According to Proverbs 8.20, before a leader can exercise good judgment, that leader must have a just character. In fact, all the decision algorithms in the world aren’t going to fix the problems caused by a poor character. Thus, good judgment requires a just character.
Wisdom that’s grounded in a just character produces good judgment. Proverbs 8.20 paraphrase
Building Credibility
We pay attention to someone when we believe they’re a credible or authentic source. Conversely, we often marginalize those who lack depth of insight or experience.
Credibility inspires belief. Also, a credible source can be trusted.
Normally, we view the key components of credibility as trustworthiness and expertise.
In short, a credible speaker can be trusted and knows what he or she is talking about. Similarly, authenticity is the quality of being real or true.
Wisdom is Credible
In Proverbs Chapter 8, the authentic and credible speaker is wisdom. Here, wisdom partners with experiential insight. As defined in Proverbs 2.6, insight is one of the components of wisdom.
Wisdom isn’t native intelligence. In fact, wisdom is a trait I can build into my life. However, I must have a learner’s attitude. In addition, I must have the self-discipline to be diligent about growing wisdom.
Why wisdom? Because the eternal principles of wisdom are time tested. In addition, those precepts are the real thing. Thus, I can trust what wisdom says to me.
Wisdom is a credible witness!
The credibility of wisdom is crucial to Proverbs. I’m not asked to accept the credibility of Solomon. However, I am asked to accept as credible, as believable, eternal wisdom itself!
What’s more, wisdom is pictured here as a female. Read Proverbs 8.1-3 if you want proof! Or Proverbs 9.1-3. Also, Proverbs 1.20-21.
In each case, wisdom cries out to the simple – those who are shallow-minded. Also, she calls to the foolish.
Additionally, in Proverbs 8.4-5, wisdom calls out to males, as well as the shallow-minded. Ouch! Ok, maybe “men” is a generic term for all humanity, but we are still being chided!
Wisdom speaks at length in Proverbs 8. Thus, there’s a format change from the brief, proverb-styled contrasts and comparisons elsewhere in Proverbs, to long-form narrative.
Wisdom reveals to me the importance of a just character. That just character enables me to use good judgment. Thus, good judgment requires a just character.
The Path of Righteousness
Wisdom leads me along a very specific life path. The “way of righteousness” is the phrase used in Proverbs 8.20. Also, those same Hebrew words are used in Proverbs 12.28.
Righteousness means right-standing with God Himself.
For example, in Genesis 15.6 we read that Abraham expressed faith in God. Thus, he believed God.
As a result of that faith, God accounted or thought of Abraham as righteous. Hence, just. Therefore, the just shall live by their faith!
Before I can exercise good judgment, I must have a just character. Good judgment requires a just character.
The Paths of Judgment
So, wisdom lead me to right standing with God. But wisdom also leads me along the paths (plural) of good judgment. The precepts of wisdom build in me a just character that’s capable of using good judgment to form sound decisions.
Regarding paths, the Hebrew word used in Proverbs 8.20 for “paths” is also used in Jeremiah 6.16. In Jeremiah, we’re encouraged to find and walk in the old paths, which are the good way. The outcome? “Rest for your souls.”
The Lord says: “Ask to be led down the old paths that are the good way. Why, you ask? Because those paths bring rest to your deepest spiritual self.” Jeremiah 6.16 paraphrase
As the case may be, those good paths are a choice I get to make. Or, not make! Thus, my life outcomes are a conscious choice I make.
Why “paths” in the plural? I suspect wisdom provides us multiple solutions and several different options for behaving wisely in any given situation.
Perhaps there may be any number of ways to exhibit wisdom! Oh! You mean my way isn’t the only way? What a concept!
Conscious choice and multiple options. These two suggest, to me, that it’s critical for me to build a just character. That just character steers me into using good judgment when I am intention about absorbing wisdom. Thus, good judgment requires a just character.
Leadership Insight
There are multiple options or paths for a leader to find a way to succeed. That’s good!
However, given my pessimistic nature, those multiple options also means multiple ways to fail! That’s bad!
What’s a wise leader to do?
Well, for starters – leaders shouldn’t rely solely on their own insight. For example, see the warning in Proverbs 3.5: “don’t lean on your own insight …” Also, read Proverbs 3.7: “don’t be wise in your own eyes …”
Instead, pray! Also, I should consult with senior leadership, my peers, my leadership team, and other direct reports!
Remember, multiple counselors – good, whereas no counsel – bad.
No counsel – bad outcomes! Multiple opinions – good outcomes! Proverbs 15.22 paraphrase
Adding Insights
Along with listening to senior leaders, peers, direct reports, and to other members of their leadership team, leaders should be reflecting on what is and isn’t working. Simply put, leaders must learn from experience.
What’s the alternative to lacking experiential insight? Well, I think it’s making the same mistakes repeatedly. The outcome? No career progression!
One way that leaders build wisdom into their lives is by intention reflection. That reflection contributes to experiential insight.
In fact, if a leader is self-aware and self-reflective they can build out insights from both successes and failures.
Conversely, no amount of leadership coaching, skills development, hard work, or high-level experience can overcome a poor character.
Unsurprisingly, a poor character is reflected in several negative traits and behaviors. Examples include: blind ambition, arrogance, dishonesty, abuse of power, reckless disregard for others, lack of empathy, and an unwillingness to be self-disciplined.
Personal Insight
For a leader, their direct reports are a great source of input about what’s happening in the organization. Therefore, listen to your direct reports. Also, listen to the administrative personnel who support those direct reports.
Why bother? Because a leader cannot possibly hear or see everything that’s going on. Invariably, some of those issues are critical enough to impact productivity and morale.
Out of all that’s happening, a leader does need to discern the difference between signal and noise. However, there must be awareness before there can be discernment.
Once, during a conversation with a direct report, I admitted that I’m not always as aware as is needed to what’s going on around me. The direct report tried, unsuccessfully, to stifle a laugh!
Ok … I get it … sensitivity isn’t my strong point!
Have you stopped laughing at me yet?
My point is, we often don’t know what we don’t know. That said, a leader doesn’t have the luxury of being clueless about stresses and concerns around him or her.
So ask, listen, observe, and reflect. Then act, based on good judgment. That good judgment must be built on a just, empathetic, and fair character. Why? Because, good judgment requires a sound character.
Apply This Today!
I’m not an unbiased observer of myself, so how do I know if I have a just character? Well, what standard am I using to form an opinion about the depth of my character?
Good judgment is a developed skill that’s essential to being an effective leader.
I must realize that good judgment isn’t simply mechanical. Additionally, it’s not just getting the correct answer. So, for a leader to be effective, there must be an awareness of, and responsiveness to, the emotional needs around that leader.
Listening to others with an open mind, and listening to myself (assuming I have a sound character), are two great ways to generate experiential insights.
Those experiential insights are the raw materials for the discernment that drives good judgment.
However, good judgment doesn’t exist absent a just character.
Thus, good judgment requires a just character.
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