Questions to Stir the Heart

By Dr. Edwin Weaver

www.uniqueleaders.org

www.we-develop-leaders.com

January 21, 2009

As an American, I am so very happy to the people starting to unite. For decades, we have become more and more splintered, everyone going in their own direction, pulling the nation apart. President Obama's charisma has pulled the people together again, but for how long.

Leaders, true leaders, must challenge the people. They must move people from where they are to a new place, a new level. Charisma, by itself, will not move the people to the next level. Yes, it does have the effect, often temporary, of pulling people together, but more is needed. The heart must be stirred and inflamed.

Nothing stirs the heart like probing questions, reflective questions, innovative questions. The leader not only asks these questions, but also gives us answers to them, the answers we need to follow. That is what all the great leaders have done to move the people from the pulling together stage to the action stage.

I was watching for President Obama to do this at his inauguration; however, he only asked one question. He made many statements, but only one question.

Review some of our great leaders, Washington, Lincoln, and Kennedy. They asked questions of the people, heart stirring questions, reflective questions, innovative questions. They also gave the answers, answers, which pointed in the direction in which the people needed to go.

To unite Americans, move them into a new and better America, it will take more than charisma, it will take leadership and motivating them to do what they would not do by themselves. That is why the questions are so important. The questions prick the consciousness and the heart. Afterwards, the answers the leaders gives provides the direction to move in. the questions will linger in the heart to remind the people of why they are moving in a particular direction.

That is why the questions are important for a leader. Without the questions to stir the people, they will loose the motivation, which was ignited by the charisma. The questions keep the direction alive. The questions keep the motivation alive. The questions provide the reason to continue. The questions stir our hearts.

The hopes of America lie with President Obama. He will need to go past his charisma and ignite a permanent flame in the people as our other great leader did. I hope he is up to the task.