A Leadership Crisis

December 16, 2014

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other,”
– President John F. Kennedy

Lack of leadership is not only a problem in Washington politics, it’s a problem worldwide. Whether it’s in business, government, sports, ministry or the military nothing ever gets done unless there is a strong leader.

History is overflowing with leadership crises. Everyday, lack of leadership weakens classrooms, homes, businesses, churches, and nations. The obvious examples are in government:

• In 1917, Russian Czar Nicholas II and the Russian people learned first-hand about ignoring the cries of revolutionaries who had the ear of the working-class.
• Filipino President/dictator Ferdinand Marcos learned that leadership cannot flaunt it’s privilege in the face of the poor without rebellion building-up in the hearts of his people.
• Romanian Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was publicly shot by a firing squad after years of brutal repression of his countrymen.
• Former CIA Director General David Petraeus, considered by many to be both a hero and military genius, was forced to resign due to the stain of scandal which affected his ability to morally lead the governments largest intelligence agency.

We all know stories of leaders who are lazy, neglectful, arrogant, and/or power-hungry.

There are (10) attributes that are essential to leadership:

• Leadership demands a Leader
• Leaders Lead
• A Leader knows how to articulate his vision
• A Leader is a broker, deal-maker, and a negotiator
• Leaders inspire their followers
• When Leaders stop serving, they cease to be leaders and often become dictators
• Leaders either know what to do or they know where to find the answer
• Crises do not make Leaders, they reveal Leaders
• A good Leaders is a good listener
• Leaders are creative

You might be reading this post thinking “if I could only give this list to my boss!” While maybe that wouldn’t be a prudent move for your career, my advice to you would be this: forget about what your boss or peers are doing! Start now – LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

You may not be in-charge of employees, a division of your company, or your sports team. But leading by example will force your peers and your bosses to take notice and either follow your example or they’ll be forced to notice as you pass by them on the leadership ladder. Soon enough, you’ll be “managing” rather than “being managed.”

There’s a desk plaque in Ted Turners office that states: “LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!”

I can assure you, if you start leading by example, others will follow your lead!