偉大領袖的記號
By Robert J. Tamasy
我覺得自己好像一艘傳遞知識的小船，即使我並不知道何時會用到!我會收集文章、專欄以及各式各樣不同的筆記，為將來的會議做準備。最近我看到2005年蘇富比雜誌刊登的一則專欄，標題是偉大領袖的五個記號。這篇文章是一位英國的歷史學家和作家保羅．強森(Paul Johnson)所寫的。他提出以下的問題：偉大領袖的特質是甚麼？我們如何能辨認出這些特質來？
強森提供了自己對偉大領袖特質的看法，包括：
道德勇氣：即使批評、災難排山倒海而來，朋友、盟友也畏畏縮縮不敢支持，他仍然願意堅守自己的信仰。 判斷能力：他是一個經歷豐富、經歷過生死關頭，有判斷能力的人。因為沒有判斷能力的勇氣是沒有意義 的，甚至是危險的。 知道優先順序：一個偉大的領袖有先天的敏銳度，能夠分辨孰重孰輕的優先次序。 努力的分配和專注：一個偉大的領袖知道如何分配自己的時間和精力。 幽默感：有一個充滿幽默的領袖，下屬總是會更願意去服事、更加有熱情也更有效率。群眾喜歡能逗他們開心的領導者。
當我們讀聖經的時候，會發現聖經也重視上面提到的領袖特質。舉例：
－道德勇氣：當約書亞接續摩西領導以色列人的時候，神特別強調要他勇敢。「你當剛強壯膽！因為你必使這百姓承受那地為業，就是我向他們列祖起誓應許賜給他們的地。只要剛強，大大壯膽，謹守遵行我僕人摩西所吩咐你的一切律法，不可偏離左右，使你無論往哪裏去，都可以順利。這律法書不可離開你的口，總要晝夜思想，好使你謹守遵行這書上所寫的一切話。如此，你的道路就可以亨通，凡事順利。我豈沒有吩咐你嗎？你當剛強壯膽！不要懼怕，也不要驚惶；因為你無論往哪裏去，耶和華─你的神必與你同在。」「無論甚麼人違背你的命令，不聽從你所吩咐他的一切話，就必治死他。你只要剛強壯膽！」」(約書亞記1章6-9節、18節).
－判斷能力：有效率的領導人能辨別是非、甚麼是好的、甚麼是最好的，這是必要的條件。「我所禱告的，就是要你們的愛心在知識和各樣見識上多而又多，使你們能分別是非（或譯：喜愛那美好的事），作誠實無過的人，直到基督的日子；」(腓立比書1章9-10節).
－知道優先順序：一個有效率的領袖知道甚麼是最重要的。「一個人不能事奉兩個主；不是惡這個、愛那個，就是重這個、輕那個。你們不能又事奉神，又事奉瑪門（瑪門：財利的意思）。」「你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。」 (馬太福音 6章24節、33節).
－分配和專注：一個有效率的領袖知道要如何分配精力，才能夠完成最重要的事，而不會重複做工。「你們哪一個要蓋一座樓，不先坐下算計花費，能蓋成不能呢？恐怕安了地基，不能成功，看見的人都笑話他，說：『這個人開了工，卻不能完工。』」(路加福音14章28-30節)。
－幽默感：一個偉大的領袖保持好的幽默感，不過度自我膨脹。「我憑著所賜我的恩對你們各人說：不要看自己過於所當看的；要照著 神所分給各人信心的大小，看得合乎中道。」(羅馬書12章3節).
勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）；他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）
省思與問題討論
你對於保羅．強森所提出的「偉大領袖的五個特質」有甚麼看法？其中有你認為不適當的嗎？如果有，你覺得甚麼是更好的領袖特質？ 你會如何定義「道德勇氣」？你給的定義和這個世界給一樣嗎？如果不一樣，有哪些不一樣？分享你的看法。 一個領袖要如何才能有分辨優先順序的敏銳度？以及在兼顧利潤和要求的情況下，持守維護已經建立起來的優先次序？ 思考一下，在公司或是個人的生活中，以神為第一順位可能會遇到甚麼困難？為什麼在每天的生活當中，要做到很困難？
備註：如果你手上有聖經，希望能閱讀更多關於這個主題的經文，請參考：約書亞記10章25-28節；馬太福音7章24-27節；路加福音10章27節；羅馬書12章2節；帖撒羅尼迦前書5章16節
MARKS OF A GREAT LEADER
By Robert J. Tamasy
I seem to be an information packrat. I collect articles, columns and various notes, and hang onto them for years for future reference, not knowing when or how I might use them. Recently I came across a column from 2005 that appeared in the respected business journal, Forbes. Entitled “Five Marks of a Great Leader,” it was written by Paul Johnson, a British historian and author. He asked, “What makes a real leader? How can we recognize one?”
Johnson offered the view that among the qualities great leaders possess, they must include:
Moral courage: “The willingness to stick to one”s beliefs, to pursue a course of action in the face of overwhelming criticism, great adversity and…the faintheartedness of friends and allies.” Judgment: “Courage without judgment is pointless and may be dangerous. When I need advice…I turn to someone who has knocked about the world and cheerfully survived “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.”” A sense of priority: “Sorting out the truly big from the small takes an innate horse sense that”s not given to most human beings…it is nearly always the hallmark of a great leader.” Disposal and concentration of effort: “Leaders must allocate their time and energy.” Humor: “A subordinate always serves more zealously and obeys more faithfully a leader who can joke, and the public…warms to a potentate who can make them laugh.”
Reading the Bible, we find these traits also emphasized there. Here are examples of what it says:
Moral courage. When Joshua assumed leadership of the Israelites from Moses, God emphasized the need for courage. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous…” (Joshua 1:6-9, 18).
Judgment. Being able to discern right from wrong, good vs. the best, is indispensable for effective leadership. “… that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9-10).
A sense of priority. Effective leaders never lose sight of what”s most important. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money…. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”(Matthew 6:24,33).
Disposal and concentration of effort. How can energy best be expended, making certain to be able to complete critical tasks, and particularly not having to redo work due to unsatisfactory quality or workmanship? “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?…“(Luke 14:28-30).
Humor. One way to maintain a good sense of humor is to avoid having an over-inflated sense of self. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you“ (Romans 12:3).
© 2017. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s website is www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, and his biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What do you think of Johnson”s “Five Marks of a Great Leader”? Are there any that you disagree with, or would replace with another leadership quality? How would you define “moral courage”? Does your definition agree with that of the world around you? If not, what are the differences? How can a leader gain a sense of priority, and then maintain priorities once they are established in the face of other competing interests and demands? Consider obstacles that arise in attempting to make God the first priority in business, as well as one”s personal life. Why can it be difficult to accomplish this on a daily, consistent basis?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Joshua 10:25-28; Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 10:27; Romans 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16
