#007 – The Greatest Human Weakness

Wise leaders study the unique strengths and weaknesses of themselves and others. Even though we have a great variety of both, there is one weakness that I would nominate as universal to all of us. C.S. Lewis says it this way “First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it.

These facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in.”

Stated plainly there is something broken inside each of that says we want one thing, but our actions deny that we really want it. Think fitness or humility or extraordinary skills or spiritual growth. There seem to be a variety of reasons. The Bible mentions that our desires are often more powerful than our reason. An illustration is our need for acceptance by others. It can cause us to do things we later regret. A proverb points out that the time delay between action and consequences can be so far apart that we give in to the short-term reward, e.g., I will sleep in instead of study to develop myself.

Regardless of reason, an honest leader has to face the fact that none of us wants and does what is right all the time. And leadership has to plan for this reality.

Principle

The most challenging aspect of leadership is dealing with the internal chaos that occurs when our desires do not align with the truth. Another proverb states that the purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but the one who has insight draws them out.