There are many people that have spoken into the qualities of
leadership over the years and most of us are familiar with some of the terms
and characteristics of leadership. Charisma, character, empathy and decisiveness hit most lists. The one
quality however that I find very often either omitted or just absent in an
exhaustive list of other characteristics is that of COURAGE.
Courage definitely is one of the qualities that will
separate those that can truly lead through difficult circumstance and over time
and those that cannot.
I like to define courage as not necessarily the absence of
fear but the absolute resolve to do that, which is right even when the wrong
thing may produce what appears to be faster or even better results.
In the beginning of the Book of Joshua, the Lord tells his
recently chosen leader, Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go”.
While doing the right thing in leadership is often selfless,
being courageous often requires brave and confident action. Like Joshua, a courageous leader knows that
there are higher, eternal and God ordained purposes and values that
supersede all others. Courage also requires a high sense of
awareness of what the right thing truly is.
All too often the immature and uninformed are quick to lead others into
a position that is actually folly and foolishness rather than that which is careful
and wise.
Being a courageous leader also requires the understanding of
the ultimate objective and ultimate truth.
There are truths that cannot be compromised regardless of policy,
corporate objective or administrative approval.
Courageous leaders always frame their objectives and leadership in this truth and are always ultimately responsible for their actions.
Many courageous leaders are unknown or all too soon replaced
with those that may be more pragmatic.
Some of our greatest leaders through history were known for their
courage. People like Abraham Lincoln,
Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela were all courageous. While not perfect they all were responsible
for courageously leading through difficult times when many were calling for appeasement,
compromise and concessions.
We need more leaders known for their courage rather than
their charisma.
