One of the defining traits of great leaders is a deep conviction in their cause. They exude a passion forged by the belief that what they are doing truly matters. You will never meet a highly effective leader who does not have a strong burden for their cause. A leader without conviction will never accomplish their mission. There are too many obstacles that will derail them along the way. However, when a leader has conviction, they are able to inspire others to believe in the cause. People are willing to significantly invest into those who believe in what they do. Teams fueled by a worthy cause stay the course even when the going gets tough. 

An aid group in South Africa sent a message to missionary and explorer David Livingston. It said, “Have you found a good road to where you are?” To this, Livingston replied, “If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come even if there is no road at all.” Livingston knew how important it was for his team to be people of deep conviction; otherwise they would have abandoned the mission at the first sign of resistance. 

What pushes a soldier out of the bunker and into the line of fire? A cause. What drives an athlete to train for years for an Olympic opportunity that may only last minutes? A cause. What makes a firefighter run into a burning building and risk their life? A cause. Never underestimate the power of a cause. Without it, there is no incentive to act, no incentive to sacrifice, no incentive to practice. But with it comes a motivation that pushes us beyond what we thought possible. British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli said, “I have brought myself, by long meditation, to the conviction that a human being with a settled purpose must accomplish it, and that nothing can resist a will which will stake even existence upon its fulfillment.” One of the toughest responsibilities leadership requires is the assignment to inspire others to a worthy cause. The significance of a vision will determine the sacrifice people are willing to make for it.

* Taken from my book, Leadology: 12 Ideas To Level Up Your Leadership available here.