The 3 Tests of a True Leader

One must first learn to Follow before they can Lead.

We as a society have to start accepting the fact that not everybody was meant to be a leader and let the followers be content in their roles as followers. In this 21^th century that we live in, everybody wants to be leaders and are even criticized if we don’t show leadership characteristics.  But my question is, if we all want to lead, who is going to follow?

There are lots of authority and trust that goes with leading others.  If a leader has not learned the trust factor that has been endowed upon him, he or she can easily run the risk of overstepping those boundaries and cross the line of trust and power. As true leaders we have to put the follies of our youth behind us and choose to exercise and apply wisdom and courage instead.  We must learn to recognize the unique and exclusive traits of individuals and employ their full potential. We must also recognize that not everything that looks good is good and vice-versa.

See, a lot of leaders who quickly rise in rank have not really taken the time to learn the differences between true leadership and extortion of power.  They may confuse abuse of power, arrogance, and aggression with leading.  If we haven’t learnt how to care and have compassion for others we truly cannot lead. Leadership is not about being cold, cruel and psychopathic.  It is about understanding, compassion and decisiveness.  With that said, if you have the former two, you will be able to make quick, intelligent, and fair decisions.

There are three areas of administration that a potential leader need to be tested and evaluated on to see if they really have what it takes to truly lead others—According to Pastor Charles Price, even Jesus was tested in these areas.  These are a person’s basic approach, mannerism or mind-set towards others and how he or she handles his or her self in these three undertakings:

1. Resources 
2. Responsibilities 
3. Reputation

RESOURCES:

Materials or Non-material supplies; money, services, staff, or other assets that are transformed to produce benefit and in the process may be consumed or made unavailable

How a person handles the resources that he has or was given to work with, is the number one indicator of how well he/she will lead.  A person who is materialistic cannot be a good leader nor was cut out to be one.  They will always put their needs ahead of those they are in charge of.  They will always lead from the wrong place with the wrong motives.  Consider your motivation whenever making a decision or leading others. It is about you, your pocket book, your personal and professional growth, or how fast you can advance? If they are, you are coming from a wrong place, and though you may get what you want, in the end, it will only be temporary. Conniveingness never pays in the long run—be patient, you will eventually get everything that is due unto you.  Lead from a place of compassion and kindness.  This is not to say, you allow others to push you over.  You have to be strong and firm at the same time.  Even then, others will know you are coming from a place of fairness—a good place. Don’t allow yourself to get bankrupt in character for the richness of material things. A true leader will always do what is right.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The ability or authority to act or decide on one's own, without supervision

The second test of a true leader is how well she handles the responsibilities given to her.  Are you going to go off on a “power trip” and exhaust the power of your responsibilities?  Or are you going to be a true leader? Knowing despite all the power you have at your disposal, to do whatever you want, you are not going to abuse it or become egotistic.  One of the greatest tests of a true leader is self-control and wisdom. Can you be trusted to exercise self-restraint in your responsibilities? Sometimes we are so eager to prove ourselves, we disgrace ourselves.  We overstep and we make dangerous decisions and do the wrong things.  We try to prove to the wrong people what we can do.  A true leader does not have to prove anything to anyone.  He knows what he can do and he is humble.  A true leader will be true to his calling no matter what.  He will be patient, wise, kind, and humble.  There is a saying that goes like this, if you want to find a true leader, give a person the most difficult followers and the dirtiest jobs and see what he or she does with them. A true leader is not a bully nor is he/she arrogant.

REPUTATION:

Overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general

Reputation is one of the biggest set-back and the truest test of a true leader.  Why? Because too often we let our reputation get in the way of whom we are. We let what others expect from us dictate how we run things.  When we start to get consumed by our reputation, that’s when we start to lose sight of the realness of whom we are; or are supposed to be.  Reputation is a dead-end street that only leads to hypocrisy and corruption. I believe this quote sums it up nicely:

True leaders are not coax by evil doers or pain seekers.  They can spot these people from a mile away and recognize that they are not their friends.  They only seek to bring down true leaders in the guise of camaraderie.  A true leader will stand the test of time.  He or she will seek to ease pain instead of intensify them and will exhibit the following qualities:

• The state of his members is more important to him than the state of the job they perform.
• She does not feel the need to scheme and manipulate for position, money, status, or power.
• They are willing to sacrifice their pride.
• We no longer seek to boost our ego at the expense of others.
• They are ready to set popularism at rest.

Then, and only then, we can relatively say that they have passed the test of a true leader.   If a person can show restraint, wisdom, understanding, and compassion without compromising integrity, and trust then they have true leadership qualities in them.  Unless you are willing to live in hell, never trade your soul with the devil.  Therefore; to reiterate, the tests of a true leader should come in the areas of resources, responsibilities and reputation.   If a person can master these areas of their lives and career with a mature attitude, then they have arrived. Welcome to true leadership.  Be smart, hold your place, and know thyself.