Address of R.W. Bro. Hermann Waxl
on His Official Visit to Granite Lodge No. 352, Apr. 19, 2000

Leadership - An Awesome Responsibility

Leadership is an awesome responsibility! Throughout history leaders have set the stage for the direction of nations, cultures, organizations and societies.

Leaders direct history itself -they always have. Every great event that has ever been accomplished by mankind has been directed by leaders. And, conversely, every horrible atrocity that mankind has ever created transpired through leadership as well.

A leader must take seriously the impact that his attitudes, his actions and his examples have on others.

The position of leadership is attained through various means.
Some leaders are appointed, some elected, some take the position of leadership by force -it happens all the time.

Some are in positions of leadership because of their financial wealth. And others are in positions of leadership because people perceive they have knowledge, wisdom or experience and are in a better position to "know the way".

Although the magnitude and results of great leadership can be at times overwhelming, the role of the leader is often less than romantic. Regardless of where a leader receives his or her authority to lead, the  responsibility of leadership is awesome.

True leadership is not a popularity contest. It is often frustrating and frequently lonely.

Leadership is not easy, but it is rewarding, especially when you realize its long-term and far-reaching effects.

Only those who think in the long term have the ability to be truly great leaders. Those who think in the "here and now" often trade the future for more immediate but less fulfilling benefits.

Leaders affect so many lives. People look to their leaders for reassurances, for direction, and for example. When we choose whom to follow, we must choose carefully.

And when the mantle of leadership falls on our own shoulders, we must take that responsibility very seriously.

A leader must be forgiving and encourage forgiveness.

A dreadful consequence to being unable to forgive someone else is the physical and emotional price we pay. Medical research has long shown that bottled up resentment, the desire for revenge, can bring about physical illnesses and emotional disorders. What a terrible price to pay when it need not be so.

True leaders take care of the people that follow them before they take care of themselves. They are away of the impact that they have on others, and are careful about the example they set. Example is probably the most powerful form of leadership. People will most often act based on what they see their leaders doing.

Everything we do and everything we are affects others -whether we want it to or not. We have the greatest impact on our spouse and our children.

No one can escape the role of leadership and the responsibility it places on us. Others will make decisions based on our examples. Many of the decisions we make each day are influenced by those around us. We are all influence by each other. It is important to chose carefully whom to follow or whom to allow to influence our decisions and our attitudes. And we should take seriously the impact that our attitudes, our actions and our examples have on others.

Leadership is an awesome responsibility -let us learn to do it well!

Thank you.

R.W.Bro. Hermann Waxl, DDGM