Author: Slinkwords

Why is there such a big outcry against General Robert E Lee and his role in Confederate history? It was Sunday morning. Robert E. Lee was sitting in his favorite pew at the Episcopal church in Richmond, Virginia. When communion was served, a black man walked up the aisle and knelt to receive the wafer and a sip of wine from the communion cup. There was an angry murmur from the white congregants when they saw this former slave at the front of their church. But Robert E. Lee rose to his feet, walked to the altar, and knelt beside the black man. They shared the cup and received Holy Communion together. Then Lee turned and faced the congregation. "All men are brothers in Christ," he told them. "Have we…

The ability to take personal responsibility is a powerful ingredient for success. As long as a person says, "It wasn't my fault" or "It's her responsibility" or "I am a victim of circumstances," that person is in a position of helplessness and hopelessness. He is saying, "I have no control, I have no confidence, I'm at the mercy of people and events." But the moment a person says, "I'm responsible, I could have done this better," that person has taken a major step toward improvement, learning, growth, mastery, and control of the situation. A person of responsibility says, "I'm not anybody's victim. I just made a mistake, and I'm going to do better next time." That is a position of power! That is an attitude of confidence and self-empowerment. Paradox…

Without courage, we simply take up space on the planet. Paradox of Power by Pat Williams

Each of us is ultimately responsible for the choices we make that produce our mature or immature character. Paradox of Power by Pat Williams

Only a leader of character can make the tough decisions that can turn a vision into reality. To live, a leader must die - to selfishness, pride, anger, sin, fear, self-indulgence, and everything else that is corrosive and destructive to good character. This is one of the great paradoxes of power, one of the great truths of leadership: The leader who sacrifices the self preserves the soul. Only the leader who dies, lives. Paradox of Power by Pat Williams

Every experience is a learning experience. Every time we try something - win or lose - we learn, we grow, we attain more confidence and competence for the next time. Paradox of Power by Pat Williams

Patton's Outline for Bold Leadership Qualities of a Great General Tactically aggressive (loves a fight) Strength of character Steadiness of purpose Acceptance of responsibility Energy Good health Paradox of Power by Pat Williams

Great leaders do not operate out of fear or timidity. In a crisis, leaders must be people of strong character, choosing to do what is morally and ethically right, regardless of the personal price to be paid. Paradox of Power by Pat Williams

The four ingredients to being a great leader (according to Margaret Thatcher): First, know what matters to you. Have a set of principles and follow them. Your principles serve as the foundation of your leadership. Second, speak up! Be bold and fearless about asserting your principles. Third, anticipate problems. Use information, instinct, and intuition to foresee problems and crises before anyone else does. Fourth, make bold decisions. Base your decisions on your principles and on the information and insight that you have. Meet problems and opportunities head-on, then take bold action. Those are the four ingredients of a great leader. Paradox of Power by Pat Williams

Great leaders are big enough and strong enough to accept full responsibility for their own decisions - and the actions of subordinates. And the result? Almost always, the leader experiences a surge of respect. After Kennedy's unconditional acceptance of responsibility for the Bay of Pigs failure, the Gallup poll registered a 61-percent approval rating for the president. Obviously the public didn't approve of Kennedy's military failure - but they did approve of the character he displayed in accepting the blame. Great leaders are boldly accountable. They accept full responsibility for themselves and their people. Paradox of Power by Pat Williams