This book is the reflection of Brother General of the Brothers of Charity, Bro. Rene Stockman on leadership, while taking into account his own experiences so far. In fact, he considers himself favored to have been given the opportunity to become the leader of other people. Leaders ought to feel invited to live their own ideals, to realize them, and to, thus, to be examples for others.
Today it is impossible not to refer to prominent personalities from the world of spirituality when reflecting on or talking about leadership. The new jargon is made up of fairly spiritual words: charisma, zeal, motivation, spirituality. The boost that that one’s personal spiritual life can give to a person has been defined as one of the keys to successful leadership. A spiritual life is essential, if one wishes to refine and purify one’s views on the world and on mankind continuously. Every leader will have to make sure that his leadership is rooted firmly in the humus of a religion or a philosophy on the basis of which he can develop his or her personal spirituality.
Leader has to know whom he serves. This is something that Bro. General still finds extremely important: to stay in touch with the people at the basis, to visit and meet confreres in their own environment, and to meet the people that they nurse, educate, and look after.
Leaders are often very paradoxical figures whose authority wins them the respect of other people and whose friendliness puts people at their ease. However, figures from the past can also give directions or become models for the type of leader we would like to become. Peter Joseph Triest, who founded the Brothers of Charity in 1807 and who formulated his mission during his first public performance, after having lived in hiding for 5 years. “I am to be a good example for you. I am to teach you, and I am to serve you.” For many people, Christ was the ultimate model for life, also for those who lead other people. He was a leader who would call himself a shepherd, who knew his sheep by their name, and who abandoned the flock in order to find a lost soul. The gospel is full of phrases and stories that can inspire our leadership. It is in dealing with the Word of God that our leadership is renewed, enriched, reoriented. Christ is the ultimate model for
Christians. With Him, we are in good company.
Of a leader one may expect that he or she identifies himself or herself with the organization that he or she represents. One can only dedicate oneself to a cause when that cause is yours and one identifies oneself with it. And it takes time to get to know an organization, to learn about a certain cause, to grow into it. Leaders as incarnations of an organization culture, that is how one might refer to the particular way in which leaders should identify themselves with the company or organization that they represent. Leaders who identify themselves with the organization completely are usually prepared to devote a lot of time to the organization, all their time in fact.
We can only talk about ethical leadership when this main objective is attained when concern and attention remain the leader’s priorities. It is always about man and his wellbeing. In order to realize that, a leader need to act virtuously. A virtue is a value that has become a personal asset, thanks to which one succeeds in bettering one’s own life in view of the life of others. There are four main virtues or cardinal virtues: justice, prudence, courage, and moderation. Ethics would be incomplete, if the ecological dimension were lacking. As leaders, we have to be mindful of that dimension as well, in our words and especially in our actions.
Of a servant – leader, one may expect that he is dedicated to the wellbeing of others and that he is willing to go very far in that field. In Christ’s case, the servant – leader demonstrated His willingness to sacrifice his life for others. A Christian leader is someone who is doubly dependent. He is at the service of others and he is at the service of the Lord. A Christian leader also strives for the ideal that is God, who at the same time “ordonne, donne et pardonne” (gives orders, gives power, and grants forgiveness). A leader according to St. Paul’s model should be someone who can control himself and who has pure intentions concerning his task (not avaricious). If we intend to take the gospel in its totality as guideline for our leadership, we had best pay attention to the great values of the Sermon on the Mount, which are fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trust, meekness, Self – Control. All those characteristics are fruits of the Holy Spirit. They can never be the result of one’s own efforts solely. We must pray for them, open up to God’s love and His grace will then give us the strength to give shape to our leadership.
Today it is impossible not to refer to prominent personalities from the world of spirituality when reflecting on or talking about leadership. The new jargon is made up of fairly spiritual words: charisma, zeal, motivation, spirituality. The boost that that one’s personal spiritual life can give to a person has been defined as one of the keys to successful leadership. A spiritual life is essential, if one wishes to refine and purify one’s views on the world and on mankind continuously. Every leader will have to make sure that his leadership is rooted firmly in the humus of a religion or a philosophy on the basis of which he can develop his or her personal spirituality.
Leader has to know whom he serves. This is something that Bro. General still finds extremely important: to stay in touch with the people at the basis, to visit and meet confreres in their own environment, and to meet the people that they nurse, educate, and look after.
Leaders are often very paradoxical figures whose authority wins them the respect of other people and whose friendliness puts people at their ease. However, figures from the past can also give directions or become models for the type of leader we would like to become. Peter Joseph Triest, who founded the Brothers of Charity in 1807 and who formulated his mission during his first public performance, after having lived in hiding for 5 years. “I am to be a good example for you. I am to teach you, and I am to serve you.” For many people, Christ was the ultimate model for life, also for those who lead other people. He was a leader who would call himself a shepherd, who knew his sheep by their name, and who abandoned the flock in order to find a lost soul. The gospel is full of phrases and stories that can inspire our leadership. It is in dealing with the Word of God that our leadership is renewed, enriched, reoriented. Christ is the ultimate model for
Christians. With Him, we are in good company.
Of a leader one may expect that he or she identifies himself or herself with the organization that he or she represents. One can only dedicate oneself to a cause when that cause is yours and one identifies oneself with it. And it takes time to get to know an organization, to learn about a certain cause, to grow into it. Leaders as incarnations of an organization culture, that is how one might refer to the particular way in which leaders should identify themselves with the company or organization that they represent. Leaders who identify themselves with the organization completely are usually prepared to devote a lot of time to the organization, all their time in fact.
We can only talk about ethical leadership when this main objective is attained when concern and attention remain the leader’s priorities. It is always about man and his wellbeing. In order to realize that, a leader need to act virtuously. A virtue is a value that has become a personal asset, thanks to which one succeeds in bettering one’s own life in view of the life of others. There are four main virtues or cardinal virtues: justice, prudence, courage, and moderation. Ethics would be incomplete, if the ecological dimension were lacking. As leaders, we have to be mindful of that dimension as well, in our words and especially in our actions.
Of a servant – leader, one may expect that he is dedicated to the wellbeing of others and that he is willing to go very far in that field. In Christ’s case, the servant – leader demonstrated His willingness to sacrifice his life for others. A Christian leader is someone who is doubly dependent. He is at the service of others and he is at the service of the Lord. A Christian leader also strives for the ideal that is God, who at the same time “ordonne, donne et pardonne” (gives orders, gives power, and grants forgiveness). A leader according to St. Paul’s model should be someone who can control himself and who has pure intentions concerning his task (not avaricious). If we intend to take the gospel in its totality as guideline for our leadership, we had best pay attention to the great values of the Sermon on the Mount, which are fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trust, meekness, Self – Control. All those characteristics are fruits of the Holy Spirit. They can never be the result of one’s own efforts solely. We must pray for them, open up to God’s love and His grace will then give us the strength to give shape to our leadership.
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