Who is Your Hero?
The person who displays great courage and performs extraordinary deeds.
The person I recognise for the integrity of their character.
The person I model myself on.
A messy sandwich.
Is that you?
If your hero is not you, you are a sandwich!
Sure, there are people I respect and admire because of what they do, stand for and achieve.
But, they are not my heroes.
If you have been around Influential Leadership for a while, you will know that I have a soft spot for a raft of people—like Marcus Aurelius, Ernest Shackelton, Viktor Frankl, Ann Frank, Marie Curie, Albert Bandura, Ho Chi Minh, my neighbour Cornea, and the chap who guards cars at the nearby creche, to name a few.
Every one of these people is like you and me—flawed in places, and admirable in others. Their high highs are impossible to miss; we nod our heads, aspire to do great things too, and they help us be better.
But, they are not my heroes.
Let us get back to the four opening lines that I have used to define what a hero is (and is not) to make our connection with influential leadership.
The person who displays great courage and performs extraordinary deeds.
- Here is one half of one of the eight influential leadership behavioural attributes: being (physically) courageous. Taking risks, giving of oneself for others, going beyond expectations, venturing beyond safety.
- What is the third element of the social agency triad? To act with purpose. To do things. Our deeds. To display is to demonstrate! Not talk, not pretend, not to look good ‘n cute ‘n pretty.
- The universe is full of talkers and pretenders. These are the people who have all the answers except for themselves. Sadly, legacy leadership notions give space to such people, often imagining that they are leaders through their glibness.
The person I recognise for the integrity of their character.
- I find the other half of being courageous here, namely, moral courage.
- We can also cross-reference another influential leadership behavioural attribute, which is being principled, the essence of integrity.
- Character speaks to one’s good name, to credibility, being honourable and a person of one’s word.
- It seems more difficult to find a person of their word than it is to experience rain in the Atacama…
The person I model myself on.
- Ah, the behavioural attribute that is first amongst equals: being self-aware.
- And what about self-efficacy and social agency?
- This is, for me, one of the most unfathomable human inclinations. Why is it that perfectly sound and capable people need idols and heroes, while simultaneously, fervently demanding their individuality?
- Who can be better at being you than you? Why model yourself on another who you cannot be, and let yourself down too?
- Take a look in the mirror. Make that person the one you model yourself on.
A messy sandwich
- Don’t be a sandwich, be the best you. Be your hero.
- How?
- If you practice influential leadership, you will exercise your social agency to act with purpose, you will be self-aware and courageous, and you will be principled and honourable too.
Be your hero!
Regards,
Colin @ Karoo
Influential Leaders are their heroes!
Leadership Weekly Note: 3423. 210823
e: colind@karoo.world
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