Samson and Solomon are two famous individuals whose personal and leadership qualities are so different from each other. [b]Solomon[/b], of course, became very popular because of his “solomonic formula” when he was once confronted with a tricky situation about the two women contesting over a baby. We all know the story and could not help but admire the wisdom, prudence, and brilliance of Solomon as a leader. He is prudent in his moves and counsels other leaders against being careless in their actions. According to him, there are three major pitfalls lying in wait for careless leaders, viz: a) Hasty speech – Leaders must listen as much as they speak. b) Empty promises – Leaders tend to say what others want to hear. Do not promise what you cannot deliver. c) Lame excuses – Leaders diminish their influence when they try to reverse a mistake with a lame excuse. Solomon was very deliberate in his thoughts and actions. He made sure that each decision he makes, and each word he spoke, reflects or was in furtherance of his vision and mission. Neither was he afraid to make tough and crucial decisions, especially at the beginning of his reign. On the other hand, [b]Samson[/b] was impetuous, volatile, lustful, moody, and emotional. As a leader, he miserably failed because – a) He failed to address glaring character weaknesses; b) He acted impulsively; c) He was overcome by an area of weakness; and, d) He misused his God-given gifts. Samson was self-centered, undisciplined, and arrogant – and all these made him an ineffective leader. As a leader and as a person -- be a Solomon, not a Samson.