GROUP FORUM 5 1
Group Discussion Forum 5: Dees Chapters 3-5
Individual Post
Odalys Perez
BMAL 501 – B05 – LUO
Liberty University - Fall 2020
Professor Roxanne Stevens
Dees: Chapters 3 – 4 2
Dees: Chapters 3-4
Three Concepts
In chapters 3 and 4 of Robert Dee’s “Resilient Leaders”, the author focus on the
connection between selfless service and integrity, an in-depth analysis of courage and wisdom in
leadership. Dees discusses important factors of character by going into a wider look of the
concepts of integrity and courage, and with chapter 4, details the importance of wisdom in order
to be effective in one’s role as a leader. Although there are many concepts one can take from
Dee’s writing, this post will discuss the three most important concepts I took from this week’s
reading are integrity, courage, and wisdom.
Integrity
“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil
one” (Matthew 5:37). Word of honor connects to fairness when leading people. Good leaders
know the impact of the decisions they make so when it comes to decision making, they have to
think hard and be firm. The characteristic of honor is included within a leaders’ integrity.
Integrity is more than just being honest or sticking to those values one holds dear. It is a principal
that runs deep in the heart of who a person is. This is the part of oneself that truly displays to
God, I private; or better said, the one part of our soul which only God really knows.
In this book, Dees states that “Our lives need full integration across the broad range of
faith, family, and profession, but when a threat does arise, integrity also requires that we quickly
identify the problem, seal off the broader impacts, and address the personal or corporate issue”
(Dees, Robert, F., 2013, p. 82). Dees provides a broader definition of integrity as “A seamless
integration of faith, family, and profession into a God-honoring life message (Dees, 2013, p. 84).
Dees: Chapters 3 – 4 3
There is a straight relationship between integrity and trust. To be deemed trustworthy, integrity
must be visible at all times to others. In their 2015 article, authors, Engelbrecht, Heine, and
Mahembe write the “relationship between integrity and trust involves the trustor’s perception
that the trustee adheres to a set of principles that the trustor finds acceptable” (Engelbrecht,
Heine, & Mahembe, 2015, p. 3).
The success of an organization depends on leaders who have integrity, which motivate
the employees to trust their leaders in achieving their goals (Gladis, Steve, 2010, p.14). The
author describest a constants in good character are trust, good sense, and good will (Gladis,
2010, p. 14) These characteristics are important in meeting organizational goals meaning
integrity creates trust and therefore it is essential in any leader.
Courage
“ Courage is a disposition of our feelings of aggression which inclines us,
characteristically, to face up to and deal with difficulties and dangers for the sake of doing what
is good” (Heft, James L., 2013, p. 295). Dees discusses courage in different concepts of which
emotional courage I feel is very important in leadership. One can say emotional courage is part
of emotional intelligence which effect leaders must hold in order to make decisions and lead
properly. When leaders own emotional courage, it allows them to face their problems head on, as
opposed to running away from them, as well as having the courage to face those decisions and
their consequences. In researching for this post a journal article found states, "Courage is a topic
that receives negligible attention in managerial/leadership writings. However, an effective leader
must have the courage to see difficult situations through to the end and accept responsibility for
the outcomes of decisions" (Voyer, Peter, 2011, p. 1).
Dees: Chapters 3 – 4 4
According to Dees, "The leader who is strong and emotionally courageous will often
champion important causes against significant odds, pushing through the emotional 'downers' of
criticism, glacial progress, reversals, discouragement, and fatigue or illness" [ CITATION Res \p
99 \l 1033 ]. In Judges 6:12 “The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD
is with you, mighty warrior” and Gideon looked round to see who the angel was talking to. He
certainly didn’t feel he was a “mighty warrior”!
Wisdom
Wisdom is the core concept that brings all of these integral character qualities together to
create a truly effective leader. Without wisdom, courage can easily turn to madness (Dees, 2013,
p.114). Wisdom must work with our courage and integrity in order to be effective. As a leader,
seeking wisdom and knowledge benefits not only ourselves but our team as well. Merriam-
Webster’s dictionary defines wisdom as “a wise attitude, belief, or course of action…not
imprudent or indiscrete…related to discernment, insight, perception.” (Dees, 2013, p. 117). Wise
leaders make good decisions, evaluation their options carefully, and continue to grow in wisdom
throughout their lives.
Wisdom is explained as the bridge between character and competence (Dees, 2013, p.
112). The Bible teaches us from several passages that wisdom is incredibly valuable. As
explained in 2 Chronicles 1:10 “ Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people,
because no one can govern this great people of yours without your help” (ESV). Wisdom is a
unique quality which cannot be simply learned, but rather experienced. Wisdom helps leaders
take the knowledge for doing their job and equips them with discernment and judgment for
leading. Discerning what to say, what not to say, how to say, when to say, to whom to say, is all
Dees: Chapters 3 – 4 5
wisdom related. This shows that wisdom is difficult to come by, and it must go beyond theories
and evidence that are taught.
Biblical Integration
All three of these concepts are talked about within the Bible on numerous occasions, but
the one verse I believe that addresses all three at once is 2 Peter 1:5-7 which talks about
supporting our faith. “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with
virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with
steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and
brotherly affection with love” (KJV).
References
Dees, Robert, F. (2013). Resilient Leaders: The Resilience Trilogy (1 ed.). San Diego: Creative
Team Publishing.
Engelbrecht, Heine, & Mahembe. (2015). The Influence of Integrity and Ethical Leadership on
Trust in the Leader. Management Dynamics, 24(1), 2-10. Retrieved 2020 September 28
from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1769411161?pq-
origsite=summon
Gladis, Steve. (2010). The Trusted Leader. Trade Journals, 64(11), 14. Retrieved from 2020
September 28 https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/804213951?pq-
origsite=summon
Heft, James, L. (2013, July). The Courage to Lead. Catholic Education: A Journal of
Inquiryand Practice, 7(3), 294-306. Retrieved 2020 September 28 from https://search-
proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1690500279?pq-origsite=summon
Dees: Chapters 3 – 4 6
Voyer, Peter. (2011). Courage in leadership: From the battlefield to the boardroom. Ivey
Business Journal, 1. Retrieved 2020 September 28 from
http://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/courage-in-leadership-from-the-battlefield-to-
the-boardroom/
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