit genuine and worthy leadership. When the leader is worthy of the faith of his or her followers everyone wins. In the case where the presumed leader cannot deliver, everyone loses.
Issues of leadership are significant in our lives from birth to death. The degree to which our parents were faithful and committed to our care was an issue of leadership. Matters of faith, whether categorized as personal or religious, at their most basic levels, are issues of leadership. Simply speaking, there are three characteristics of genuine leaders.
Authentic Leaders are Proactive
Leaders control events. They are not controlled by changes in their environment. The ability to maintain control when circumstances change is founded in the process of planning and strategizing. The people who are described as “movers and shakers” are the ones who set the agenda, not the folks who react to someone else’s action.
Contingency plans are a staple in the pantry of effective leaders. When the terrain changes, they reach for Plan B. When their feet move to a different path it is by design and not by default.
Leaders are Defined by Vision and Purpose
No one can lead if there is no one willing to follow. Before a leader can attract followers, he or she must have a well defined vision and purpose. Followers need to know where the leader is going before they decide whether or not to step in behind.
Worthy leaders do not seek celebrity. True leaders never seek the attainment of a higher platform of influence as a goal. Any pedestal they stand upon is built by others as the leader simply goes about the business of the mission. The ability to adjust to changing circumstances without sacrificing vision, purpose, or the safety of the followers, keeps the leader well established on that platform.
The genuine leader is seldom blindsided by events. One eye is always scanning the horizon for potential change. Leaders must see the ‘big picture’; what is before, what is behind, and what is on the periphery.
True Leaders are Reliable and Trustworthy
The only antidote to fear is faith. Only the leader deserving of faith can create courage and resolve in his or her followers. Faith is built by consistency of vision, character, ability, selflessness, and the belief by followers that their own circumstances improve by continuing to follow their leader.
Authentic leadership is never assigned; it is earned. Lofty standards of conduct and performance are established by great leaders, each taking care that their own behavior exceeds any measure expected of their followers.
How to Evaluate Leaders Simply
The easy way to judge the leadership of another is to compare their behavior with their words. Rhetoric never won a meaningful battle. True character never takes a coffee break, much less a vacation. Parents who deserve the faith of their children never excuse themselves from responsibility. Military commanders in combat do not clock out for fifteen minutes. Even should the one in charge drop onto a cot from exhaustion he or she is prepared to immediately return to battle in if needed.
Follow people with consistent vision and performance, and who are more likely to change the world than be changed by it. To review the top leadership traits, visit this Suite 101 article, Five Traits of Authentic Leaders.
Lynn Baber - Lynn Baber, Christian writer specializing in leadership, relationships, and all things equine.
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