VIRTUOUS LEADERSHIP

Leadership is not the calling of the few but many. The ability to influence others’ behaviour is what makes someone a leader. It can also mean having the ability to persuade a group of people to work towards a common objective.  Leadership is a function of character.

Virtue is what people see in you, it shows who you are, and what you are. Virtue is the highest standard of moral conduct. A feature or trait that is morally regarded as excellent is called virtue and is recognized as a morally upright person and a cornerstone of morality. To put it another way, it is morally upright behaviour that consists of abstaining from wrongdoing. It means strength and power.

A virtuous leader has the excellence of the mind, will, and heart.  It makes you capable of excellently leading other human beings.

HOW TO IDENTIFY A VIRTUOUS LEADER

Leadership is a moral activity, it has nothing to do with power or position. A virtuous leader has the interest of others. Leadership begins from the heart. Deep honesty, moral fortitude, moral vision, empathy and concern, justice, intellectual prowess, originality of thought, aesthetic sensibility, the shrewdness of timing, and profound altruism are some of these qualities. They explain a leader’s mentality, core convictions, and the feelings that go along with them.  They know they are not saints, however, the presence of these virtues gives them the insight, foresight, and knowledge to act wisely and well.

THE FOUR BASIC VIRTUES

1. PRUDENCE: – This is the first fundamental virtue. It is the habit of making the right decision. It is described as the intellectual virtue that correctly guides specific human activities through restraint of the appetite toward a beneficial outcome. We shall contend that emotional well-being derives from a specific structuring of the complete network of human emotions, one that comes about because of properly disposing of the emotions via the virtues. However, prudence is a moral quality as well as an intellectual one. A habit that renders a person morally upright is called a moral virtue. It is possible to be clever and intelligent without being morally upright, but it is impossible to be cautious without being morally upright. A cautious man acts on what is right rather than just knowing what is right.

• COURAGE: – Courage is a virtue precisely because one acts resolutely despite one’s justified fears. That is, courage is not the lack of fear, but its mastery. Courage is the will to behave honorably, especially in the face of adversity. Even though it would be much simpler to not at this time, it is acting for the better. A courageous person recognizes the danger, decides to face it head-on while overcoming their fear, and acts by their ideals. It is not irrationality, carelessness, or haste. Being creative despite fear, discomfort, or temptation is a well-thought-out, sensible, and bold choice. A clever compromise between the flaws of cowardice and recklessness yields courage. To act on well-considered values rather than a whim requires discipline.

• SELF-CONTROLROL: – It is the virtue of self-love. Self-control is the capacity to restrain one’s feelings, actions, and wants in the face of outside pressures to participate in society. Self-regulation is a term used occasionally in psychology. To attain objectives and suppress potentially harmful urges and emotions, one must exercise self-control in conduct. Self-control is an endeavor meant to assist in achieving success. Failure frequently results from a lack of self-control.

• JUSTICE: – It is the balance or middle ground between selfishness and selflessness, between having more and having less than one’s fair share. It is the capacity of entering the heart of others and speaking the truth.

If one of these four virtues is lacking in your life, everything collapses. The specific virtue of leaders is called MAGNANIMITY.