How To Choose A Leader

Facebook. 

Twitter. 

Blogs.  

Emails. 

We’re flooded with opinions and voices on who we should vote for.  

But how do we choose?  

What’s the criteria?  

Some say “vote for the person who aligns with your values.”  I get it. But what if the person is incompetent as a leader? In other words, can they get done what they say they can do?  

Others are single issue voters which can lead to ignoring equally important issues and character traits.

What do we do?

How do we choose?

I’d like to walk us through four areas that can help us choose a leader.  

First, is the person competent?

Do they have the ability to make decisions?

More than that, do they listen to others, take advice and open to changing their mind?

Are they willing to read and absorb information?

Look at the person’s past.   

Do they have a history of making decisions, owning when they’re wrong, making a course correction and helping others toward the goal?

Competence is linked to logic.  If you show a leader that 2 + 2 = 4, does that leader agree or create a universe in which that isn’t true?   

Are they presenting a vision as to what is to be accomplished? 

Can they build a team that can achieve that vision?

When choosing a leader, ask yourself if they’re competent to do the job.  

Second, is the person compassionate?

Leaders need to care about more about people than they do issues or projects.

Beyond that, leaders are to put others above themselves.   

A leader is to hurt when others hurt.  He or she is to feel that burden and want to find ways to help bear it.   

When a major achievement occurs, the celebration is multiplied because the leader highlights it.  

Can the leader identify with you?   

Ask yourself, would they understand my family life?  My struggles?  My worries?   

Why is that important to ask?

Because a good leader would want to help solve issues you’re facing so you can excel at what makes the organization, or the nation, great. 

Third, is the leader callus?

In other words, do they have a thick skin?

Leaders are criticized often.  Not everyone will agree with what you’re doing.   

That criticism can transform into hate.   

Lincoln received death threats from citizens. 

Newspapers called for him to be assassinated.   

FDR got letters asking him to drown himself. 

Grant was told he was useless.

Steve Jobs heard he was wasting his time. 

Can the leader take the heat?   Or does he or she complain about unfair treatment?

It’s fine to complain in private to your spouse or best friend.  

But spewing it on your team or constituents should be a warning signal.

You must be able to take the hits and continue toward the goal.   

Finally, can you live with the consequences?

Elections have consequences.  

I’ll be very personal and use an example.  

I’m pro-life.  I’m “womb to tomb” pro-life.  

Yes, I want unborn babies born.   

At the same time, I don’t support doctor assisted suicide. 

I believe black lives matter.  

Health care should be simple, understandable, effective and easily accessible because people are made in the image of God which means they have value.  That value should translate to medical care. 

Let’s say the Supreme Court swings conservative and Roe v. Wade is overturned.  

I’d celebrate that unborn babies get the chance to live.

At the same time, I have to accept the consequences of my belief.

In other words, I’d be happy to pay higher taxes to help care for those babies. 

Also, I’d search for non-profits that provide shelter, food, clothing and job training for those caring for this massive baby boom and then begin supporting those organizations.  

Beyond that, we’d need regulations relaxed for families wanting to adopt. 

It isn’t as simple as overturning Roe v. Wade.   

There are consequences and we must be willing to embrace them.

To be fair, so I’m not seen as favoring one candidate over another, a person could vote for a candidate that doesn’t support their values simply because the other candidate is viewed as incompetent.   

What are the consequences of that?

You now lobby the government, and that leader, to change their stance on those value issues.

It’s also your responsibility to do all you can to personally create the culture you wish to have.   

How do you choose a leader?

Make sure the person is competent. 

Compassion should be a hallmark of their lives.  Do they care about others?

Are they callus?  They’ll need a thick skin to do the job and not complain about unfair treatment.

Finally, can you live with the consequences of your choice?

Choose wisely…

Brian

10/8/20