Leading By Example . . . That's What's Needed

This article originally appeared in the Southtown Star Newspaper, August 9, 2009.

==============

It is unfortunate, to say the least, that one of the most significant aspects of true leadership appears to be embarrassingly absent in so many leaders today, whether it be in politics, business, religion, education, or media. And this missing aspect is arguably the most effective quality of true leadership. The missing aspect is: leadership by example.

Where are the leaders whose lives will authentically show us what their many words seem to be indicating? I don’t think people expect leaders to be perfect; we know they are human. However, we are all looking for some consistency between words and actions.

For all of the talk about different values in our culture, most leaders of the key influential cultural institutions still speak passionately about the importance of certain fundamental values that most people—no matter their background or worldview—can agree upon; values like: courage, generosity, compassion, integrity, responsibility, justice, human dignity, honesty, freedom.

Are we seeing clear examples of these values being shown to us in the lives of the various leaders in our nation? I suspect I could guess how the majority of people reading this would respond.

The authority and influence that so many leaders in our culture yield is merely the authority and influence that come from wealth, or position, or the respect—fading respect—that some people still have for the institutions they lead. And this authority has been greatly diminished precisely because people can see the lack of consistency between the stated values and the lives of the leaders. Some of our political leaders are an extraordinarily sad example of this inconsistency between talk and actions. Their disconnect in this regard is shameful. But they are certainly not the only ones.

As a leader in a church I am acutely aware that the authority and influence and credibility of my leadership is very directly tied to the degree to which my life matches what I teach. I confess the need to do much better, with God’s help. One of my old friends used to say, “Talk is cheap.” That’s an uncomfortable truth for a preacher to confront. But it is true, nevertheless.

Philosopher, Dallas Willard, writes, “ . . . what we know of human nature seems clearly to indicate that insight on how to live can be provided effectively only by those who are prepared to lead the way by example. Only by showing how to live can we teach how to live.”

It is high time for more business leaders, religious leaders, political leaders, media leaders, and education leaders to courageously show the way.

Dan Marler
Oak Lawn, IL