Each one of us knows the importance of monitoring your heart health to ensure a healthy and productive life. Good leaders understand the importance of monitoring the heart’s health when it comes to their thoughts and desires. There is a bible scripture that I love, it states, “Out of the abundance of the heart, speaketh the mouth” (Luke 6:45). Ensuring your heart is in a good place is critical as it will determine what you think, say, and do. It is precisely what dictates the type of leader you are and will continue to be.
Good leaders understand the importance of addressing those past lived experiences that often result in anger and bitterness. Failing to address these hurts leads to behaviors that are predicated on the toxic voices from within, which often result in inappropriate behavior. Too many leaders, despite having achieved great success, go on to fail because of their unwillingness to address their past hurts and the resulting vulnerabilities. They make the mistake of believing that if they simply say the right things, that will make up for all the wrong things that continue to haunt them. In the end, the “fake it until you make it” approach does not last and they end result is “heart failure”, the inability to lead.
Becoming a good leader means confronting the matters of the heart, dealing with past mistakes, seeking forgiveness when appropriate, and ensuring the toxic voices are silenced. Good leaders are not defined by their past, but their past has refined them and helped them to become better people and in the end, better leaders. They address the matters of the heart and learn to be real, to be the type of leader that focuses on honor, excellence, accountability, respect and teamwork. Just a little advice to go!
