Brain, Heart, Courage for Leadership

Hard times call for perfect leaders; Fragmentary leaders suffer in an age marked by contradiction, ambiguity, and volatility. Adopting a one-dimensional leadership approach may have succeeded in less complex times, but in an environment characterized by moral complexity, rapid changes in trends, social and political conditions, and economic and technological conditions. Leaders must be able to use their minds, hearts and courage as circumstances require.

In recent years, all political, religious, military and business leaders have failed their supporters. While President George W. Bush showed courage in his aggressive counter-terrorism strategy, his critics accused him of lacking wisdom and pathos in his Iraq war policy. Catholic Church leaders' handling of child abuse by priests may have been pitying priests, but most people have been disappointed by their apparent lack of concern for victims and their reluctance to take a strong stand on punishment and reparation. And while business leaders are very adept and experienced at achieving short-term results, they don't display the grit and inner fortitude needed to do the right thing regularly in the face of competing shareholder needs, constant pressure to perform, and the need to keep employees engaged and motivated.

That is, our leaders often rely exclusively on one quality; Mind, heart, or courage. Unfortunately, when you do that you ignore the other two necessary attributes