Leadership: Competence and character
Leadership is the power to influence people yet true leadership transpires beyond that.
Leadership is when you can inspire and motivate others to do more beyond what they think they can do. It is when you are not afraid that others can produce results you cannot do because you believe they have the power to create change for the common good.
But what really makes a good leader aside from being competent?
Competence in leadership is usually perceived only through the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully and sometimes character is often left out. Then, what about the character? Self-Awareness. Understanding yourself and how others perceived you is important in leadership. It is impossible to be perfect no matter how intelligent or skilled you are. You will always have an Achilles’ heel.
Hence, you must learn to be open to new ideas, welcome inquiries and accept criticisms. Allow your people to explore with your guidance but never be a hindrance to their growth. “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want to be done because he wants to do it.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower. Authentic Trust. Trust is the single yet most important ingredient to motivate people to produce extraordinary outputs. It is an element that would lead people to work and aim for outstanding performances, a foundational principle that would allow people not to retreat, making even the impossible, possible. Leaders should trust and empower people to excel. The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” Ronald Reagan.
Integrity. Leading with integrity is very challenging as leaders are expected to be honest, consistent and fair. At the same time, they are also expected
to practice what they preach. It also means striving to be like a loving and protective father and mother to your people – prioritizing people’s need over your self-interest and genuinely being happy with their progress. “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” - Abraham Lincoln
Humility. The best leaders are those that remain to be behind the scenes but truly guide their employees and let them shine without jealousy. Leaders should embrace that in time, there will also be people who would become exactly like them or even surpassed what they have achieved. The only problem is when these people have grown better without the leader’s contribution. “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” - Ernest Hemingway.
Unconditional respect. Leaders should respect people even though
they disagree with their thoughts or opinions. They should not deny nor consider them as disrespectful and must refrain from accusing them as pessimistic people. Set aside your pride and remember that respect must begin from within yourself. “Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners.” - Laurence Sterne.
Leadership is a combination of competence and character. It is impossible to influence people without these two. But more importantly, leading people with God is unquestionably the supreme quality in leadership without fail. So, leaders – be competent, watch your character and never rely on your own leadership. Choose to
lead with God!
Don’t find fault, find a remedy -- Henry Ford