Foundational Leadership - Part I Introduction and Integrity

 To challenge you to think about leadership and its importance in your life. ◦ “Without a vision the people will perish” – Proverbs  To give you tangible leadership skills ◦ “Leaders are not born, they are made.” – Vince Lombardi

 LEADERSHIP IS INFLUENCE ◦ “He who thinketh he leadeth and hath no one following him is only taking a walk.” ◦ You may be wondering whether or not you are a leader – the answer is yes. Everyone has influence with someone. We are all leaders in some areas and are being led in others.

◦ The prominent leader of any group is quite easily discovered. Just observe the people as they gather. If an issue is to be decided, who is the person whose opinion seems most valuable? Who is the one other’s watch the most when the issue is being discussed? Who is the one with whom people quickly agree? Most importantly, who is the one the others follow? Answers to these questions will help you discern who the real leader is in a particular group.”  Maxwell

 I want to challenge you to think about and to try to build 6 essential characteristics of a great leader.  If you can become these 6 qualities then your influence will be great and your foundation for leading people in every area of your life will be real and long lasting.

Who you are when no one is looking.

 Before we dive into the how to of leadership we need to build a solid foundation for leadership. In most material written on leadership character is what good leadership is built on.  I wish someone would have set me down years ago and said “Do you want to be successful? Do you want to be a leader? Well, if you do then you need to develop these characteristics.”

 “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”  “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.”  “Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.” ◦ John Wooden

 Leadership is who you are more than what you say.  “The leader needs unswerving strength of character. The choices will be difficult. The temptations many. Making the right decisions will not be so much intellectual as demanding of one’s character and judgment.” - Neuschel

 People Buy into the Leader, then the Vision. ◦ “Every message that people receive is filtered through the messenger who delivers it. If you consider the messenger to be credible, then you believe the message has value.” ◦ When I listen to a politician most of the time I am making decisions about the character of the person more than what they are saying. ◦ A Coach’s first speech to the team and their response.

 Who are you really?  When you are at school are you different than when you are at home?  Are you different with women then you are with men?  Are you different in class than you are in your room at home?

 A leader is going to be found out. Whether you are in a public arena or among close friends, at some point your true person will be revealed. ◦ Major League Baseball ◦ New England Patriots ◦ Jim Tressel ◦ Joe Paterno  Decide who you are and be that person. Be consistent.

When you get what you want in your struggle for self, And the world makes you King for a day, Then go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what the guy has to say. For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife, Who judgment upon you must pass. The feller whose verdict counts most in your life Is the guy staring back from the glass. He’s the feller to please, never mind all the rest, For he’s with you clear up to the end, And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum, And think you’re a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass says your only a bum If you can’t look him straight in the eye. You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years, And get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be heartaches and tears If you cheated the guy in the glass.  Dale Wimbrow

 Write a quick paragraph on a leader who failed because of his lack of character.  Write a quick paragraph on a leader who succeeded because of his character.