Leadership that Meets the Demands of Reality

“The greatest crisis in the world today is a crisis of leadership, and the greatest crisis of leadership is a crisis of character.” (Dr. Howard Hendricks, former professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.) A leadership crisis indeed. The examples are numerous:

Characterless leaders in corporations

Characterless leaders in government

Characterless leaders in athletics

Characterless leaders in finances

Characterless leaders in universities

Characterless leaders in many marriages and families

Characterless leadership in some big churches and large ministries

Some leaders didn't fail in their competency. They excel in what they do, but they fail (at times miserably) in their character, their inner life.

The word “character” comes from a Greek word “to engrave, inscribe, or sketch.” Character refers to the qualities internally engraved in people, which become an integral part of who they are. It's who you are as a person reflected in your behavior, both public and private. Character determines if your brain, talent, competencies, effort, and ability to make a deal will stand up even in the face of the negative. “Character is the ability to meet the demands of reality.” (Henry Cloud)

The supreme character trait of leadership greatness is INTEGRITY. Embrace this one, and you embrace many others. Integrity is wholeness, entireness, completeness, soundness. It's what personal health is to your body and what 20/20 vision is to your eyes. A life of integrity has nothing to hide. It's an open book.

Psalm 78:72 tells us, “And David shepherded them (Israel) with INTEGRITY of heart; with SKILLFUL hands, he led them.” That's a perfect balance for a leader. He skillfully handled situations that had no rules, no boundaries, no precedence. And in his character, he exuded a heart of integrity. He wasn't sinless, no leader is, but there were no cracks in his leadership.

Integrity:

•             Tells the truth every time, not just when it's convenient.

•             Means what it says and says what it means.

•             Is financially accountable and wise in handling money.

•             Is personally reliable; it keeps its promises. When it says, “I'll meet you at 9:00,” it's 9:00, not 9:05 or whenever I arrive.

•             Is privately pure. No double life that causes shame and disgrace to the family if known.

•             Finishes every job it starts.

• Follows the true path, though others cut corners.

•             Doesn’t fear the probing light of scrutiny.

“He who walks with integrity and works righteousness and speaks truth in his heart ... will never be shaken.” (Psalm 15)” He who walks in integrity walks securely,” (Proverbs 10:9)

 Fred Campbell is the President of Living Grace Ministries, a ministry committed to building and developing servant leaders around the world. He can be reached at fred@livinggraceministries.com. OR www.livinggraceministries.com

The Essence of Servant Leadership

Robert Greenleaf wasn’t a dynamic conference speaker on leadership, a management guru, or a bestselling author on workplace motivation.

He was an AT&T senior executive. In the 1970s, Greenleaf seriously rocked the corporate world with this shocking maxim: “The great leader is seen as a servant first, and that simple fact is the key to greatness.”

Someone wiser and greater than Greenleaf said it first. Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you, must be your servant; and whoever wants to be first must be a slave to all.” Then He defined His mission “. . . not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45). Serving and giving. . .the marks of greatness.

We hear much about servant leadership today., , but what is it? What is the heartbeat of a servant leader who serves and gives? How do servant leaders stand out from other leaders? A few thoughts:

1.    Servant leadership is about character.

            Servant leadership isn’t about methods, techniques, and skills. Those are important, but not the primary focus. Servant leadership is an inside job. It’s character based, which in turn, is vital to leadership competency. It’s more about who we are as a leader than what we do as a leader. A leadership skill without character only makes the leader a better rip-off artist to manipulate others.

            Popular leadership writers, Kouzes and Posner, conducted a series of executive seminars at Santa Clara University. Over 2600 top-level managers were asked to complete a checklist of admired leadership characteristics. The number one-character quality looked for in a leader in virtually every survey was HONESTY. Honesty ranked above forward-looking, inspirational, and competent. HONESTY REVEALS CHARACTER.

2.  The servant leader’s paramount aim is always the best interests of those they lead.

            Servant Leaders THINK OTHERS FIRST. The interests of others take priority over the servant leader’s interests. Servant leaders make room for people. In their mind all people are important. In the words of Philippians 2:3, they “consider others more important than themselves.”

            “The leaders we admire do not place themselves at the center; they place others there. They do not seek the attention of people; they give it to others. They do not focus on satisfying their own aims and desires; they look for ways to respond to the needs and interests of their constituents. They are not self-centered; they concentrate on their constituents.” (Kouzes and Posner, Credibility, page 31)

To think others first is not primarily what the leader does—it’s about how they think. It’s what’s in the leader’s heart, not what they do with their hands.

3.  The servant leader’s paramount satisfaction is in the growth and development of those they lead.

            Servant leaders see themselves as “people developers,” not “take charge” heroes. They set direction and lead, but they’re not “bosses,” “control freaks,” “serve me or else.” They help others thrive and flourish, and in doing so people succeed. “How can I help you prosper?” drives the servant leader.

            “The true leader enables his or her followers to realize their full potential. . . the art of leadership lies in polishing and liberating and enabling the gifts of others.” (Max DePree, Leadership Is An Art, Page 10)

4.  Servant leaders desire accountability.

            Accountability is opening up your life to a few carefully selected, trusted, loyal confidants who speak the truth, who question, who have the right to probe, to appraise, and give counsel.

            Servant leaders despise the idea that they’re free to do as they please, that they’re above the rules; that they can do what others can’t do. Tiger Woods said in his first interview after his colossal moral failure, “I got away from core values. I felt entitled. I lived a lie.” The man had no accountability. No one looked him in the eye and asked the tough questions. Sadly, he probably didn’t want accountability, and he reaped what he sowed.

Remember, no one is an island, standing alone. We need each other.

Servant Leadership is a shift from self-serving leadership to leadership that serves others motivated by a change of heart. Leaders must get their hearts right to become a servant leader.

A Leadership Challenge for the New Year

INTEGRITY. Webster defines it as “wholeness; entireness.”  Integrity is completeness, a well-balanced life. In many cases, our society has abandoned well-balanced living. People lie, cheat, and steal. They break their marriage vows. They live in hideous sins like gossip and prejudice, incest and idolatry, greed and laziness, cut ethical corners to gain power and wealth, and put blame on others to protect themselves. Deception and manipulation abound. Lack of integrity has become an art form, a life-style.

Some leaders are guilty. They don't tell the truth ALL THE TIME, don't always say what they mean and mean what they say, are negligent in the handling of money, their own and others. Too often leaders are not reliable, don't keep their promises, fail to return emails, texts or phone calls, lead double lives that if known would cause shame and disgrace in their family.

Listen to what God says through the words of the Paul, His Apostle. “Therefore since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God. But by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2) And how about this? “For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

Integrity has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity to it. It has no hidden motives, agendas, hypocrisy, or duplicity. It doesn’t play political games or engage in surface verbiage lacking substance. Integrity doesn’t manipulate others. It’s nothing but pure, simple. absolute honesty---WHOLENESS.. A WELL-BALANCED LIFE.

So leaders. . . do you want a fresh challenge for the new year? Start modeling and living  the truth. . .the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God. Think truth. Believe truth. Respond in truth. Speak truth. Face truth. Love truth. Seek truth. Walk truth. Talk truth. That last one is a good place to begin. Starting today, intentionally, deliberately, conscientiously “speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15)

That's a great place to begin---practicing gut-level integrity in 2019, your year of LEADERSHIP INTEGRITY.