Preface

WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR, DO YOU SEE A LEADER? Can you see the unfolded vision of what you can become? I am convinced that most people do not comprehend their leadership potential. I wrote this book to help you realize that potential. For that to happen, you will need to unmask the false concept that leadership is about title, position, and authority. These are worldly artifacts. They have their place, but the journey of becoming a better leader is not about those things. It’s about elevating your thoughts, beliefs, and actions to a higher plane. It’s about deep introspection and self-discovery born of a desire to make a difference in the world. Regrettably, the moral fog and materialism of our day try to convince us to measure leadership by the wrong standards. There must be a confrontation with these counterfeit claims.

Regardless of who you are, you must build your foundation on two things: character and competence. This is a universal truth. Leadership is about following principles. You either follow the principles or break yourself against them. The principles themselves don’t break. Nor do they negotiate.

Great leaders are built from the inside. You must start with character. The four cornerstones of character are integrity, humility, accountability, and courage. Then comes competence. The four cornerstones of competence are learning, change, judgment, and vision.

Leadership is not an easy education. How could it be? It is the most important applied discipline in the world. It has its price: consistent, rigorous, and deliberate effort. In fact, it mocks our attempts to get it cheap. You will have to unlearn and abandon some of your current thinking and behavior. At times you will stumble in your pursuit, and your weaknesses will be exposed. But if you are determined, you will accelerate your progress. You will lead with the intent to contribute rather than consume, bless rather than impress. You will literally change people’s lives and leave a legacy that lingers far into the future.

This is the epic story of leadership.

Leading with Character and Competence Self-Assessment To jump-start your leadership journey, I suggest taking the companion self-assessment after reading this book. The self-assessment will give you a baseline measure of your own character and competence and help you identify development priorities for creating a personal action plan. Please see the Leading with Character and Competence Self-Assessment on page 187.