DO YOU HAVE THE HEART OF A CHAMPION?

A few months ago, my friend and I were having an in-depth discussion about leadership. During our conversation, not only did I take some time to discuss my upcoming leadership presentation with him, but we both began to have an engaging discussion about some of the greatest leaders of all time. As you might imagine, we talked about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we talked about Nelson Mandela, we talked about Winston Churchill, we talked about Abraham Lincoln, we talked about Mahatma Gandhi, we talked about Mother Theresa, we talked about Susan B. Anthony, we talked about Jesus Christ, we talked about Cesar Chavez, we talked about the Dali Lama, and we talked about several other influential national and world leaders that have really made a tremendous impact in the world.

Essentially, after having this intriguing discussion on leadership, we both agreed that although some of the greatest leaders of all time were rejected by others, were not the richest people in the world, were not the most popular people in the world, were not the most beautiful people in the world, were not the smartest people in the world, were not the greatest communicators in the world, were not the best dressed people in the world, and were not always the popular leadership choice during their time, they were all able to succeed as leaders because each of these men and women had the heart of a champion on the inside. In essence, their heart for great leadership and making an impact in the world on the inside was so powerful that it enabled them to make an impact in the world regardless of their position, charisma, likability, financial state, or challenge.

Like these great leaders, if we are going to really become great leaders of the 21st Century and make an impact in the world, not only is it essential that we have the necessary leadership skills to succeed, but we must have the heart of a champion. According to Jaren Davis, an author and speaker, having the heart of a champion is being someone that pushes beyond their fears, truly believes in themselves and breaks through any roadblocks or obstacles that attempt to stop them from accomplishing their goals in life. In essence, according to Jaren Davis, not only does having the heart of a champion separate the good from the great, but leaders that have the heart of a champion are people who are courageous enough to pursue things that may seem impossible or risky to the average individual.

Personally, not only do I agree with Jaren Davis, but I strongly believe there are some other key characteristics that great leaders must possess in order to have the heart of a champion as well. For instance, leaders who desire to have the heart of a champion like the great leaders of our past must have a heart that is willing to make sacrifices for others, they must have a heart that authentically loves the people they serve, they must have a heart that is committed to doing the right thing regardless of the situation or circumstance, they must have a heart that believes in the power of humility, they must have a heart to see the people that they are leading succeed, and they must have a passion to make their community, nation and world a better place.

Essentially, after having this in-depth discussion about leadership with my friend, we both learned that if we are going to become great leaders in our generation, we must possess the essential inner qualities of great leadership that are required, we must embrace the unpopular characteristics of leadership, and we must have a passion on the inside that will not allow us to continue living life without making an impact in the world.

As you prepare yourself for the next level of leadership in 2011, the question you should ask yourself is, "Do you have the heart of a champion as a leader?"