THE SIGN OF A PIONEERING LEADER IS THE ARROWS IN HIS BACK!
I was recently on a speaking engagment and working late at night in my hotel, and believe it or not, my channel surfing took me to C-SPAN. I know, you’re thinking, “Were you in a coma?! Bored out of your mind? Or, was it the only station working?!?!?!?”
Actually, I was caught by an unexpected event. Leaders of some of the nation’s largest lenders, and the Chairmen of the Compensation Committees of those institutions were being put under the gun. They were being grilled in an accusatory fashion regarding the sub-prime debacle. “Why,” they were being interrogated, “were the CEO’s paid large salaries and bonuses when lending practices exercised under their leadership caused a lot of problems to so many?” The tone was one of attack from many of the congressional sub-committee and there was no doubt left that many wanted to “barbeque” those who sat in front of them.
Now, I personally don’t claim to understand all of the nuances of the sub-prime lending issues. Nor do I hold a naive belief that everything that was done was perfect or even the best decisions. But as I watched I was reminded that leadership today has become a place where leaders are often presumed guilty until proven innocent. And, that it is hard to argue–or even hold your own– with those who print attacking reports by the score things were flying high and going great. No one was asking accusatory questions then, that I am aware of. These leaders were seen a great men allowing many to acquire properties they otherwise would have been unable to get. Whether it was the best approach and methodologand by ink by the barrel.
It interested me that I didn’t hear a lot of criticism about these leaders wheny is not the focus of this entry.
What is, is how fast people are ready to accuse, demean, berate and criticize those in leadership when there is a hiccup. And the arrows start flying…with one significant target–leaders who take risk. And after all, these leaders–while well compensated–also were in the role of large risk. Whether it was the exact right risk is not for me to say, that is the arena of financial experts.
But I was reminded that when you lead, and take the risk of trying new or different things, you had better be ready for the arrows that are likely to start flying! I know, I’ve been on the receiving end of some of these type of experiences. How about you?
March 12th, 2008 at 8:36 am
When God began to give me a heart for leadership, I had no idea just how tough it would be. The call to be a leader is one to be taken with great seriousness and humility, and with the understanding that the road you will travel is one with many obstacles and unexpected turns, but the rewards for faithfulness are worth it.
Having said that, I think there are a few practices that would help both leaders and their organizations in moving forward, maintaining unity, and accomplishng their mission:
1. Leaders need to learn to admit when they were wrong (publically if need be) and ask for forgiveness.
2. The people in their organizations need to be quick to forgive.
3. Leaders need to understand it is hard for them to know how others are feeling, but go out of their way to try to understand.
4. Others need to realize they can not understand what’s it’s like to be in that particular leadership position, and go out of their way to cut leaders some slack.
5. The tone and rhetoric should be civil and godly on both sides.
This won’t solve all the problems, but it may be a good start.
March 12th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Yes,
I was on that side for far too long. I believe some institutions make it easier than others to lead. When you have to go to committees and ask to do anything it is hard to lead. That is one reason why I left my previous ministry. Now I have the freedom to be a leader.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Being a leader means taking risks, risks for your yourself and risks for the lives you effect by what you do. When you do well, people take it for granted that you are just doing your job, but make a mistake and the arrows fly. And, when you are in the partisan political world as I was for a number of years, there is a no common agreement of what is right and what is wrong, so no matter what you do, be prepared to take the hits. The arrows come with the job.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Jamie
Good input!
Sometimes leaders can find it hard to admit mistakes due to pride and the false perspective that they should “always be right” and that admitting a mistake is “admitting a weakness.” How incorrect that is. When a leader makes a mistake the most correct thing he can do is admit it, step into it, and correct it.
I have discovered that a leader will be wise to walk around and a ask questions like “How are you doing….now, how are you doing really?” And, “Is there anything occuring, or not occuring, that I ought to be aware of and may not be?” It can be amazing what arises in such simple questions. I learned this through hard knocks and wish someone had taught me that simple focus earlier.
Finally, my father-in-law–who was a super businessman–taught me that
you can never know what it’s like to “be in the seat” of leadership UNTIL you’ve been there. It’s always easy for someone to say “If I was in that role……” It’s not enough to look from a distance and determine what you think you would do, without ever being “in the chair.”
And, as we watch the culture we desperately need to characterize what we communicate with grace…not attack. Far too often, the way Christians are handling conflict or disagreement is no different than the way secular organizations do it. So, the watching world can say, so what’s the difference?!?!
Thanks for the input! It does give some great input.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Kevin
I agree. Some organizations shoot themselves in the foot by ineffectively building their structures. In Christian organizaitons too often things like Boards, oversight committees, etc. are filled with nice people, good people, pleasant people, but often people who are not good skilled leaders. As a result when leadership needs arise and tensions build the default moves to the lowest common denominator, rather than the highest common denominator. As a result things bog down, relationships get strained, people get hurt, folks get dropped out and left behind.
So, for the leader who wants to make a difference they need to be very careful on the type of organization he or she commits themselves to …for it could have big ramifications.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
It sure seems to me that leadership is tougher than it used to be–I wonder if our 24 hour news and talk shows contribute to this? Constant criticsm has become the real national sport–and seems to spill over to attacking leaders everywhere.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Dr. Reccord–I remember how graciously you always hadled it when the arrows came your way. Thanks for being the kind of example that young guys like me can look up to. Thanks too for being an innovative leader–even when it put you under fire. I am the beneficiary of those innovations–and your leadership at NAMB is missed greatly.