April 24, 2023
Every day we read about leaders that seem to have everything going for them, yet they fall. Their businesses and organizations that looked indestructible one day, collapsed like a castle made of playing cards the next. Moral failure, corruption, dishonesty, temptation are just some of the many reasons leaders are failing to finish strong. Leaders that want to stand the test of time realize that they must cultivate virtue.
Virtue is a word that we don’t hear very much of today, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. Virtue is moral excellence and integrity. The root word for virtue is “virtus” in the Latin and means “strength” and “power.” General John Michel says that virtue “serves as the cornerstone for bringing out the best in ourselves, as well as those around us.” The truth is that it’s vital to us individually as leaders, as well as for our businesses.
We can think of virtue as a fork with 4 prongs:
- Ethics - This includes things like being responsible, respecting the rights of others, keeping our word, and maintaining the right attitude regardless of the circumstances.
- Excellence - This includes things like always doing our best, doing things right instead of just “good enough,” going the extra mile, and always looking for ways to improve.
- Honesty - This includes being genuine and real with people, not taking advantage of their ignorance or weakness, and avoiding exaggerations and misrepresentations.
- Moral Goodness (Integrity) - This is simply doing what is right, what would please and honor God in every situation.
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionable integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office.”
– Dwight D. Eisenhower
In the ancient Roman Empire, the Legionnaires, who were essentially heavy infantryman in the Roman Army, would stand at attention for inspection every morning. When the general would stand in front of a particular soldier, the soldier would pound his chest armor above his heart and shout “integritas!” In Latin this means wholeness, completeness, and entirety. The general would lean in and listen to the sound of the armor to make sure it was true and that it would keep the soldier protected in combat.
In the same way, our virtue and our moral excellence acts as a shield and armor to protect us from things that would seek to destroy our leadership. When we have these four prongs of virtue operating together, they release the power and protection of God in our circumstances. We finish strong, inspire others, and leave a legacy that makes God look good.
Recommend Book:
The Power of Ethical Management by Ken Blanchard
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God is for You,
Pastor David Blunt
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COTR Marketplace Ministries is a ministry for those in the marketplace and those interested in starting a business. Lifelong learners, entrepreneurs, and business owners meet to grow in their leadership and skills. This is a great place to network, build relationships and exchange ideas!
JJoin us on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 5pm in the main campus lobby. We will have guest speaker, Jody Mayberry, podcast co-host with former Executive Vice President for Walt Disney World Resorts. His years of helping others to build and create compelling content for podcasts continues to open many doors in marketing and communication strategy.
We have added a unique avenue to share your business through displaying your product(s) or service(s). For $60 you can reserve a table where you will be able to tell others about the services you provide and sell those services and/or products. We will open this 45 minutes before and 30 minutes after the Marketplace dinner to display your business.
Dinner and childcare are included in the price of your ticket. Purchase your tickets online for just $12 or $15 at the door.