MOST PRESSING LEADERSHIP ISSUE OF TODAY
Leadership has become one of the most critical issues of today's age, from the classroom to the political arena; leadership has openly revealed how much is needed among people. Leadership is all about being able to influence others and make an effective impact[1]. I think the most pressing issue in leadership today is integrity. The notion of integrity is one that is needful but scarce within the ranks of society today. It is an issue today in every field[2]. The word integrity means “wholeness” coming from the Latin word intergrare. This concept of integrity is sometimes interchangeable with character or trustworthiness, but in simple words it is what you claim to be and who you really are. It’s also seen as who you are in private when no one can see you. Finally, integrity is doing the right thing. While integrity is one of the elements of character, you see that it is missing among many leaders today.
In this day and age leadership crises around the world have affected many top leaders. Politicians, Clergies and Professors have become so deceptive because of lack of integrity. Manipulation, lies, deception and sexual scandal have become part of many leaders’ lives. Among politicians selfishness has become their portion; therefore many leaders have lost the trust of their followers.
One of the characteristics that followers look for in a leader is trust because it establishes and maintains credibility[3]. Moreover it’s the foundation of healthy relationship. The importance of trust is the foundation of all leadership[4]. Sadly, we see in this day that many leaders have forgotten that their priority is not just to establish a relationship of trust as part of their integrity but also to respect those whom God ha sent to us. When I was attending Beulah Heights University as an undergraduate student taking leadership courses, I learned that we must be careful "that we never allow our gifts to take us to a place our character cannot keep us." If you look at the leaders who have fallen what you see is not a lack of talent but a lack of integrity and character. Leaders may be able to achieve limited success without character, but success cannot be sustained unless it is undergirded by integrity.
Finally, while we may have different pressing leadership issues, I felt compelled that integrity is the most needed attribute in today society. Leaders will never make the transition from a good leader to a great leader until they identify a core purpose which they will adhere to at all costs. It requires a depth of character and integrity to adhere to ones core purpose when the temptation of violating that purpose has such appealing short term benefits.
