Showing posts with label courage. Show all posts
[Book Reflections] 41 - A Portrait of My Father
George H.W. Bush has lived a truly remarkable life. He is the son of a Senator, a WWII hero, and business man; and was a diplomat, CIA Director, Vice President and President. Yet, he once remarked that his favorite titles were husband, father, and granddad.
As I read his life story, 41: A Portrait of My Father (penned by his son, George W. Bush), I used a different title. One that is not easily earned, but rightly deserved: Leader. George Bush is a leader.
Leadership is:
Discipleship - One of the remarkable traits that jumps off the pages is Bush's heart towards others - his life has been intentional to pour into other lives, both great and small. The proof is his sons, two of which have followed him into public service, and one of them following him to the Oval Office.
Character - You can't read 41 without feeling the deeply held, and acted upon, moral beliefs of George Bush. He often acted out of principle, as opposed to feeling or desire. There were times when his loyalty and reluctance to "go negative" hurt him politically, but they defined him as a leader.
Humility - One of the most difficult traits of leadership is humility, but George Bush modeled it. He was quick to reflect praise, to poke fun at himself and to share credit with others. A great example is when he invited Saturday Night Live's Dana Carvey to the White House to cheer up the staff (after his re-election defeat in 1992) by impersonating him.
Courage - Perhaps one of the most touching aspects of Bush's life is his courage. You can't read the book and not want to push further, to take more risk, to stand when the world says sit. He didn't accept the silver spoon offered to him on Wall Street as a young war hero, son of a Senator and recent Yale grad. Instead he ventured out to West Texas to stake his own claim. Multiple times he committed political suicide by following his principles or remaining loyal to a fault. Yet, he found a way and the courage to stand up again when everyone and everything said it couldn't be done.
Love - I was struck by the love expressed by W. towards his father and the innumerable times he described his father's love towards others. What type of man has such a devoted family? What type of leader is able to build deep, lasting friendship with his opposition (for example, Bill Clinton considers him a father figure in his life)? What type of man writes thousands of notes to his family and others to express care for them? A man of love. George H.W. Bush.
Responsibility - He didn't always get it right. He made mistakes. But, he never shifted the blame - he took it straight on. Leadership is responsibility.
Spiritual - Bush understood that his decisions didn't only concern himself ,but had deep impact and lasting ramifications for those around him and the world. He didn't make decisions lightly but relied heavily upon his deep faith to guide him. He is a man of prayer and believed that he was accountable for his decisions.
More than anything, what struck me about this book was grace. We live in a politically charged and divided culture. Anger, hate, mistrust and antagonism rule. We retreat and build walls around ourselves within our like-minded groups and lob grenades on Facebook and Twitter. George H.W. Bush lived differently. He engaged and related with others, regardless of their beliefs or political bent. Some of his close and endearing friends are from very different walks of life and worldviews. Communist Presidents, political opponents, and media elite have a close affection and appreciation for him. Moreover, I can't remember a strong negative comment in the book about anyone. Grace like this is much needed in our world today.
If you are looking for a deep treatise on the political ideology of George H.W. Bush, or an expose' and tell-all book, it cannot be found here. It is a very easy read, a moving story of a great man by a loving son. It is a book that makes you want to be a better person, a book that walks you through history and challenges you to make some history of your own. But in the end, it is a book that touches your heart, reminding you that the two most important things in life are faith and family.
Read it; you'll be glad you did.
Leadership is Courageous
It's that moment when you are standing at a precipice, looking out into the unknown. Your heart is beating hard. Your adrenaline has kicked in. You know the step you want to take. But fear makes you pause.
We all know this moment. It is when our minds flood with the "what ifs." What if I'm wrong? What if I fail? What if others laugh at me? What if others are hurt by this? It is also the moment when we consider the "what could be's." What could be, if this is the right decision? What could be, if I do move forward?
Leadership is Courageous
The opposite of courage is not fear; it is paralysis, the inability to move in any direction. Leadership requires movement. But movement requires courage. Therefore, whether personally or organizationally, moving forward requires courageous leadership.
Courage is often spoken of only in terms of big decisions. Betting the farm, bold decisions with massive consequences. But courage is also in smaller, everyday decisions. Will I speak up? Will I confront an issue? Courage is when we know the risk and fear the consequences, yet press forward with a resolve that says, "I must; I will, regardless of the outcome; because it is the best thing to do."
Courage is a leadership trait that must be developed. We must be courageous in the small decisions before we can lead forward in the big ones. Here are some ways to grow your courage.
1. Speak up - Think of a recent time you held back when you knew you should have spoken. Challenge yourself to speak up the next time you are in this situation.
2. Speak out - For many, confrontation is terrifying. But healthy relationships and healthy organizations are impossible without it. Is there someone you need to lovingly, but truthfully, confront? Speak out. (Here are some quick tips on how: Crucial Conversations)
3. Step up - Volunteer for a difficult assignment, one that you are interested in but are not sure you can do - and are pretty sure someone else can do better. The first time is hard, but it gets easier with practice.
4. Step out - Courage requires vulnerability. Make a hard decision that you believe in. Share your reasons and your decision making process.
5. Stand firm - Leaders are always second-guessed. There will always be naysayers. Learn to trust and own your decisions, regardless of what others might say or do.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
The Seven Traits of Leadership
Leadership is Discipleship
Leadership Starts with Character
Leadership is Humility
