Another interesting book that I thought we might spend some time thinking about is Leadership Courage by David Cottrell (2004).  Being a leader is not an easy task.  Leaders challenge the status quo.  Leaders are grateful for lessons learned from the past, excited about current challenges but focused on future opportunities.  Perhaps the attributes of an ideal leader may be found in the amalgamation of characters in the mythical land of Oz—a person with a brain, a heart—and courage. 

And for what, someone might ask, do we as leaders need courage? 

A leader must have the courage to ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY.   

One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it’s expressed in the choices one makes.  In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves.  The process never ends until we die.  And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.  ~Eleanor Roosevelt 

Leaders are responsible for the choices they make.  A fundamental choice involves submission to God’s authority over our lives.   As Joshua commanded in Joshua 24:15: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” 

Many of a leader’s choices involve tough decisions and difficult actions.  Leaders must have the courage to do what they think is right and be willing to accept the consequences of their choices.  When I was president of a commercial heat treating firm in Ohio, I came up with several (what I thought were) innovative ideas for improving the company.  Some worked.  Some did not work.  I had to keep reminding myself to give the credit to others for those ideas that worked and accept personal responsibility for those that floundered. 

And then there were those disastrous hiring decisions that I made.  I remember one time hiring a Quality Manager after my staff had warned me of several reservations they had about this individual.  I hired him anyway and regretted my decision almost immediately.  There was no place to hide.  I had made a poor decision and had to deal with it.   

There’s a story in Leadership Courage that bears repeating.  There was a CEO who was retiring and in the process of turning over his company to his successor.  On his last day in the office, the exiting executive handed two envelopes to his replacement.  One envelope was marked “Number 1” and the other “Number 2.”   

The replacement asked, “What are these for?” 

The departing CEO replied, “When a leadership crisis arises and you want to know what to do, open envelope number one.  If another crisis comes after than, open the second envelope.” 

Two years had passed and a crisis faced the new CEO.  He remembered the two envelopes and quickly opened the first one.  It read, “Blame your predecessor!”

So he followed the advice, blamed the prior CEO for the problems and voila—the heat was off. 

Several months later, another crisis developed.  Remembering the relief he had gained from following the advice from Envelope #1, he hurriedly opened Envelope #2 and was aghast as he read, “Prepare two envelopes!” 

Blaming other people or things is never a good long-term solution.  As a leader, the buck truly does stop here (see origin of this phrase at http://dsc.discovery.com/anthology/unsolvedhistory/pigs/mar03/mar03answer.html). 

So, let’s bring this down to where each of us lives and works.  From Leadership Courage: “What are you responsible for at work?  You are responsible for the success or failure of all activities you are associated with…for everything you can either control or influence.” 

If you and I will stop blaming others and accept responsibility to move forward, we may find that there are several who are willing to follow us. 

I recently held a planning session for an organization I created last year (Leaders Serving Beaver County—www.ls-bc.org) and was whining to my board that LSBC needed to move to the next level, etc.  One of the board members chastised me in private with these words, “Keith, no one said that leadership was easy.” 

And he is absolutely right.  Leadership is not easy.  Leadership takes courage.  One of the blessings that we have as Christian leaders is that we can draw on Christ for our strength and courage.  We can follow His principles and ask Him to take us to the next level as leaders: 

Mar 10:44  “And whoever of you will be the leader, shall be servant of all.”   

And so I ask myself, “Do I have the courage to be a leader?  Do I have the courage to wholly submit my life to Christ, asking Him to make me all that He designed me to be?” 

I guess it all comes back to…”choose you this day whom you will serve…” 

Have a great week. 

Keith 

www.daystarconsulting.com