A Thankful Attitude

Reflecting more on characteristics of effective leaders in this Thanksgiving season, it has occurred to me that an "attitude of gratitude" is extremely important. Such an attitude begins with humility, as was demonstrated by Jesus Christ. He laid aside his rights as God in obedience to His Father and service to others. A huge pitfall for those in leadership roles is that of an entitlement or rights mentality that "demands" respect and focuses on the perks and privileges of one's role. Such an attitude hinders appreciation toward both God and others. On the other hand, a thankful attitude is demonstrated by words and expressions of appreciation toward others regardless of their position or status. It is also demonstrated by overlooking insults and the lack of appreciation from others. Thankful leaders view themselves as "privileged" people. What do you think?

Integrity

Last week I posed the question: What characterizes true leaders? The word true is important because it makes a distinction between those who are merely positional vs. functional leaders. True leaders are recognized as such regardless of title or position. Most of us would agree that at the top of the list of qualities of effective leaders is integrity, which stems from a strong spiritual life. Competency, commitment, and even giftedness are not valid substitutes for this attribute in a leader. It is hard to prioritize the characteristics beyond this. However, high on my list is good judgment, which includes decision making ability and sound reasoning in resolving problems. People with good judgment operate responsively rather than reactively to situations. As a result they can be trusted to handle challenges in a reasonable way. Some of this can be learned, but many people, regardless of age or experience possess this trait. I am interested in your thoughts on this.