I’m doing a little research for a project. And here’s the question driving it: Who do you consider to be a great leader?
Just to get it out of the way, I’ll say it: Jesus.
Okay, now. Moving on. Who else?
And give me a line or two about why.
Who do you consider to be a great leader?
6 Responses to “Who do you consider to be a great leader?”
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September 16th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
One way to approach the question is to just look for the masses of followers.
So a lot of religious leaders fit in there… yes Jesus, but also Mohammad, Buddha, etc.
You could do numbers politically. Bush was in the 90%’s or so. Obama has certainly moved people. Hilter had fanatic followers.
Or you could just see where flocks of people go… U2, Micheal Jackson, Beatles, various sports, CNN. Geez… even Sesame Street has loyal followers.
Sheer numbers don’t mean the leader is doing what is good, but it does mean they are effective.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I look up to the associate pastor at my church.
He’s willing to make the hard decisions (a lot of decisions where there’s no right answer). He gives of himself. He doesn’t sacrifice his family for the ministry. He’s more concerned about a person having a healthy relationship with God than them meeting a spiritual checklist. He invests in the people who work for him, and his main concern is allowing people to be the leaders they are built to be. He fosters people’s passions.
There’s more to be said obviously, but there’s some of the stuff off the top of my head.
Another nomination? Does Malcolm Reynolds count? :)
September 16th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Hi, Jeffrey! I miss our monthly meetings.
Greatest living leader to me is Thich Nhat Hanh, the diminutive Vietnamese Buddhist monk who also happened to study at Princeton Theological Seminary. “Thay” is a spiritual leader, poet, scholar, peace rabblerouser and prolific author. His many books reach across cultural and religious divides and bring people together in positive dialogue about the Big Issues. I have used his book Living Buddha, Living Christ as a text for Sunday schools and small groups in my Presbyterian Church. At age 83, he still circumnavigates the globe, bringing his message of peace and hope in seminars and workshops. He has been nominated but has not yet won the Nobel Peace Prize. Just looking at his website brings joy. http://www.plumvillage.org.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
From the sports world, Phil Jackson
-smart, innovative, willing to take risks
-inspires, challenges and creates cohesion between divergent personalities
September 17th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
William F. Buckley, Jr.
He knew how to inspire others into taking stands for things rejected by the mainstream. He understood PR and was able to take the moral ground on very unpopular positions, but still use charm and charisma to win over others to this side (something virtually everyone in politics has completely lost). Buckley had integrity and others, even opponents, respected him for it.
If convinced it was right, he even would take up the cause considered taboo by his own side (even if it meant he lost the support of some of his own conservatives). And he always refused to pander to the media, the powerful fringe elements within his own party, or to popular opinion.
September 18th, 2009 at 5:59 am
William Adama.
Off the top of my head: He inspires loyalty, he cares about his people, he doesn’t back down from confrontation when it’s necessary but also knows how to avoid confrontation when possible, he’s willing to listen to reason, he tries to do what’s right.