Spirit of Leadership

RECAPTURING THE SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP

“be strong and courageous.” His self-concept changed in that encounter. This new perception of himself produced the spirit of leadership in him and an attitude that distin guished him from other people. The same scenario of transformation played out in the lives of Gideon, David, Esther, and all the others. Their personal encounters with their God challenged their self images, self-concepts, self-esteem, self-worth, and sense of potential. It also gave each a sense of purpose for their lives and changed their attitudes forever. The spirit of leadership was ignited in each, and their lives impacted their genera tions and continue to inspire the world today. What is crucial in all these cases is the fact that all of them had images of themselves that were not correct and were produced by their cultures, past experiences, or the opinions of others. This is the reason the hidden leader within all of us remains buried and suffocates in the grave of our mediocre cultures. To be free from this condition, we must determine to cultivate the spirit of leadership and rise above the limitations of our past experiences, other peo ple’s opinions of us, and the stifling context of our so-called social norms. As I noted earlier, to begin this process, we must ask our selves some very important questions, such as “What image do I have of myself?” or “How do I see myself?” and “What do I imagine that I am capable of?” Self-image sets the boundaries of both individual and national accomplishment. C ULTIVATING THE SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP IS A CHOICE .

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