Part 1: Characteristics of Effective Leadership

I recently sat in a room full of friends and asked them: what characteristics make up an effective leader? We took turns sharing traits and characteristics of good leadership, and came up with several.

In our collective experience, good, effective leaders exhibit the following characteristics: They are curious; they are courageous; they are good listeners, validating others’ concerns and perspectives without being dismissive of them. They are not paralyzed by their fear; they enter into the tough stuff, rather than running away from it; and they aren’t afraid to admit when they get something wrong, taking personal ownership rather than blaming others.

Good leaders show compassion; they are available and care for their people, prioritizing building others up over building themselves up. They are able to be gentle and firm at the same time; they exhibit conviction, not swayed by public or popular opinion. They also demonstrate flexibility, able to listen to differing opinions and make decisions based on the collective input of others–walking the fine line between their personal position and the positions of others who may not see situations the same way.

LeadershipNathan WestwickOctober 19, 2026LeadershipComment

Leading God's Way (Introduction)

When you think of the term “leadership”, what words come to mind? What makes a leader effective?

Maybe you have images of a strong leader, authoritative and decisive. One who won’t be swayed or moved by public opinion. A “my way or the highway” kind of leader.

Or maybe you’re thinking about a quiet, gentle leader who, in his or her humility, is great at listening, great at attending to your needs, but lacks the confidence to make a firm decision.

The first one is clearly effective at being action-oriented, while the second one is clearly effective in tending to the needs of others.

Why is it that so few leaders are able to bridge the gap between those two styles?

LeadershipNathan WestwickOctober 15, 2026LeadershipComment

An Open Letter to My Three Sons

To My Dear Boys,

It’s a different world than the one I grew up in. A very different world.

In some ways, it’s a much better world. But in a lot of ways things are pretty rough. Hatred abounds, whether between the sexes, between nations, between ideologies, between races. It’s everywhere, boys. It plays out on social media, on the news, and in classrooms and playgrounds.

Avoid hatred at all costs, sons. It is everywhere, but it doesn’t have to be inside of you.

Why Politicians Continue to Let Us Down

Election season.

Political signs on every corner, my mailbox stuffed with political propaganda, a list of presidential candidates that gets people from all political persuasions fired up out of fear, hatred, angst—all with an increased level of voter apathy among the younger generations.

Why such a furor?

I think it’s because we feel like we’re continually being let down by our elected officials. It can be due to shady morals, untrustworthy actions, or simply unfulfilled promises.

But is it possible that we get let down because we allow our hopes to get too high?

Real Change, LeadershipNathan WestwickJune 2, 2016Politics, Election SeasonComment

We Need More Guides, Not More Heroes

I have a small confession to make: I wrote recently that the world is in need of more heroes. And while I still firmly believe that, I also think I’m wrong…

We don’t need heroes nearly as desperately as we need guides.

Think about it—without Yoda, Luke Skywalker is just an angry, misplaced youth trying to find his way. With him, Luke defeats the entire Empire.

The Stuff That Matters, LeadershipNathan WestwickApril 21, 2016Heroes, Guides Comment

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