Seven Principles for Super-Effective Leadership: The Diamond Soul Character Series, #2

By GEORGE VASILCA

This title is the second in the series "The Diamond Soul Character" and deals with leadership issues from a Christian perspective. It follows the first title, "Five Stepping Stones to a Super-effective Character," which develops the Diamond Soul character's concept based on Christ's main character strengths.

This second volume, "Seven Principles for Super-effective Relationships:  Creative Strategies and Tactics to Become the Best Christian Boss," is a leadership book. It provides a proven framework for ordinary people to develop practical leadership abilities. It offers competent advice on self-improvement, personal growth, and achieving your purpose while living a Christian life. This is not an academic textbook for MBA business schools or training professional managers and leaders. No, this book is to be used by the millions of ordinary people who do acts of admirable leadership daily and want to improve their leadership aptitudes. This book, therefore, addresses the needs of aspiring leaders of this country.

If you are working as a pastor, teacher, or technician, this book is for you. This text is for you if you are a healthcare worker, first responder, or National Guard member. Equally, if you are a stay-at-home mom, teenager, or grandfather, this volume is for you. Everyone interested in dealing with and leading others will find a wealth of information that can significantly assist them. I will make sure to highlight the two essential skills you need to communicate better and cooperate creatively to achieve your purpose.

I wrote this book to honor the unsung leaders of this great country. Of course, I am referring to you, the millions of ordinary Americans who do acts of authentic leadership every day, some even without knowing it. You are the silent heroes who work quietly, invisibly, and without applause. But you are as indispensable to this nation as the sun is to the earth. You do your jobs beyond the call of duty; you add that extra touch to your work daily. You carry out your responsibilities with dedication and passion, well above what's written in the job description. You are the role models for all to see and replicate.

This volume defines the seven principles encapsulating the essence of a moral character based on faith, a substantial competency in the science of leadership, a mindset of achieving your purpose by service, and the all-important skillsets of communication and cooperation. It also outlines leadership strategies and practical tactics to be used along the way. Therefore, a step-by-step instruction manual will educate, guide, and inspire you to become your best boss. Its principles apply equally to believers, atheists, agnostics, and people of other faiths.

Dear reader, studying this material should be the beginning of your long journey to becoming a better leader. I encourage you to take classes, courses, and seminars to reveal the beauty and uncover the mystery of the art of leadership. Continue to study the Word of God, mainly as it describes the leadership traits of Jesus Christ, the most excellent servant leader of all times. He is your perfect role model to follow. Share your newly found knowledge and competencies with others in your family, work, church, and neighborhood. Help others become servant leaders; mentor, coach, and inspire them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: GEORGE VASILCA
• Release date: Dec 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223614227

GEORGE VASILCA

Mara Popescu-Vasilca is a Canadian author of Romanian ethnicity writing contemporary fiction. She writes mainly about women and for women and their quest for love, identity, and path in life. She is married to George Vasilca, also a writer. She has a grownup daughter, one grandson, and one grand-granddaughter. 

Book preview

Chapter 1 

Your Diamond Soul Character

The First Principle states that the moral character forms the foundation of leadership. The ideal character, which I call the Diamond Soul, mimics Christ's own. It gives you the moral authority you need as a leader of men.

I will start this chapter by summarizing the Diamond Soul Character presented in the first book, The Diamond Soul: 5 Stepping Stones to Christlike Character. If you have already read it, congratulations! You should be familiar with many points that will follow, but a brief refresher never hurts, does it? However, if you did not, I strongly recommend you do because it is foundational to the teachings presented here.

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:13)

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What is Character?

The character is a set of moral attributes or features that distinguish one individual from another. The concept of character can imply various qualities, but it mostly refers to empathy, fortitude, loyalty, perseverance, integrity, trustworthiness, etc. It also means the adoption of correct principles of human conduct as the foundation of one's character.

Nowadays, many people use the words character and personality interchangeably. This usage is in error because each term describes a different thing.

Character is what is inside us, in our souls, hearts, and minds. It is a set of core principles that we strongly believe in and have adopted as guiding lights for our lives. Character is like the large and stable base of an iceberg hidden underwater, which supports the iceberg's tip visible above water.

Personality is the outward manifestation of character expressed in behavior patterns that align with the inner nature. Personality rests on the character and is there for everyone to see. Personality is like the tip of an iceberg, visible above water, supported by the ice's much more extensive and stable base.

Image iceberg

Character is one's true nature, including identity, providing a sense of purpose, values, virtues, morals, and conscience. Character is the essence of who the individual is, what he values and believes, and behaves. Doing the right thing the right way for the right reason all the time demonstrates the integrity of the character. Integrity means that one has to resist the easier wrong in favor of the stricter right more often than not. Making the right choices requires integrity, judgment, problem-solving, and adaptability. Character communicates better than one thousand words but reveals itself slowly in time. Good character creates trust and respect, attracts good people, and provides the foundation for meaningful relationships. That is the power of character!

How is Character Developed?

We all should aspire to become people of good character. But where does the character come from? How do we acquire a good name?  Character is something that we are not born with; one must learn it. Character forms over time through education, training, and experience in a continuous, iterative process. Several factors become significant sources in influencing the character and moral development of the individual. They include heredity, early childhood experiences, modeling by parents and adults, peer influence, school teachings, extraordinary events in life, the general social environment, media, and culture.

All this is true because the above elements contribute to acquiring almost in an unconscious manner proper and wicked habits that define us as individuals at a certain point in life. At that time, if we are honest with ourselves, we may realize that we either have a good character, or a bad character, or a combination of both. In other words, we find ourselves to be mostly a virtuous person, or a sinful person, or someone possessing virtues and vices alike. The latter case is the most common.

For most people, the age at which such realization about character becomes apparent is late teens, early adulthood. For other people, it may happen later in life, or not at all. For those of us who are aware of it, that event comes to be a turning point in our lives. Why is that? Simply because now we can take charge of our character through self-development, grow it, shape it, and mold it the way we want.[1]

Factors of great significance in character formation are extraordinary or special events in one's life. One such notable event is the coming of Christ. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior places you in the great Christian family. Once here, you benefit from the grace of God, who sends into you the Holy Spirit to illuminate, guide, and strengthen you.

Christlike Character

So far, all we have done was to define the character, discuss how important it is in society, and how actions define our reputation. In other words, we have examined the character from a worldly point of view.  Now let's look at it from a Christian perspective. We, as Christians, should be very focused on character because God expects us to be known as having a Christlike Character. Jesus said:

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14).

The Bible teaches us that when we choose of our own free will to accept the grace of God by obeying his commands, and when we become one with Christ in baptism, we put to rest our old self and become a new creature in Christ. As Paul said,

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The most detailed advice Christians get about character is also found in the words of Paul:

Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. (Colossians 3:1)

The Diamond Soul Character

The Diamond Soul character begins with faith in Christ.  Faith is what separates Christian character from mere civility or secular morality. There are many reasons for a person to do an outwardly good or moral act. However, it is not solely the outward act that makes behavior godly, but the motive behind the action that matters.

Image dove

The Diamond Soul character is the product of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit changes the believer's heart from a state of rebellion and unbelief to faith and love. The Spirit of God dwelling in the believer's heart produces love for God and others, as well as a desire to deny sin and self to please God. The Holy Spirit, therefore, becomes the foundation of a real Christian character:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love,

joy, peace, longsuffering,

gentleness, goodness, faith. 

Galatians 5:22-23

I illustrate the Christlike moral character by portraying a perfectly cut and polished diamond, which I call the Diamond Soul. Why do I do it this way? Because there is a significant similarity between moral character and natural diamonds. As science teaches us, the raw diamond is formed over eons in the depths of the earth under tremendous pressures and temperatures. That's the reason it is so strong and durable. However, when someone finds a raw diamond in the ground, it doesn't look good at all. It will require endless hours of planning, cutting, and polishing to bring it to the shape and beauty the master cutter wants it to be. The result is fascinating: a beautiful, multi-faced diamond that reflects the light in a symphony of colors. The master cutter's work has added splendor to the strength and purity of the raw stone.

Image diamond

It is the same with our moral character. At birth, we are gifted with a golden heart by our Creator, but then it becomes our duty to forge it into a strong yet pure character under the Holy Spirit's guidance. The process requires know-how, proper planning, and flawless execution. It takes time, effort, and perseverance. But the result is equally fascinating: a strong, beautiful, precious, and multi-faceted moral character which shines the same as a diamond.  However, in contrast to the natural diamond, which reflects light coming from outside, the Diamond Soul character generates its light. It shines from within.

Why is that? Because the Diamond Soul results from the cooperative work between the Holy Spirit residing in us and ourselves. We provide the effort, the know-how, and the perseverance. The Holy Spirit provides the guidance. Therefore, I believe the Diamond Soul should be considered another beautiful Fruit of the Spirit and a right gift from God's grace.

The Diamond Soul Character.

It shines from within.

Here lies the mysterious duality of the Diamond Soul character: it is a gift received from the Holy Spirit, yet at the same time is a tremendous personal achievement of yours. You cannot develop a Diamond Soul on your own as hard as you may try. Alas, the Holy Spirit cannot force you to build your character if you do not know what it is or do not want to. Creating your Diamond Soul character is the most significant collaborative project between your faith and your reason. It elevates you to new heights of understanding, wisdom, and closeness to God.

You, as a holder of the Diamond Soul  character, must be very proud because:

You know who you are.

You know where you're going.

You are disciplined.

Your character strengths rest on Christian virtues.

You sincerely desire to mimic Christ's character traits of humility,  firmness, courage, strength, and patience.

Having a Diamond Soul character constitutes the first principle you base your know-how, mindset, and skills as a leader. Your character gives you the moral authority you need as a leader of men. This principle is foundational, so make sure you understand it well, internalize through extensive practice, and use it wisely.

REMEMBER

THE HOLY SPIRIT GRANTS YOU THE DIAMOND SOUL CHARACTER

Now that we have reviewed the main points about the Diamond Soul character learned in The Diamond Soul Character: 5 Stepping Stones to Christlike Character, we are ready to move on to the next chapter. In it, you will learn about the second principle of servant leadership, namely to model it on Jesus Christ's style of leadership.

Moments of Reflection

What is moral character? How is it different from personality?

Which factors influence the development of character in a young person?

Why should Christians desire to be like Christ? How do you build a Christlike character?

How does the Holy Spirit assist you in building, maintaining, and revealing your Diamond Soul character?

Which are the main character strengths you think you possess?

What's the difference between the Diamond Soul character and a beautiful multi-faceted genuine brilliant?

SECOND PRINCIPLE   LEAD LIKE JESUS

Chapter 2  The Greatest Servant Leader

The Second Principle states that Jesus Christ's style of leadership should be followed by all aspiring Christian leaders.

In Chapter 2, I touch on issues relative to Jesus's character traits, and how they should inspire to pattern ourselves after them.

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:11)

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Jesus' Character

For many centuries now, Christian theologians have been examining the Man of Galilee's life and character. There is a vast body of scholarly work dedicated to studying Jesus as a man, historical figure, and founder of Christianity.  In looking at it, we decided to focus only on Christ's character as a man.  Why? Because Jesus' secret in changing the old world was his character, he offered people to imitate.  In his teachings, he always encourages his followers to Follow me, learn of me, abide in me!

When we examine Jesus' life, we find out that his paramount concern is for the heart's well-being and the human soul's righteousness. As such, he gives himself the task of molding the hearts and minds of men. The Reformer of Nazareth knows that the only way to begin bettering society is to begin transforming its men in the pattern that he is.  If other men adopt Christ's character, in time, many more will do the same. Which, in turn, will change the nature of societal institutions and ultimately of civilizations. This is the secret of Jesus: plant the fire of faith in the soul of a man, and then let it spread to others. Thus, he begins transforming the men around him one person at a time, one man after another, making them his disciples and sending them in the world to spread the Good News.  This was so true in Jesus' times, and it is still so real in our times.

Jesus's head image

In the first book in this series, The Diamond Soul character, I describe the five main character strengths of Jesus: humility, strength, firmness, courage, and patience. The first one, humility, is Jesus' hallmark. He was so humble that he allowed his tormentors to torture with no opposition from his part. The last ones, humility, strength, firmness, courage, and patience, are the hallmark of a righteous warrior and leader that Jesus was. The following is a summary.

Jesus' Humility

In his classic lectures The Character of Jesus over a century ago, Preacher Charles E. Jefferson[2] identifies a total of twenty-two attributes of Jesus' character. It is perhaps one of the most exhaustive studies into the nature of Christ, revealing a complex man with apparently contradictory traits. One of the most surprising findings is that under the cloak of humility, kindness, and holiness, inside Jesus, the Humble Man lives a mighty warrior. Driven by a holy mission, the mighty warrior possesses the virtues of strength, firmness, courage, and patience, which are well-known attributes of great military leaders. How is it possible that a wandering teacher in Galilee's farmlands could be a great leader at the same time? How is it possible for Jesus to battle his enemies without having armed men around him? This is another mystery of the persona of Jesus as a leader, and we will learn a lot by trying to unravel it.

Let's first look at Jesus' humility. According to Matthew, Jesus told them:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  (Matthew 11:29)

This sentence is unique in the Gospel because Jesus, for the first time, calls attention to one of his characteristics: humility. He is not calling himself strong and courageous; he calls himself humble and meek. Why is that? Because in Jesus' mind, humility is the foremost Christian virtue. Not only that, but he was determined to teach humility to his followers. In a sense, Jesus is saying to them: come to me; I want to teach you humility.

In the popular culture of today's America, humility is not the right word. Indeed, humility has long been associated with being inferior to others, with a sense of imperfection and a willingness to submit to others. Today's dictionaries define humility as having a low self-regard, a sense of unworthiness, a low view of one's importance. However, in the context of the New Testament, none of these definitions apply, simply because Jesus doesn't meet them. Yet, he calls himself meek and humble.  Of all the virtues, Jesus places humility above all others.

Jesus gave his disciples three illustrations in humbleness: the example of the child (Matthews 18:4), the teachings on service (John 13:16), and the case of washing feet (John 13:5).  In choosing a child as the embodiment of humility, Jesus reminds us that a child is eager for learning, is docile, and is always curious. And free from vanity, ambitions, and social aspirations. In other words, Jesus would like us to be like children in the matter of faith, with open and sincere hearts. In John 13:16, when his disciples were filled with ambition and argued among themselves as to who should be the master in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus tells them:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. (John 13:16)

The third lesson in humility is given to his disciples on the very night of his betrayal after the Last Supper. The Gospel of John chapter 13, verse 5, describes how Jesus arises from the table, and taking a basin and girding himself with a towel, proceeds to wash the dust from the disciples' feet. Here, again, we see what humility really is: it is laying down one's dignity, it is a willingness to come down, and it is a delight in rendering service. And why was it that Jesus was able to do this? Because he knew his divine origin and destiny, and he knew he was the Son of God.

Therefore, this is the secret of Christian humility and obedience: a man cannot be humble except by coming close to God. It is by thinking of the eternal that a mortal man becomes willing to do lowly things. Only a strong man can really be humble

And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself, and became obedient

unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:8

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The Righteous Warrior

Now let's look at other attributes that Jesus the Righteous Warrior displayed during his first coming on the earth: strength, firmness, courage, and patience.

Jesus' Strength

What was the first impression that Jesus of Nazareth made upon his contemporaries?  Was he perceived as insignificant and transitory, pale and ghastly, sickly and subdued, meek and weak? Of course not. On the contrary, the Gospels give us examples of Jesus acting as a leader, giving orders, dispatching people, and speaking with authority. In everything he does, he gives the impression of mastery, power, and leadership. His authority does not come from an earthly position of power because he holds none.  His authority comes only from his inner strength and moral character. Jesus casts moral authority, the highest source of all. He drew men to him. Only a man of strength attracts large masses of other men. Jesus was hated by many. Only a man of high strength makes his enemies hate and fear him.

REMEMBER

JESUS' OUTWARD AUTHORITY COMES

FROM HIS INNER HOLY STRENGTH

Jesus' Firmness

When we think of Jesus, we usually think of tenderness, gentleness, and graciousness. Yet, the kindness of nature cannot be considered virtue unless the tenacity of will accompanies it. Along with compassion, there must be firmness, and underneath graciousness, there must lie a resolve as hard as steel. It is indeed only a strong character who dares run counter to the traditions and customs of the world in which he moves.

Yet when it comes to Jesus of Nazareth, we are in the presence of a man who nobody swerved or dominated. He was asked by his countrymen to lead them in the fight against the Roman occupation. Despite loving his homeland, Jesus refused.  He did not take the advice of his family members when they were contrary to his mission. For this, his brothers resented him. Jesus resisted the temptation of the mighty forces of darkness for forty days when he was tested in the wilderness. Get thee behind me, Satan, was his final answer.  A good self-discipline accompanied Jesus' tenacity. When Jesus commits to going somewhere, he does it. When Jesus promises to cast out demons, he delivers.

It is in the firmness of Jesus that we find an indispensable element of Christian character. We Christians are to resist exterior forces and form our lives from within. We are not to be swayed by current opinions but guided only by the Holy Spirit. We are not to listen to voices of the time, but to live and work for eternity. In other words, Jesus shows us how to stay unchanged and unchangeable.

Jesus' Courage

Courage is a virtue that everybody admires. There has never been a nation that did not praise courageous men. Valor is one of the elemental qualities of the human spirit, one of the foundational stones in the magnificent structure of character, one of the shining virtues of man. There are different kinds of courage. There is a courage that we may call physical,