Pride

Don’t start believing the hype.  We live in a culture of hero worship. The great leaders we’ve become to idolize in our American History have been morphed into invincible men and women without weaknesses. However, you can study any leader and discover their weaknesses.  Athletes and performers are instant role models but yet some exhibit moral failures out of the spotlight. Maintain a balance perspective of your accomplishments.  It is wise to keep your potential in your windshield and weaknesses in your rear view mirror as you drive along the journey of success.

Complacency

Ever watch shows on music channels like “One Hit Wonders of the ‘80s”? I’ve witness many “one hit” wonders on the job ride that one success to a height only to fall miserably.  I believe this is a direct result of the hero worship in our culture. Many of our historical heroes are known for one major success. Look closer at them; there was a consistency prior to that huge success.  If you and your team experience success, strive for consistency.

Exemption

This is the second cousin of pride and many leaders begin to feel exempt from the need for accountability.  “I did, therefore I know” becomes a mindset. But nobody succeeds alone. Become an insatiable learner and surround yourself with people who know and do more than you.

Lust

Success can also birth the need for more wins.  If you get a rush out of the accolades and pats on the backs, be careful.  Success becomes like a drug addiction; you’ll do anything to get more.  When your values get compromised and you strive for success at the expense of your people, you have crossed a line. Strive for balance when it comes to pursuing your goals. Make sure your identity is not in your accomplishments but in your values.

What other temptations do Leaders deal with?

My favorite scene from HBO’s 2008 mini-series “John Adams” – the drafting of the Declaration of Independence:

The fragile alliance between the colonies would have disintegrated  if the issue of slavery was brought into the decision to separate from Britain. To make the choice to focus on independence, while leaving the slave trade and ownership of slaves legal is not a decision I could have made.  As a black woman I do not agree with this decision, but as a leader I understand it.  This resolution was the beginning of many that forged our great nation.  I am glad our founding fathers had the audacity to become independent and allowing the birth the United States of America.

We are a young nation, but a great nation. I will take the mistakes and ills of our history along with it’s celebrations. I will forever be proud to be an American.  Happy Independence day!

In mathematics, an absolute value is the numerical value of a real number regardless of its sign that is regardless if it’s positive or negative. A leader must live by certain absolute values. These values cannot be adulterated based on circumstances. We also cannot afford to live by emotions or opinions – which are never absolute. In spite of circumstances, every decision, thought, and action should be judged by our these values before being acted upon.

As a leader, the values we must hold as absolute are:

Absolute Vision

If you are not providing vision, you are not leading.  Being the loudest person at the table doesn’t make you the leader.   Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson wrote one of the best articles on why vision is so important. I encourage you to read it here.

Absolute Integrity

I have seen co-workers transform into super heroes when they get assigned high visibility type work.  Yet when assigned something that will move the business forward, but not a lot of accolades, their work ethic changes. Integrity also applies to the consistency of your work.  A leader’s integrity cannot be conditional. Regardless of the work or circumstance, give your best effort.  Don’t treat people beneath your pay grade differently than those who are above your pay grade.

Absolute Servitude

People are your greatest asset.  And the greatest honor for any leader is to speak into the lives of people around them.  Serve your followers and your leaders. Make it a priority to make these people successful and you will cease to struggle to get ahead.

Absolute Humility

Humility and confidence are 2 sides of the same coin.  You cannot have both until you know and accept who you are. Know your strengths and weaknesses.  Everyone has weaknesses. The key is to not be ignorant of your weaknesses. If a weakness is something you really want to work on, then do so. Take a class or get a mentor to strengthen that area. If it is not, make sure you have surrounded yourself with people who are stronger in that area.

Absolute Determination

Quitting is never an option. You may have to change the team or the game plan but vision remains the same. Be resolute in achieving the vision.