Leaders Have Become Strangers To Their Own Character

Leaders are to be prophets of courage, creativity and accountability. Accountability is responsibility. It is important to recognize; it is foundational to leadership. If you as a leader want people to follow and take ownership of vision and mission, You as a leader must first of all take ownership. Leaders must walk their own walk. You and I are accountable for the success or failure of our choices and decisions. We need to be seen as to being held accountable at all times. We must be accountable for conceiving ideas and plans. Idleness, imagination and information are all to be viewed against the backdrop of accountability. You must be willing to work and not choose to be idle or lazy. What are you thinking about and imagining? Is it positive or is it negative? How do you see the information you have? Is it private or is it to be broadcasted for all to hear? Am I using information to hold over peoples heads? Am I willing to take responsibility for my words and actions? When leadership itself takes no responsibility and passes accountability on to others, things go array; the followers will go into spectator mode. The followers will not buy into the leaders goals or dreams. They will watch these leaders burn and chant “I told you so”. The leader will have the very difficult task of rebuilding confidence and connection. It can be done, but not easily. It will usually begin with the leader recognizing and confessing his or hers faults in the situation and asking for forgiveness. But what you as the leader should never do is blame others. Always remember words that are serious and have consequences, so think before you talk; especially before you email or text. So many leaders today have become strangers to their own character. Chastening is coming and it will come in various forms. If accountability is ignored, especially if it involves a moral or character flaw, will it lead to loss? A loss of credibility, a loss of the “leaders edge.” Today we are witnessing a tumultuous upheaval in the lives of many in leadership. It is happening within the halls of government, business, churches and mission organizations. Character, competence and commitment are three elements of leadership that are woven into the fabric of accountability. Leaders that are called to be accountable should be reminded moment by moment of who they are truly being held accountable to. The fact that you are leading is not by accident; it is the great design of the master Himself. Pray for leaders today ... as they face the rigors of accountability and believability! Credible - worthy of trust. Deception - concealing Truth. Accountability- is a by product of good decision making, experience and trust. Transparency and reliability are what you will observe when one looks at the mirror of believability.