The two essential qualities of a great leader

What are the two you ask? Good moral character and humility. So let’s dig deeper to discover more about these essential qualities.

Character is the inherent complex of attributes that determines a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions. It also speaks of moral rectitude. And rectitude is defined as righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest.

I’ve lived long enough to observe the outworking of lives lived with or without character.

Flawed Or Strong Character

Now please do not misunderstand me. Bad things still happen to good people.

But there are those whom I have, in the past, perceived as being the possessors of a flawed character, who are now either dead, destroyed, imprisoned, or are currently under-performing in respect to their full potential. I do not stand in judgment. I simply observe.

Those whom I viewed as having strong moral character, on the other hand, no matter what life has thrown at them, have gone on from strength to strength, and continue to grow stronger, in both character and influence, with each and every passing year.

Those who live their lives by a moral and ethical code, for an extended period of time, and I’m speaking of decades here, will reap the crops resulting from the good seed that they have continued to sow throughout the years.

Those who choose to sow wild oats, as it were, are twenty to thirty years down the track having to deal with the ‘weed’ ramifications that have arisen from those earlier plantings, many of which were planted while they were yet youths.

The Laws Of Life

I learnt in science at school that for every action there is a corresponding reaction. I read in the Bible that what we sow we will reap. These are laws. And by our co-operation, or lack of compliance to these laws – our futures are determined.

So the important thing is this – that we embark on character’s code of conduct as early as possible in our life – so that we can begin to enjoy the fruits of a long life that is defined by righteousness, morality, honesty and honour. And add to that list blessing

Humility – Character’s Humble Companion

Humility, strong character’s companion, is constantly under attack from the hordes called pride and ambition. At times it is under siege, completely surrounded, and then at other times an ambush is set in place to overthrow the fragility of humility.

And why is it so fragile? Because it refuses to promote itself. It discards self-pompous elevation. It chooses to celebrate the efforts of the team rather than to receive the accolades of the individual.

It finds it uncomfortable to stand in line to receive the outpouring of awards or medals. It would rather work quietly in the background in a supportive role, and let others receive the glory. And it is because of that fragility that it needs to be handled with great care.

Pride, humility’s mortal enemy, could at any moment tip the balance that makes up the humble heart.

The Secret Unveiled

But the secret to keeping humility as your companion, in all its fragility, is to establish a permanent fixture in your life. This foundation clearly initiates that whenever praise is heaped upon you, that you will choose to look up and give glory to the One who in the first place created the humility, and then secondly created the very heart of the humility holder.

Walk in humility. For the world is crying out for humble leaders, full of good character, who demonstrate these qualities on a daily basis.