I love the modern superhero films from Marvel and DC because they seem to take us deeper into the character development and motives that made the heroes who they are today. Superman always fought for “truth, justice, and the American Way.” But I have one problem with that…
Where did Superman get his definition of truth and justice?
Truth certainly isn’t defined by a majority vote. Truth is truth regardless of the vote. And I don’t think there is anyone out there so arrogant to believe they alone can define truth! Truth comes from somewhere and it ain’t us! So where does Superman get his truth? We’re never really told what he believes, but he seems to think right and wrong are always obvious. Unfortunately, I disagree with the Man of Steel. It ain’t always that easy.
As leaders, we are expected to lead from three sources of strength but that strength must be firmly grounded in truth. Those truths are at your center and most of the time we refer to them as core values.
Who defines truth and justice?
Where do your core values come from? If we don’t have a strong core value system defined, we’ll be tossed around like a boat without rudder. The tail ends up wagging the dog. We all need to know our source for truth. We all need to have well defined core values.
When your core values are well defined, your decisions become much easier to make. Your actions ultimately reveal your core values because you cannot act in stark contrast to what you believe. As a Christian myself, I defer truth to a higher power. You may find your truth in the universe as you observe unchanging laws of science. Either way, as a leader, we must lead from a strong core.
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Three Sources of Leadership Strength
1. Justice
The statue of Lady Justice is probably a familiar one to you. You can find her in front of many courthouses around the world. She stands blindfolded and holding a measuring scale. Impartially she evaluates and measures. She holds a sword in the other hand signifying that justice can be swift and final. Justice is truth in action.
As leaders we should seek out the truth and be willing to put that truth into action. One poor example I’ve seen in my own career is when a leader gains a commitment from the team, one person fails to keep his commitment, and then he doesn’t get reprimanded by the leader. In other words, the leader is not being just.
No one ever said being a leader was going to be easy. It may be simple, but it isn’t easy. When you set expectations with your team, be just with those who keep or ignore their commitments.
2. Kindness
For me, I don’t see effective leadership without seeing a heart for others. I’ve seen plenty of managers accomplish tasks through strong power bases and questionable influence tactics (manipulation), but the leaders with the most successful teams always have a heart for their followers.
It is possible to be both just and kind. Exceptional teachers, coaches, and mentors are great examples because they have a heart for the ones they lead. The heart of the teacher beats for the mind of the student.
3. Humility
This is a tough one. I have a suspicion if we’re all honest, we’d say we all struggle with this one from time to time. Humility means we have to check our ego at the door. Because leaders tend to be in the spotlight more than the team members, it can begin to affect the leader’s perception of self and his/her actions. To me, humility is holding yourself accountable to someone else, regardless of their title.
On a personal note, I heard someone say once, “I’m not married anymore. I can stay out as late as I want and I can do anything I want!” That is the exact opposite of humility. If you’re humble, it means you’re willing to hold yourself accountable. Whether your beliefs hold you accountable to a father in heaven or karma or your fellow man or the laws of science. Be willing to humble yourself in the face of truth.
Leaders… we are all called to lead others with justice, kindness, and humility. When we lead from that place we create an environment for the team to excel. Now go be the superhero leader your team needs!
Which Superhero do you think exemplifies these three sources of strength?
Still waiting on my call from Batman to join the Justice League,
Russ
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Russ Peterson Jr. is the co-founder and Managing Director of iSpeak, Inc. – An award-winning professional development training company. Russ is a speaker, international trainer, and published author on Professional Sales Communication and Business Communication. He delivers workshops, keynotes, and personal communication coaching services to business professionals in the US and around the world. You can connect with Russ directly through Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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