Can You Be A Saint?
2 Comments Published by Frank Lane February 21st, 2008 in Leadership, Organizational Performance, Personal PerformanceAlbert Schweitzer said, “A man does not have to be an angel to be a saint.” I believe that.
A really good leader is a saint. You do not have to be perfect. Remember one simple thought. A good leader is one others choose to follow. It really is that simple. Others either choose of their own free will to follow you, or they don’t.
Interesting and thought provoking. How then would you describe Hitler, whom millions chose to follow? Was he therefore “a good leader”, and by your definition also a “saint”?
Drew, your comment reminds me of the Lily Tomlin quote in Man in the Moon Marigolds. She said, “I always wanted to grow up to be somebody. Now I realize that I should have been more specific.”
I should have been more specific. Was Hitler a leader? Absolutely because as you note, millions chose to follow him. Was he a good leader? Trickier. He definitely was not a Leader for Good.
In our training for Pi Kappa Phi a social fraternity that is our client and that builds its whole program around Leaders By Choice, we teach the difference between Leading for Good, and Leading for Bad, which is very obvious around 18-22 year old males. Some leaders take the chapter to greatness. Some leaders take the chapter down-hill.
The Leadership point is that you are not necessarily a leader just because you are the boss or you have the title. You are only a leader when others follow. If you are a good leader, or more specifically a Leader for Good, you can be a Saint even though you are not perfect.
Thanks for such a piercing question.