Honesty & Courage

As a Marine, I’ve seen leadership from both sides, though more as a follower. Nonetheless, one thing driven into our minds almost day one is that even a private can find himself as a leader. And so we are taught leadership from the beginning. Certainly when I started, I never figured I would be a leader.

They gave us a long list of things a leader needs, and it all seemed logical to me. However, from experience as well as plain logic, honesty and courage seem most important. As for all the rest, they all somewhat hang on these two.

For instance, knowledge is highly important, but it can be acquired. Honesty and courage are things you either have or do not. They can be improved upon, but there must first be a good foundation. While tact can be practiced, it is useless without honesty.

I found it interesting that we considered good leaders by examining which traits they possessed. Two things came to mind as we went through the examples. I simply couldn’t think of any really good leaders who didn’t have courage and honesty.

It brings to mind the statement I heard: if you look behind you and no one is following, then you’re likely not a leader. I guess it says, ultimately, if you can’t get people to follow you, you likely aren’t much of a leader.

Still, the leader who has a willing following is mostly a better leader than those who are followed just because of their stripes or brass. I have noticed this to be true in civilian life as well.

This brings up the question: Do you prefer an honest or a dishonest leader? Would you rather your leader be courageous or a wimp? Is he a person who owns his mistakes or blames others?

What I’m saying is, would you choose a leader who is honest and courageous or one that fibs and is a wimp? I know what my choice would be.

By the way, I did say there were two things I noticed when considering good leaders. The second thing I noticed was that Jesus had all these characteristics. He also has quite a voluntary following.

Daily writing prompt
What makes a good leader?

Safety Is Number One Priority

The statement echoes the typical corporate response following a catastrophic event, reflecting a carefully crafted narrative that may or may not align with the full truth. While potentially genuine, such communications often serve to mitigate reputational damage, leaving listeners to discern the nuanced layers of accountability and perception.

The disclaimer serves as a strategic legal shield, reflecting a calculated approach to risk management. Legal practitioners view such scenarios as potential goldmines, positioning themselves to represent clients with an eye toward lucrative contingency arrangements. Corporate leadership often opts for expedient settlements, recognizing that the financial and reputational costs of prolonged litigation can far exceed the immediate monetary outlay of a negotiated resolution. it megabytes the need for an outright win in court.

The most significant risks arise when false statements are exposed, potentially revealing deliberate corporate negligence. Imagine the catastrophic consequences if evidence emerged that leadership consciously prioritized efficiency over worker safety, creating a scenario fraught with legal and ethical peril. Such a revelation would demand an extraordinarily challenging explanation that could fundamentally undermine organizational integrity and trust.

The potential revelation of underlying issues could bring to light significant concerns within an organization. While not necessarily leading to immediate legal or financial repercussions, the implications might still be substantial for leadership. The practice of selecting personnel based on personal connections, physical characteristics, or arbitrary factors rather than merit raises serious ethical questions. It is worth recalling that during a recent presidential administration, such preferential treatment was not only tolerated but seemingly encouraged by federal policies. The memory of these practices remains vivid for many observers who witnessed such systemic approaches to hiring and promotion.

Wouldn’t it be something if we found out that the incident was the result of a lack of qualifications by some technician chosen by the color of his skin.

I don’t know. What I do know, I am much less likely to fly these days. There seem to be a number of accidents these days that are the result, not of mistaker, but rather just being sloppy.

I know the argument. Flying is still safer. Still, I’m going to drive, take the bus, or maybe just walk.