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Posted On
12/09/2011

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Is Great Leadership Just About Intelligence?

I’m all for brains.  We need smarter people in all walks of life.  I worked hard to get a Ph.D. because I believe in the power of intelligence.  But I wonder if we sometimes get so distracted by trying to be the “smartest guy in the room” that we forget real leadership isn’t all about brains.   Look at the people around you right now – chances are, if the building caught on fire, the person who stepped up to keep everyone calm, organize them, and lead them safely out won’t be the
smartest person in the crowd.

Jack Graham shared some very interesting numbers with me the other day:

50% of CEO’s were C or C minus students
65% U.S. Senators were in the bottom half of their class
75% of U.S. Presidents were in the lower half of their graduating class
50% of millionaires never finished college

When it comes to leadership, it’s not just about intelligence.  After all, many college faculties are filled with brilliant people who will accomplish very little in their lives.  When it comes to leadership, never forget character, competence, chemistry, and passion.

Passion and commitment fuel your purpose – not just intelligence.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 9th, 2011 at 12:00 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • generation4Him

    I suppose it all comes back to how you define intelligence.  Certainly there is a certain TYPE of intelligence that is seen in good leaders, or CEO's, or whatever else…  it just isn't necessarily academic intelligence…

  • Anthony Peterson

    Leadership is not all about intelligence, but it helps to be passionate about the issues in  which you choose to exercise leadership.

    If you are passionate about something, you WANT to study and prepare for it. Hence, it is absurd for a English teacher to write poorly, or a world political leader to lack a basic understanding about geography and culture.

    In fact, lack of preparation often indicates apathy, carelessness or genuine stupidity. 

    On the other hand, intelligence is never a substitute for simple truths. Debt must be paid, lies don't last forever, 2+2=4 etc.

     

     

  • http://twitter.com/BubbaSmith BubbaSmith

    Great post! Thanks for sharing!

  • G.W. Bush

    No.

    I’d say more but I don’t think I understand the question …..

  • Ironicsigns

    I would say from your stats listed above we must be talking about a different type of intellect.

  • MaryJo

    If the building caught on fire, the one who would be centered and poised, is the one who is emotionally intelligent; knowing what to do and when to do it objectively and intuitively. Brainy people don’t often possess this kind of awareness IQ. Great leadership requires the ability to read people and intuitively understand the dynamics of  
    any given situation and not let emotions drive decisions.

    I think Intelligence is needed, but character supports talent, skills, abilities. Some of the most intelligent leaders in history have brought down their empires, kingdoms and countries single-handed because they lacked character. Intelligence can’t change or modify character. Character matters.  

  • http://twitter.com/emkeelan EM Keelan

    There are smart leaders that are basically managers and then there are those that lead. They are the ones you want to follow. You can have all the intelligence in the world but that still won’t make you a good leader.

    All you are is just a manager.

  • Kievcourse13

    First of all the motive is important: whether it is God’s calling and assignment or your own ambition. Then the best leader is the one who resembles Jesus (the greatest eader of all) through becoming more and more one with Him. Because in this case one quality of yours will cause the development of another one etc. in the exact succession and the right proportion.

  • Harry Judd

    This is a tough blogpost to read, considering how difficult and frustrating it can be to work with incompetent people. I guess that’s why God created grace.

  • http://www.germworks.net Jermayn

    Yeah I know many 'smart people' who are the most dumbiest I have ever known. Street smarts imo is better

  • bygracenotmerit

    I agree with you that it is not intelligence. I believe that it is passion that motivates us to fulfill our calling and intelligence is only one of many tools to help us complete the job.

    Also, I think good leadership is a choice. I have always had leadership qualities but I chose not to be a leader (didn’t want to lead) thus I never accomplished everything I could have. However, since I have decided to embrace those leadership qualities and choose what kind of leader I will be, I am seeing the results. (I can thank ORU for that lesson! )

    An example of that is with my blog. I believe we can all agree to disagree without attacking each other personally. You would be amazed how many times I have been called a neocon whore, stupid, retard, idiot, and on and on. Even though it rattles me at times, I had to make a decision to respond without attacking the person who just attacked me. It wasn’t something that just happened, I chose to do so. And I am seeing the results. I am amazed at how many people will privately email me and tell me that they are reading my blog for that very reason.

    Please hear me when I say I am not trying to toot my own horn only that I think much of leadership is a choice. I really believe we choose what kind of leader we will be.

    Remaining Steadfast,
    Dominique
    http://anunlikelyperspective2.squarespace.com
    http://aphotoperspective2.squarespace.com


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