Is worthiness important in a leader?

Question

Is worthiness important in a leader?

Answer 1

It all depends on your definition of worthy.

An person who has worked 10 years in a company might be worthy and deserves to be promoted to a manager. However, if there is someone who worked in the company for only 2 years, but has real talent and is exceptional at what he does, he might be rather considered for promotion.

I think 'worthy' is connected to qualitys of character, however a leader has to be good at leadership. In the end, what it really comes down to is this: The captain of a ship sometimes has to cope with enormous responsibilities and hard and difficult decisions. In such situations I don't want someone who is worthy to be the captain but someone who can cope with the situation in the best possible way.

Worthiness is noteable to a degree, but in my opinion it is overshadowd by far more important qualitys.

If I would have to decide between a person who is worthy and a person who is god-d**n-good, I'd choose the second one.

These are decisions which major companys have to make everday. However, the real importance of such decisions os shown on sea, on the battlefield or equally extreme situations.

Answer 2

We would realize a leader's worthiness only through his performance, and it's only fair that a new leader be assessed of his capability after at least a year or so. But some societies prefer a 100 days benchmark. I think a good leader must have a good character, sincerity, confidence, courage. He must also be self-less, inspirational and pragmatic. All these are important and a sum total of his worth.

Answer 3

I think you mean one's own sense of self-worth, of self-esteem. Yes, in that sense, only a WORTHY person can lead. Anyone with low self-esteem and self-worth will always abuse his/her position if given power and privilege, and therefore be a worthless leader.  

Answer 4

Define "worthiness."

What is worthy to some may not be to others.  

Some find Bush's pseudo-evangelical beliefs "worthy."  Others find them to be unworthy.

Answer 5

Worthiness is important in anyone.

Answer 6

From the perception of worthiness, a society can have faith in the abilities of the leader.  If society deems the leader unworthy, he will fall.