People

Vincent de Paul could have been just a footnote in history. He could have poured his energy into helping orphans, the sick, the poor, prisoners and slaves with just his own two hands. He would have indeed helped some people. When he died, however, his mission likely would have died with him.

Instead, Vincent used his eloquence to persuade the wealthy to fund orphanages and hospitals. He taught villagers to collaborate and create self-sustaining food banks. He went outside traditional church boundaries to include women and men from all classes of society to serve the poor.

When he died, he left behind three thriving organizations—the Confraternities of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), and the Daughters of Charity—which sustained and expanded his work.

• Communication: Clearly communicating expectations
• Empowerment: Helping others become better leaders, creating an environment that promotes learning, delegating responsibilities
• Motivation: Setting clear and realistic goals, directing people to achieve objectives

That's Vincentian leadership.

Vincent and You

As a leader, how can you learn to better communicate your ideas and expectations? To inspire participation? To build and sustain a team that includes multiple perspectives?