Study and Evaluate Yours Leaders

Our culture teaches us to be impressed by leaders by power, academicals degrees, and/or wealth, thinking that those characteristics add up great leadership. Yet you most not imagine that your country will remain strong and established if you vote for someone just because you like the way he speaks or looks, or even if you approve of some of his accomplishments.

Before you follow anyone, you must know what that person truly believes and on what path he is taking you. You might find out too late that you don’t want to go where he is going. I encourage you not to place undue confidence on how powerful a leader is or how much knowledge he has or who his mentor was. Continually evaluate what your leaders stand for, as well as the policies they promote. Study their lives and convictions. Discover what they really think and value, and how their beliefs affect their policies.

Ask yourself questions such as these about individual leaders:

• Does he still have the same convictions that inspired me to follow him in the beginning?
• Does he share my beliefs and values?
• Does he demonstrate that he has ethical standards?
• What is his vision of life?
• What is his attitude toward other human beings?
• What does he see as the future of this company/organization/community/nation?
• What direction does he think the world should be taking?

Even if a leader’s beliefs seem good, you must still observe his life to see if his words and actions are consistent – if he lives according to his stated convictions.

 

If the Blind Lead the Blind...

I consider Jesus of Nazareth to be the greatest leader in history, and He warned, “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Note that the blind leader doesn’t fall into the pit by himself. Both he and the blind man whom he is leading fall into it together. We have to make sure our eyes are fully open, so that we will know where our leaders are taking us, and can avert potential disaster. We must not allow ourselves to fall into a pit with them.

Moreover, since we are all leaders or aspiring leaders in our unique areas of gifting, we have a responsibility to those whose lives we influence. That is why it is essential for us to understand the priority of character before we move on to the other aspects of leadership. We might understand many of the keys and principles necessary for being a leader but, at the same time, embrace a negative or destructive philosophy that will undermine our leadership and hurt our followers.

Leadership influence is a powerful instrument, and must always be aware of its potential to bring either good or harm to others. Leader without character demonstrate power devoid of principles; they often manipulates people to achieve their own ends. But true leaders have a commitment to ethics and principles; they build up others and offer them a better life.