Leaders Know Themselves
By Lovett H. Weems, Jr.

Leaders can err in two directions. Many begin with themselves as if "I am the beginning point of leadership," to the exclusion of the group and the mission. These leaders are preoccupied with "my values, my ideas, my style." However, some leaders go to the other extreme and seem utterly out of touch with themselves.

Those who become the most effective leaders are persons who understand themselves and accept themselves. They do not operate out of myths about themselves. Nor are they constantly working out on others unrealistic self-images. Much of their freedom and power comes from this self-knowledge. People have a right to expect of their leaders a maturity that comes from healthy self-knowledge.

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Leadership Vignette

A Better Preacher in Thirty Seconds
by Lovett H. Weems, Jr.

A few years ago, when I was a seminary president, I participated in the school’s Honors Convocation. As one of our outstanding students received the annual preaching award, I commented quietly to the academic dean standing next to me, “That student just became a better preacher.”

Obviously, to receive such an award, the student already possessed significant preaching ability. However, there is something about having an ability affirmed, especially publicly, that tends to impact one’s identity in such a way that one becomes even better in whatever is being affirmed.

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Leaders do not need answers.
Leaders must have the right questions.

Often people are offended when things are told about them that are not true. This is understandable. Yet, when this happens, it might be a time to reflect on why such things are being said. A counselor will often ask a person in such a situation this question:

What would lead someone to think such a thing about you?

Editors:  Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Ann A. Michel
Production and distribution:  Joe Arnold

Copyright © 2006 by the G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Leading Ideas material may be freely distributed with attribution (exclusive of material protected by separate copyright).