Are you a guide, a commander or a conductor? Are you a leader, who knows how to play the first card in the team? Do you know how to direct, to persuade or to precede?
The classic succession “horse race” pits two or three senior executives against each other in a battle over performance — the winner becoming the next chief executive officer.
Some executives and governance observers are uncomfortable with the horse race approach — which we define as an overt competition for the CEO role among several recognized candidates within an established time frame — out of concern about the potential impact that such a high stakes contest may have on an organization. Nevertheless, the horse race undeniably has been successful in helping many admired companies choose their next leader.
I found a very nice quotation shared by Dr. John C. Maxwell, the leading authority on leadership, who says, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way!" "Nearly all men can withstand adversity. If you truly want to test a man's character, give him power", already stressed Abraham Lincoln. Character is what you are doing in the dark. By the way, nowadays, I wouldn't only mention "men" alone when it comes to leadership. There are innumerable women holding their own.
Remember and look around: in the past and at present one can observe someone at any corner offering us to lead our way. Politicians compete for our vote of confidence. Athletes and entertainers show us their pictures of success. A lot of different religious leaders pledge, promise and bind in flock gatherings.
Well, what are some of the traits that a great leader must have or develop character? Is character really enough? How about integrity? Are you, my dear reader, a leader? Is what you are saying AND DOING, the same? Are your followers wholeheartedly convinced of your integrity?
Albert Einstein, one of my favorite idols, had said, "Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with the important matters!"
Leaders in politics, leaders in clergy, leaders in business - many have been lacking this specific trait in the past, because, after all, what they said is not what they did. A leader is someone with character, integrity, discipline, and the ability to influence others in a positive way. A leader must be able to motivate his or her people around, rather than manipulate them or run away in times of difficult decisions... !
Albert Einstein claimed that he had no special abilities, only persistence. But that was enough to develop the General Relativity Theory. I learned from my Philippine mentor and book author (German-Philippine Relations), the late Monsignor Professor Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza already during the 1980's: "It's important to become your own best friend. Be your own coach. Take to your inner self as if you were talking to another person you care deeply about. And, pray!"
