Vision, Discipline and Passion Rule the World

Leaders of the world have in them manifestation of intelligence which enables them to discover their voice and encourage others to discover theirs.
Three common attributes, vision, discipline and passion have been possessed by individuals who have had profound influence on others, on institutions or on society, any parents whose influence has been intergenerational, anyone who has really made a difference for good or ill. They represent Leadership that works.
Stephen Covey in his book “The 8th Habit “gives examples of a few notable leaders from modern history:
The vision of George Washington was to build a new nation, which was united and free from foreign interference. He disciplined himself to learn how to recruit, supply and keep people from deserting the Revolutionary Army. He was infuriated by discrimination against colonial military officers angered by, British land policies, and restriction on U.S expansion and became passionate about the cause of liberty.
Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, devoted her life to enhancing the quality of nursing in military hospitals. Her shyness was overcome by her vision and passion.
Mohandas K. Gandhi never held an elected office but he played a major role in getting India freedom from British rule. Strong social and cultural norms were created by Gandhi’s moral authority which gave rise to political will. An awareness of universal conscience which was governing his life resided within the people, the international community, and the British themselves.
Margaret Thatcher was the first female leader of a major industrial nation. She was the longest continuous serving prime minister of Great Britain. She had many critics, but she passionately urged people to have discipline of personal responsibility and to build self-reliance. She was equally passionate about encouraging free enterprise in her country and helped bring Britain out of economic recession.
Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa spent almost twenty-seven years of his life in prison for fighting against the apartheid regime. He had a vision of a world far beyond the limits of his experience and memory which included imprisonment, injustice, tribal warfare and disunity. He had a strong belief in the worth of every South African citizen.
Mother Teresa dedicated herself wholeheartedly, freely and unconditionally to the services of the poor. Even after she passed away her organization has both grown in strength due to her highly disciplined upholding of the vows of poverty, purity and obedience.
As mentioned above anyone who has really made a difference for good or ill in the world possessed three common attributes: vision, discipline and passion. Covey cited the example of another leader who possessed all three but produced shockingly different results. Adolf Hitler’s vision of a thousand-year reign of the Third Reich and of a superior Aryan race was passionately communicated by him. He built one of the most disciplined military-industrial machines. He showed brilliant emotional intelligence in his passionate public speaking, inspiring in the masses almost fanatical dedication and fear, which he channeled into hate and destruction.
There is a great difference between leadership that works and leadership that endures. Every one of the aforementioned leaders laid an enduring foundation and made a contribution except Adolf Hitler.
When formal authority is governed by moral authority when conscience governs vision, discipline and passion, leadership endures and changes the world for good. Leadership or the institutions created by that leadership do not endure when conscience does not govern vision, discipline and passion. Formal authority fails without moral authority.
The words “for good” mean that it “lifts” and also that it “lasts”. Hitler was driven by ego although he had vision, discipline and passion and his downfall came about by his lack of conscience. Gandhi served the cause and the people due to vision, discipline and passion driven by his conscience. He became the father and founder of the second largest country in the world with only moral authority and no formal authority.
When formal authority is governed by vision, discipline and passion void of conscience or moral authority, the world changes, not for good but for evil. Instead of lifting, it destroys, rather than lasting, it is eventually extinguished.
All the best,

John Meredith

The Learning Center - A UK partner of FranklinCovey

Tags: authority, conscience, discipline, vision