The Myth Of The “Great Leader”. I have been spending a lot of time thinking about this subject lately. So much so a book may be coming out of it.
Regular visitors to this site know I read a lot of leadership books. The individuals profiled represent a wide range of value systems. Some very good and some very questionable. However, we should always be humble enough to learn from anyone. That’s what we’ve been taught, right? I’m starting to question that logic. Let me give you just two recent examples why.
I have always admired former San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh. I feel he is the most creative coach in the history of professional football. Two weeks ago, I finished the book The Genius: How Bill Walsh Reinvented Football And Created An NFL Dynasty by David Harris. I read this book because I wanted to learn more about creativity, talent evaluation, and team building.
On page 238, Harris writes, “The other relationship undergoing change in the months after that second Super Bowl victory was Bill’s marriage. The tensions between him and Geri (his wife) had finally provoked him to distance himself. There was another woman involved in the separation as well. Kristine Hanson, twenty years younger than Bill, was a television meteorologist in both the Bay Area and Sacramento and a former Playboy Playmate who had been shifted to doing human interest sports stories by the Sacramento channel for whom she was working in 1982 – the first woman ever on the sports beat for an NBC affiliate. She met Bill on assignment in Rocklin during training camp. Eventually he asked her to dinner and a romance began.” And Harris details the many, many years this well-known affair lasted. Harris also details how little Walsh cared for his players until much later in life.
I am also reading Andrew Roberts’ book Leadership In War: Essential Lessons From Those Who Made History. So far I have read about only two of the nine leaders profiled, Napoleon Bonaparte and Horatio Nelson. But on page 17, Roberts reports Bonaparte had “twenty-two mistresses.” Not to be outdone, Roberts’ writes on page 32 about Nelson, “She (his wife Fanny Nisbet) was not a great beauty, and often shy, but a kind and loving wife who certainly did not deserve the very public humiliations that lay in store.” Nelson had infidelity problems as well.
Maybe it is just everything adding up but:
- The constant use of F-bombs in podcasts, articles and interviews by highly influential people
- Continual foul language
- “Great leaders” with open infidelity problems
- “Great leaders” with severe anger and self-control problems
- Leaders who create great electronic products but historically treat people like trash
- Ultra-wealthy people who create historic businesses but leave their wives for younger women
- Pastors with large congregations who treat their staffs and families like dirt
After I read the book on Coach Walsh, I just felt dirty. Something was wrong in my spirit. I reached the point I did not care how much money someone makes, or how creative they are, or how good their teams perform, or how large their churches or organizations are. They are not great leaders. If you cannot treat your wife and children well, what else truly matters.
True success is when those who knew you the best respect and love you the most.
It was then I saw Max Lucado’s new book, Jesus: The God Who Knows Your Name. So I made a following decision for my February reading project. Rather than reading about severely flawed leaders, many of whom are simply godless, I would read about the greatest leader ever, the One who is my friend, the One who died for me, the One who wants to constantly spend time with me, the One I have chosen to pray to all of my life, the One who is creating a place for us to spend eternity together called Heaven. I would read about Jesus.
Jesus, the leader we measure time by. The leader who has had more songs written about him than any other leader. The leader who has had more artwork done of him than any other leader. The leader who has the best-selling leadership book of all-time, the Bible. And this leader knows my name and spends time with me daily.
I cannot tell you how refreshing this book has been. It has been an absolute joy to read. Pages are turning faster than any book I’ve read in a long time. I feel refreshed and encouraged, not dirty, after reading this book. Lucado’s book has strengthened my soul.
All “great leaders” are severely flawed, myself included. It simply depends on what part of their life we want to shine a spotlight on. That’s why we need a Savior.
Only one leader, Jesus, is perfect no matter where we look. I recommend you read about Him today. Why don’t you purchase Lucado’s book HERE.
My book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase. If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you! By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you. This book is not to be read alone. Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence. Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.