Much has been written about leadership. Lists of what it takes to be a leader and what attributes make a great leader are common. However, seldom does one see honor linked to leadership. Why is that?
What is honor anyway? Self-respect, integrity, good reputation are certainly a part of honor. Duels have been held over the matter of honor so it must be an important attribute. Can one be a leader without having honor? Did Hitler and Stalin have honor? Certainly, they were leaders. So, maybe honor is needed as a part of leadership only if the leader is working for the good of his followers. In today’s time, we have many leaders that seem to lack much in the way of honor, even in our own country. Do the legislators, duly elected, sometimes repeatedly, that take bribes, have illicit relationships, and even fail to pay their personal taxes have honor? Do our leaders that use their positions for personal gain have honor? No, those people have no honor, but they are held up as leaders.
So, it would seem that one can be a leader without having honor. But, would you want to work with/for a leader that has no honor? Is it possible that a leader is doomed to ultimate failure if his/her leadership is not underpinned with honor? Do people instinctively gravitate to those with honor, and if so is that sometimes a hidden core of great leadership?
Chris and Larry. Thanks for both your inputs.
I feel honor is a behavior that transcends nation borders. It’s trust, respect, due diligence, and honesty. Working with honorable people is, pardon the pun, honorable.
I love this ken. Honor should be at the top of our list. Thank you for this thought provoking post.