Lord, dont' let me be DERAILED!

Today I read Tim Irwin's book Derailed: Five Lessons Learned from Catastrophic Failures of Leadership.*  It chronicles in brief the failures of six CEO's and the steps that led to their demise.  As he progresses to tell the story of each and then make observations of the similar components in their stories of leadership failure, he delineates four major qualities of CHARACTER that must be held in balance to find success in leadership.

It is best to share a quote from the early pages of the book to set up the story and how it has impacted me: (see page 17)

I (Irwin) noted that derailment often results from a failure of character.  Character forms our perspectives, guides our decisions, and influences how we treat others.  [As] we unpack the character-rooted qualities that actually cause derailment, it will become apparent that there are only four.  Though expressed in a variety of different behaviors, they are all tied to a lack of or failure of one of these four critical qualities:

1. Authenticity
2. Self-management
3. Humility
4. Courage

As Irwin defines CHARACTER he is not talking about a behavior that results in a sense of dishonesty that results in fraudulent behavior, but rather compromised character in a broader sense - for example, hubris or being dismissive of others (xvi). 

As I think about how Irwin sees character, I realize how significant the responses of each of the leaders whose story he chronicled need to be examined in the light of my own life as a leader -- albeit I lead a church, not a Fortune 500 company.  Listen to his words: Character forms our perspectives, guides our decisions, and influences how we treat others (17).  Unlike a more traditional understanding where character has a significant moral/ethical component, Irwin is more concerned about the relational and practical components that speak to issues not only in the corporate world view, but also have incredible impact in a Christian world view.

As I have thought today about his key character components of authenticity, self-management, humility, and courage, I have been amazed at how many points of application in my life, leadership style, relationships, and world Irwin's insights truly have.  Irwin's words on character are powerful and leave me thinking through my own "character" positions and what I see as important in my world.  Listen to some of the thoughts he shares...

Life is full to the brim with opportunities for good or evil -- our character determines which way we will go (100).

We always become who we are.  It may take time or stress or illness, but what's inside us tends to come out.  Our character serves as the wellspring from which our behavior emerges (100).

Character must outweight charisma.  Character is not about personal charm or appeal.  Sound character works like a boat's ballast, so that when we encounter turbulence, we don't keel over and take on water.  If we are top heavy and place more emphasis on having a vivacious personality, dressing for success, or having a slick presentation than on having substance, we are eventually going to sink (101).

Character is the foundation of great leadership.  We have to get this right to stay on track.  Leaders must set direction, gain alignment among diverse constituencies, risk change, build high-performing teams, achieve results, go the extra mile, and endure ungodly stress.  To be enthusiastically followed, leaders must also be guided by an inner compass that fosters trust on the part of their followers (102).

Over the next week or so, I will share how Irwin's four key components are intersecting my life and how I feel they need to intersect the heart of the church.  In reality, everything he writes has application in my life and in the world of the church where I live and serve.  My prayer is that unlike the six CEO's whose stories he chronicled, sharing their demise and failures, that I will be found faithful and that the church I lead will respond to the higher call to go into all that world and make disciples -- for that is truly the only thing we are to be about.




*Tim Irwin, Derailed: Five Lessons Learned from Catastrophic Failures of Leadership (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009).