Virtue Series: TEMPERANCE IN LEADERSHIP

In Ben Franklin's short explanation of Temperance,  he wrote,  " Eat not to dullness;  drink not to elevation ". 
What ever may have inspired him to write this opening thoughts, must have been drawn from experience.

Using food and drink to analyse temperance is quite apt because those two items have made so many people lose their chills countless times.

Temperance in leadership reflects the consciousness of a leader to the point of restrain. It means his knowing when '' enough is really enough " and not pushing further.  It entails the ability to manage his or her environmental occurrences that they do not dictate the outcomes and ruin her expectation. Temperance is a virtue that helps a leader marry wisdom, knowledge,  integrity and courage together to attain worthwhile success.


Let's break it down in practical terms.
Temperance is that virtue a leader possess that helps him/her control her appetite and emotions. It helps the leader not to get mad at his secretary for not delivering the mail on time without asking why! It's the virtue that make the leader not to make irrational decisions or take decisions when he is at a peak of emotion,  which he regrets the next minute he is back to his senses. It is that virtue that saves the leader from being drunk at the dinner night or over eating to the point of not being active enough to carry out his duties.

Temperance in leadership goes beyond eating and drinking. It helps a leader put his sense of reasoning in the right perspective such that pressures don't make him transfer aggression.

The Greek Philosopher Plato wrote: “If we disregard due proportion by giving anything what is too much for it, too much canvas to a boat, too much nutrition to a body, too much authority to a soul, the consequence is always shipwreck; rankness runs in the one case to disease, in the other to presumption, and its issue is crime.” –The Collected Dialogues

Temperance is a key virtue every leader needs to develop. It builds discipline and instills frugality. It makes one focused on his goals and build relationships in leadership. It makes the leader humble,  approachable and wise.

Crave for Temperance, and watch your temper get calm even if you're a diehard Choleric.

#13Virtues
#Temperance
#QuintImpact.

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