Natural Talent/Virtue Discussion. go and make your point!

Jonathan Farrington of Leadership Turn provides a good article with Shakespeare on greatness. It is an opportunity for discussion on whether "born great" includes natural talents and/or virtues.

Honesty about Honesty: Leadership Virtue

"No legacy is so rich as honesty." - William Shakespeare

Think about ancient and contemporary leaders. Have you ever held a person up that was not honest? Honesty is one the traits that continuously appears on leadership lists because followers want a leader to be up front and clear about expectations. It is naturally difficult to follow dishonesty because the follower does not know what to believe and reject. Honesty is closely related to reality. Bossidy and Charan in "Execution" drive home the point that a leader must face reality, that is real reality.

This may seem obvious, but think about it. In today's culture, the average person has tons of credit debt. In the false reality, it appears the furniture, car, appliances, etc. are really his. However, the reality is that he does not own them in the sense that they are his possession. At this point they are lent to him. It can be taken away.

Application: Take a real look at yourself. This is easiest with the help of a coach, spouse, friend, or even trusted employee. Ask them to be honest and give feedback about a certain behavior. The feedback will probably be closer to reality than your own perception to how others perceive you. Then, set a goal to change the behavior. This will start you off along the path that followers will begin to see honesty.

Courage

Leadership Turn has a good take on courage that most leaders learn to practice. Considering it is a virtue, it is attractive and always has been. CS Lewis comments on courage when he gives the example that couarge is objectively good in all culture. As he mentions, what culture (ancient or contemporary) gives medals of honor (as if honor is not also a virtue and objectibely good) to the person who runs away from the front lines in battle? This person is generally labelled a coward. Honor is another example, who presents a "Medal of Dishonor?" More to come.

Implementation: Couarge has simple and complex applications. Similar to a muscle, it must be worked out. Practice and practice are the ways to become stronger in courage. Don't be fooled. Don't expect to master courage in the big decisions without first mastering them in the small. Small ways to grow in courage is finding values and live by them, the values will definitely find friends and foes and courage will grow as you are tested on the values you have found. A very practical example is waking up when the alarm sounds rather than hitting the snooze. Some have called this the "heroic minute."