Food for Thought

I had the great privilege to attend an incredible Leadership Summit this past week! God gave me a special blessing because it was by far the BEST leadership anything I have ever been to - and I've been to quite a few (for my age at least)! During lunch the last day, a church had gathered their group together to allow any of them to share about their experience or what they had gotten out of this summit. A particular man stood up to comment on what had especially resonated in his heart and in the midst of speaking he said the following statement: "I think to be a good leader you MUST be a good person as well, you would have to be." Immediately my curious brain posed the question: "What about Hitler?"

I even leaned over and whispered my question to my new found friend from the conference, who raised her eyebrows at my question and with a friendly nudge to my arm said "Ha, good question!" I just couldn't quite nod my head and say oh yes, preach on brother, because I kindly begged to differ. There have been several great leaders that were greatly evil and had no good intentions yet thousands followed them reverentially! So what is your opinion? Do you think that in order to be considered a TRUE good leader you must have also been a good person, or do you think that a person can in fact be a good leader and just be good at being bad? And for that matter what then do you define as a leader? (That was the first question I wanted to ask this stranger - and almost did except someone grabbed his attention to talk afterwards...of course to be followed with - What about Hitler?) haha...so what are your thoughts? I would love to hear them.