Running head: GROUP DISCUSSION BOARD FORUM 10
Group Discussion Board Forum 10
Mark Peterson
Liberty University
HARLOW GROUP DISCUSSION FORUM 10
Resilient leaders have basic characteristics, all deriving from character, they are all facets
of character. Integrity, Courage, and Wisdom, with these three traits the leader is strong in
character and will be strong in faith. But even the strongest of leaders sometimes lose faith in the
fight. Titus 1: 7-9 (English Standard Version ESV)” For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be
above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy
for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must
hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound
doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” These are all the good Christain attributes of
a sound leader of good character and all of them can be enveloped into Integrity, Faith and
Wisdom.
Three Concepts
Integrity
Integrity is the “firm adherence to a code of especially moral values” states Dees. (2013)
Just as Titus described the attributes of a leader, when he described an elder of the church as
being “Above Reproach”, he was speaking of integrity. As a leader it is imperative to maintain
integrity. This can be accomplished by always being fair, the employee’s, Sailors, Soldiers or
Marines should never question what the response will be from the leader, they should know it by
virtue of the leader’s previous performance. How the Leader interacts with the subordinates and
the character of the leader. This belief in the leader comes from the leaders Integrity, the
subordinates must develop faith that the leader will always do what is best for them in the current
situation and has the wisdom to balance their actions with mission accomplishment and care of
the employee’s. A leader develops this relationship by having integrity “above reproach”. Giving
praise to successes, and reprimand when required. Coach Paul Bear Bryant, Head Coach of the
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University of Alabama football team from 1957-1983 once said of leadership, “If anything goes
bad, I did it. If anything goes semi- good, we did it. If anything goes real good, you did it. That’s
all it takes to get people to win football games” (n.d). In effect he is telling us to recognize the
employees and subordinates, give them credit for their successes and to take the burden of failure
upon the leader’s shoulders. That is leadership with integrity.
Faith
Being a leader with integrity, is what enable the leader to make the difficult decisions.
They must rely on faith that they are making the correct decision and balancing the impact on the
troops versus the risk of the mission. This is accomplished by having faith. Faith is what give a
leader strength to make those potentially deadly decisions, especially in the military. “There are
no atheists in foxholes.”, although the author of this statement is unknown, it has been used by
many to develop faith in times of trial. Faith is what drives us, if we do not have faith in
something greater than ourselves then what do we have to fight for. Followers need to have
faith in the leaders, faith that what they are doing is the right thing, the necessary thing. Leaders
build this faith, not just by virtue of the rank or position but by the integrity, character and
wisdom they express to the followers. Leaders must have faith in their God, and in themselves.
Not arrogance, but faith that have trained effectively, planned and are executing the correct plan
of action. If followers have faith in the leader, it bridges the gap from fear to courage. The
leaders must have this faith as well. Inspiring followership is done by example, Stephen Ambrose
wrote about Lt. Ronald Speirs, in Bastogne in January 1945, E company was cut off from I
company on the left, communications were down. The Commanding Officer of E Company, Lt.
Dike could not lead the company into Bastogne. Capt. Winters sent Lt Speirs to relieve Lt Dike
of command and to move the attack into the city. Since communications were down and E
HARLOW GROUP DISCUSSION FORUM 10
Company could not see I company, Lt Speirs “took off running, right through the German line,
and came out the other side, conferred with I Company, and then ran back.” Lt Speirs place his
life on the line, for his troops, for the mission. SSgt Malarkey remincing about the run in 1991
commented “Damn, that was impressive.” (Ambrose, 2001, pp 211) This inspiring leadership
showed his troops unwavering dedication. His inspired followership, after that run, E Company
went on to be a major part of the campaign to take Bastogne, and eventually contributing to the
retreat of the Germans from Belgium when Gen Patton’s Third Army relieved them and
eventually won the Battle of the Bulge. Lt Speirs exemplified the attributes that Titus describe as
a leader, (ESV) “a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined”, he identified the
solution to the problem, had the courage to lead the solution and the faith that he could
accomplish it. Otherwise, fear would have prevented him from running through the German line
to establish communication. “Faith is the bridge which leads from fear to courage” (Dees, 2013,
pp. 90)
Wisdom
“Without wisdom, courage can easily turn to folly.” (Dees, 2013, pp.114) Wisdom is the
balance of the necessity, to the critical element of the mission, to the value gained, to the risk of
the followers. Wisdom is the knowledge to balance the risk, to the reward. As with Lt Speirs, the
communication line was critical, so critical that he risked his life, running through the German
line, to establish it. If the communication line had not been established, there was a risk of I
Company and E Company killing each other, and the loss of Bastogne. The plan for the defeat of
the Germans, although broad had hinge points, and Belgium was one of the hinge points. Losing
Bastogne could have easily cost the Allies the war, or at least set them back thousands of lives
and several months. So Lt Speirs, used his wisdom to determine the best action, establish
HARLOW GROUP DISCUSSION FORUM 10
communication with I Company. He also used wisdom in the fact that he accomplished this
himself, he did not ask anyone else to do it. Integrity prevented him from asking his troops to do
something he was not willing to do himself. In the end he inspired his troops, through a critical,
but simple act of leadership. Titus supports this “so that he may be able to give instruction in
sound doctrine” (ESV). Giving instruction can be done by example, and sound doctrine is
exemplify the faith required to have such courage.
Conclusion
Effective leadership involves many things, Character, Integrity, faith, wisdom, and
courage to list a few. The guidelines that Titus lays out for leadership were all exemplified in the
story of Bastogne and Lt Speirs. Ingrity is imperative to inspire followership, Faith bridges fear
to courage, and wisdom allows for decision making and expressing courage without folly. The
attributes of a leader are endless, thousands of books are written about leadership, but effective
leadership can only be taught through example. Shoaf says “ the people based individual who
shows concern and regard for followers as a successful approach to motivating and
understanding people, reside at the core of leadership and constitute its raison d’être.” (2013, pp
153) Showing concern and regard for the followers is part of having good character.
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References
Ambrose, S. (2001). The breaking point. In Band of brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment,
101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest (p. 211). New York: Simon &
Schuster.
Dees, R., (2013). Resilient leaders. San Diego, CA: Creative Team Publishing.
Freeman, C. (1995). The wisdom of Southern football: Common sense and uncommon genius
from 101 gridiron greats. Nashville, Tenn.: Walnut Grove Press.
Shoaf, F. J., A.N.G. (2013). Six essential elements of leadership: Marine Corps wisdom of a
medal of honor recipient. Air & Space Power Journal, 27(4), 152-154. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1465235118?accountid=12085
