Leadership: Coming to Faith

With the holiday season upon us, we tend to make a religious connection when we read the words “coming to faith”. However, for the purposes of this article I want to move the conversation in a slightly different direction.

What is faith? By definition, it is the “confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea or thing”. Applied to leadership, faith in this context can be viewed as the confident belief in our ability to lead and our capacity for leadership.

How confident are you in your ability to lead and your capacity for leadership?

Without question, leadership is a hot topic in most circles today. Moreover, at no time in recent history has our faith in leadership in general been tested more. Recent polls reflect the growing dissatisfaction with our leadership in Washington, D.C., and this same sentiment carries over to numerous areas of the private sector as well. We need more high-caliber, high-character leadership at all levels of our society.

So, who owns the leadership problem?

The short answer is “we” do. Leadership is not someone else’s calling – it is ours as individuals and as a society. If you are a believer in the truth, your value and trustworthiness as a person, then developing confidence in your ability to lead and your capacity for leadership should not be a leap of faith. Think about it for a moment, each of us already wears many leadership hats within our families, businesses, communities, churches and support groups.

How do we begin to address the broader leadership challenges ahead?

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” As individuals, we need to focus on the areas where our help, skills or expertise are needed most, and get involved! Actively participate — vote, volunteer, run for public office, etc., and make a difference by serving others. If we all were to take that next small step, the challenges we struggle with today would be behind us.

Come to faith in your leadership by believing in you. And when the next opportunity arises, be confident in your ability to lead and your capacity to make a greater leadership difference.

Enjoy the journey!

John

 

COPYRIGHT © 2013 John Carroll