“Love and truth form a good leader;
sound leadership is founded on loving
integrity.”
~Proverbs 20:28 (Msg)
The world so wants for good
leadership these days. And although we deplore the apparent lack, there are
still plenty of good leadership examples; those that exemplify love and truth
and the preponderance of loving integrity.
The original context of Proverbs
20:28 highlights the leadership demeanour of the King. The King, or Queen, is
the epitome of leadership. It is their royal role.
And yet we work for, or must
satisfy, many kings and queens in our lives. Indeed, we may even be one. If we
are a supervisor of any kind—a parent or mentor or boss—we have not just the
authority of leadership but the responsibility, too.
What dictates our success most of
all is our application of love and truth, or, put another way, the loving
integrity we bring to the
role.
Two Attributes That Make for
Inspirational Leadership
If we can combine love and truth
within the context of leadership we do then have loving integrity as a modus
operandi.
As a result the leader with loving
integrity is easily trusted and therefore respected. People want to walk an
extra mile for this type of leader, as they compare many former crooked and
ill-adept leaders with this fine and shining example.
Inspirational leadership, through
the mode of loving integrity, is rare.
It is what we should aspire to if
we provide any sense of leadership anywhere in life. And it is simple to do if
we are selfless. With the implicit courage of our convictions our love of the
truth passes the test of integrity. Yet all of what we do is tempered never
less by love.
Never do two attributes, if we can
only have two, contribute more to our leadership than the combination of truth
and love. They will work together by techniques of wisdom. By courage loving
integrity is known. And these two attributes conspire beautifully with faith to
produce hope.
Leadership is an opportunity of
learning. Where we are confounded by poor examples of leadership we ought to
more solemnly laud the splendid leaders we have had. Where we are blessed to be
led well, presently, we enjoy it, being thankful for it.
We should never take good
leadership for granted, but inevitably, like for all good things, we do. Only
when good leadership evaporates into the ether do we begin to lament the
directionless falsity that redeems scandal after scandal.
***
Loving integrity sets the best
leaders apart. Of all qualities this is the one they own. Oh, what we would
give to work for a good leader. Oh, what it would be to be a good leader. Love
and truth make a good leader. Loving integrity is their way.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
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