Woke Leadership 

When I began my career in leadership, I was always told that the responsibility of a true leader would be to always uphold the sacramental ethos of truth. That leader will be known as the ‘truth bearer’. A leader who is a trusted guardian who values discipline, hard work and everyone’s uniqueness to contribute. I was taught that a leader who leads from the ‘front’ is expected to lead by example morally, ethically, and without compromise.  

There are a few leaders that I have come to give the upmost respect to because they have left an impression on me that I will never forget. Individuals such as Colonel Robert Gould Shaw of the 54th Regiment from Massachusetts. He was one of the first white Army officers to command an all-black regiment during the Civil War. [*Note: Go watch the movie Glory with Matthew Broderick] Throughout the history of mankind, all of us can probably count on one hand ‘leaders’ such as Colonel Shaw that have lived up to this description.   

I’m sad to say that the leaders that I see today are truly not ‘leaders’ in a true sense of the word. Today’s leaders appear to be more like facilitators. They are not leaders who are motivated by quality principles and core values that will benefit everyone. They are comfortable with catering to compromise, appeasement and mitigation. They surrender to the pressures and influences of ‘woke’ social issues.   

I believe it is one of the reasons why people are not motivated today. There is no one leading from the front! There are no leaders who are willing to coach, train and mentor the next generation. Woke leadership cannot replace REAL leadership that offers much more. Woke leadership offers all kinds of promises but it fails every time to deliver what it promises. It offers a false sense of security to those who follow it. 

  Real leadership has embedded into it the pillars of integrity, loyalty, honor, courage, and wisdom. These elements are absolute truths which cannot be compromised or manipulated to meet one’s personal preference. From this solid foundation ‘real’ leaders will emerge to become the leaders we all will remember who changed the course of history and most importantly who impacted us personally.