Tough economic times are upon us. The leaders of the Big Three automakers have to stoop to driving their own cars, our nation’s leaders have to separate themselves into two parties, and the people affected by the layoffs have to go home and lead their families through troubled times. Which do you think is the toughest job and requires more leadership?

We all accept the role as leaders of our families, churches, the neighborhood association, or perhaps the local school board. Those roles are more important to us as individuals than the roles played by Congress or the car manufacturers’ officers. It is a choice that we make personally, and this decision requires us to question not only our time commitment, but also the alignment of our personal belief system with that of the organization.

Characteristics of leaders

What are the characteristics of a leader? A variety of books on the market will take you through hundreds of pages and theories about leadership. The list will vary greatly depending on your personal preferences and past experiences. For many, leadership boils down to each of us, as individuals, identifying and searching for the characteristics that are most appealing to us.

Some high-priority characteristics may include:

 …