Temperance vs. Taking a Stand

    Kolp and Rea’s (2009) discussion of temperance is a valuable one. Learning how to manage one’s own behavior can make the difference between a huge success and a disastrous failure at times. Most of the time, it’s a cumulative effect however; the making of our reputations.

    At the same time, leadership is also about knowing when to take a stand – and pushing something to the extreme if need be. How does this fit in with temperance?

    I believe tempering one’s own behavior is the internal guide-post that allows a good leader to determine when to push and when to back off. If one has practice at tempering the extremes, it becomes easier to discern the subtleties of a situation that allow for taking a stand. It also makes the stand itself more meaningful as it is recognized as not part of one’s usual behavior – and therefore it must really matter. On the flip side, without the discipline of temperance, one’s reputation for jumping to the extremes could undermine an attempt at taking a real stand when it’s needed.

    Temperance then, becomes not only a way to modify one’s behavior and check one’s decision making process, but also serves to build one’s reputation as a solid, dependable individual.

    Is there a time though when temperance could get in the way? I admit, I struggle a bit with this one in that I see the value of it, but also feel within myself a desire to push the limits at times.

~LC

Comments

[Chris Borne]

In response to your question whether or not temperance could, at times, “get in the way” of decisive leadership, I would argue that no, temperance serves to guide, restrain, and enable leaders to discern the consequences of their actions—especially their responses. I do agree with Derecus Slade’s insight about President Obama’s relentless search for consensus; however, as your discussion argued, when urgency in decision making is required, when swift action is the only thing to avert catastrophe, I will be looking to a leader whose proven character promises the best intentions. This status, I believe, is cultivated through a reputation of being temperate.

[Derecus Slade]

You make a very interesting points here Lori. Temperance is a valuable skill that everyone should possess. Your reputation will suffer greatly if you are known as one who goes from one extreme to the next.

However, to answer your question I do believe there are times when temperance could get in the way. When looking at President Obama I feel there are times when he shows too much temperance. He tries too much at building a consensus. He sometimes give too much for the sake of bipartisanship. There are times when all the points of a discussion has been examined and a decision has to be made. He sometimes let it go on too long.

At the same time I can understand where he is coming from. Being the leader of the free world is a tall order. You want a leader who can discuss the issues and actually listen to the various sides.