Does Character Matter? Part 1
Mar 26
I have felt led to blog a series on the issue of character in leadership. I can’t help during this election season and with all the high profile leaders failing in disgrace wonder if being a leader requires any character development at all.
I love the Habitudes: Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes book series written by Dr. Tim Elmore. You can learn about Dr. Elmore’s work and order his books at Growing Leaders.com
One of the first images he uses to describe the character development of leaders is that of an iceberg. Ninety percent of an iceberg remains unseen. Only ten percent of the iceberg is seen above the surface of the water. That is how our character development is. People only see what is above the surface in our lives; they see only ten percent of who we are. Ninety percent of our character development is below the surface – or – unseen by others.
Character can be defined as “who you are when no one is looking”.
Our character is a result of:
- Determining our values to live by.
- Developing a healthy sense of security only found in Jesus.
- Declaring your identity as a follower of Jesus.
- Disciplined habits of integrity.
I had a former pastor who’s ministry ended as a result of an extramarital affair. He didn’t wake up one morning and decide to step into the realm of infidelity. He slowly inched toward the slippery slope through making decisions based on faulty values. His insecurity made him vulnerable to the flirting of another woman. He wasn’t walking intimately with Jesus. As a result of poor integrity habits he accepted a lunch invitation alone with a person of the opposite sex and soon his ministry was over.
“It’s what’s below that sinks the ship.” Check out this verse in Luke 6:43-45 and work on BEING before DOING.
