Leaders Seek Not to Find, But to Correct Faults

Many, when they become leaders, assume their position means they are to judge people, correct people and put people in their place.

Not so.

Oh, it is good to correct things. Yes, that is leadership. But if you would be a leader, do not seek out the faults of others, just to be running up a score of finding errors. Do not think that is your job. The word "leader" implies that you lead them away from their faults. True leaders only seek faults so they can correct them, not so they can condemn those who have them.

Yes, sometimes the person with the fault has it knowingly and is fully aware of their error. But, even in those instances, there are times you can change them, turn them around, make them see the error of their way and get them to turn over a new leaf.

If you can get them to do that, that is leadership. Leadership is not tallied by how many faults you find in people, but by how many people you teach to do things right.

It could be said the leader who finds a fault, but simply gets rid of the person or condemns them, is not a leader at all, for the word "leader" implies leading them to do things right. Managers fire. Leaders correct. No, more correctly stated, managers who don't know how to lead, fire. Leaders, instead of firing them, inspire those under them to become better.

Leadership is not fault-finding, but problem-solving.

(Blog edited 9/26/17)

Leadership is not tearing others down, it is building them up.

Yes, you have little choice but to get rid of someone for a serious offense, and that at the very first time it happens. But, unless it is a serious offense, if you can change them, change them. If you cannot change them, then get rid of them. Always remember, most of the faults you find are not instances of blatantly and willingly doing wrong, but of not knowing how to do it right.

Leadership is not finding fault, but correcting it. It is not lying it wait to to uncover every mistake a person might make, but being able to lift that person out of s mistake when it is found. Anyone can find a mistake in another person if they go looking for it.

What does this have to do with civility? Much. Those who enter public discourse, who debate public issues, usually are seeking for change. They truly believe adopting what they are calling for will make the world a better place. If they are seeking to make the world better, they can only achieve it through principles of leadership.

So, if you would change the world, consider that the best way to go about it is to be civil. Seek not to find fault, but to correct it. Take aim not at people, but at problems. Seek not to castigate others for their views, but to help them understand why their views are wrong. They are going to be around long after your discussion with them. If you only offend them, they will only become more dogged in their views, and they will keep on spreading their opinions to others. But, if you lead them to see things differently, it will be one more opinion on your side, one more voice joining yours, increasing the odds your point of view will win.