The 5 "Wells" of Leadership

Morehouse President, Dr. Robert Franklin, is the tenth President of Morehouse, and follows a long-standing tradition in masterfully guiding and leading the college toward excellence.

Dr. Franklin has highlighted five important “expectations” that all Morehouse Men must meet, but I think we’d all be better off if we could embrace these all-important qualities of leaders.

The Five Wells:

1. Well-read: Dr. Franklin encourages students to read books, not just summaries of books, and choose an accomplished and prolific writer as a role model. Books open doors and allow us to peak around the walls that society can sometimes build in front of us. Leaders must be well-read.

2. Well-spoken: Just as important as reading is the study of grammar and syntax: "This reduces the necessity of relying on profanity or empty verbal placeholders like, 'um, uh, ahh . . . ' or nonsense like 'you know what I'm saying?'” Leaders mean what they say and they say what they mean.

3. Well-traveled: Seeing the world outside of your own community opens your eyes to opportunities and the needs of others much bigger and more meaningful than you could ever imagine from the comfort of “home.” Dr. Franklin encourages his students to “get out there, break new ground, and take others with you.” Leaders go...

4. Well-dressed: The way you dress does not only reflect the way you feel about yourself, it also sends signals to the people around you. Morehouse doesn’t have a strict “dress code,” but as Dr. Franklin says, “You can enjoy yourself while wearing comfortable clothing that respects the fact that you are part of a community of educated and ethical men… Wear what you wish to off campus, but while you are here on the ground where [Benjamin] Mays and Martin [Luther King Jr.] and Maynard [Jackson] walked, you will be well-dressed." The way you dress can be a direct reflection of your respect for others. Leaders present themselves in a respectful manner.

5. Well-balanced: Dr. Franklin says that being a strong leader is about attaining skills such as compassion, civility, integrity and even listening well. He wants his students to be spiritually disciplined, intellectually astute and morally wise… humble and willing to lift others as they climb to new heights. Being well-balanced prepares us for the unexpected and allows us the ability to act and react to the world in positive ways. Leaders are well-balanced and well-rounded.

--Taken from Dan Cathy