Character deficient Leadership

What is it that we get so wrong when it comes to leadership? Globally leaders are increasingly lacking in many areas as leaders irrespective of where they lead, whether they are elected or appointed to lead, by man or by God, somewhere, somehow in their leadership, cracks begin to appear and eventually leadership failure occurs. I think that it has to do with the power that leaders are given. We know that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and so the measure or test of a man’s character is how he handles power.

In my view we must understand that the failure of leadership, wherever it occurs, has its origins in our ability or inability to produce after our own kind. We produce who we are or what we are. So if we are deficient in our own leadership, we will produce other leaders who have the same deficiencies. We must therefore ensure that we walk the talk as it were so that our character and integrity is unquestionable and leaves a solid foundation for those who come after us, to strengthen and enhance and continue to build on.

So what is character? Character is a choice that we can exercise and it is developed when we decide to consistently do what is right, whether we act in private or in public. The consistency of our actions then enables those we interact with to begin to trust that we will do what is right for others first and then for ourselves. Character then is about consistency that builds trust and serves others before self.

I like what Dr. Myles Munroe says in his book – The power of character in leadership – Today’s leaders are deficient in character because there is not enough emphasis placed on the importance of character in leadership. Leaders don’t instill the importance of character in their subordinates because they lack character themselves. In the process we are producing:

• Charismatic leaders without character
• Gifted leaders without convictions
• Powerful leaders without principles
• Intellectual leaders without morality
• Visionary leaders without values
• Spiritual leaders without conscience

At the end of the day your character is what will speak for you. That same character you cosistently displayed that allowed people to develop a deep trust for and in you.