To find a great modern day leader with a life full of integrity is nearly impossible to do, but Reverend Billy Graham definitely fits the bill. This essay will attempt to show how the Reverend is able to bundle his personal characteristics up to provide dynamic and powerful messages that have provided hope, peace, and courage to millions of people through the past several decades. Billy Graham was not born a leader, but when he found his purpose, he became an unstoppable force that defines leadership. To be a good leader, one must exhibit certain traits, skills, and behaviors. Through traits like honesty, integrity, self confidence, motivation, and knowledge, Reverend Graham is able connect with huge groups of people who are searching for …show more content…

He can build a bridge with people of completely different ideological views. Author Maynard Stoddard said, “No religious crusader has carried the gospel message to more people in more lands, presented that message with more power or authority, or stirred a deeper response in his listeners.” (Stoddard 1986). He has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman. He has counseled presidents and kings all over the world, yet continues to retain the skill of being humble. He realizes that he too is a follower and without his leader he would not be anyone. He understands what he has is a gift. Everyone needs a level of self-awareness about their talents and abilities. As a leader, this is even more important because you serve your team or organization best when your gifts are being used and brought to their fullest potential. These skills coupled with the traits that have been talked about create an irrepressible leader. Lastly, a leader must have a certain style or behavior to be a leader. Billy Graham is able to combine his goal of getting his message and vision across to everyone in a very tough, direct and sometimes rigid way, but at the same time he makes people feel comfortable by showing them positive things that can happen in their lives. He is easily able to tell testimonies, build trust and respect based on commonalities, and then lay out a “plan of salvation” for the audience. He