Spirit of Leadership

THE SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP

naturally influenced. True inspiration is not manipulation or brainwashing. Instead, it is an invitation to pursue something higher and better than one has had before and, in the pro cess, gain a sense of meaning and significance for one’s life. To clarify the process of leadership according to our working definition, let us review the progression of leader ship development: 1. Purpose 2. Conviction 3. Vision 4. Passion 5. Inspiration 6. Influence 7. Leadership True leadership is impossible unless all these ingredi ents are present and integrated as a whole, producing a force for change in our communities, societies, and the world. EXAMPLES OF EFFECTIVE LEADERS Leaders are often ordinary people who accept or are placed in extraordinary circumstances that bring forth their latent potential, producing a character that inspires confidence and trust within others. Many of the great lead ers in history were “victims” of circumstances. They did not intend to be leaders, but the demands of life ignited a sleep ing spirit within them. The greatest leadership seems to surface during times of personal, social, economic, politi cal, and spiritual conflict.

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