There is a very popular leadership book called Start With Why. It is well-known in the leadership development society asking the question, “ Why do you do what you do?” At Morning Star’s Institute for Leadership Development (ILD), we start with “WHO”. Character development is the foundation of leadership. Before I ask someone why they are doing something, I want to know who they are: Are they worth following? Do they hold the values that serve others, not themselves? Without a moral compass, our leadership arrows will hit a self-serving target.
The following excerpt comes from our ILD student Sayed.* “The ILD has changed my worldview upside-down. When I entered ILD, I had another vision, one that was based on me and developing ‘me’. My eyes were opened to a whole new world. For the first time I had to ask myself what is my purpose in life, what kind of person do I want to be and what kind of legacy do I want to leave for my children. It was like a kick in the stomach. I now see people, religion, nations and myself through a whole new worldview. I believe ILD is one of the worthiest investments in the transformation of Afghanistan that would affect the globe.”
This idea of “WHO” has really been expressed this past month during the racial tensions. I have received so many communications from major corporations about WHO they are (sympathetic to the current social climate). They want me to know they hold to certain beliefs (WHO), more than why they are selling their product. This is an important question for us all: WHO are you?
Before we create leaders with vision, we develop leaders of character. In 2021, we are looking to expand yet again into a new region with renewed leadership development. Please consider supporting Morning Star to see a nation transformed through transformed leaders.
*Name changed
