XI) STEER CLEAR OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

In Luke chapter 6, beginning at verse 37, Jesus teaches that we must always be careful to refrain from being judgmental, to avoid fault finding and blame placing. In fact, we may very well need to deal with our own issues and to address our own problems rather than focusing on the shortcomings of everyone else as though that somehow excuses our failures.

Insecure and ineffective leaders are always looking for the proverbial scapegoat. These leaders are looking to cover themselves and are willing to point to the miscues of subordinates as an excuse for their own ineffectiveness in their own role.

Great leaders, however, are not afraid to look in the mirror and examine themselves. Great leaders can be honest with themselves and address their own areas of weakness. They are willing work at improving deficiencies and are secure enough to bring into the team others whose strengths complement their own weaknesses. Great leaders refuse to fall into the snare of self-righteousness, that is, believing that they are the only one who is working hard, the only one who cares, the only one who is doing the right things. Instead, great leaders can recognize and appreciate the contributions of others and celebrate the successes of others.

In knew of a pastor who had been very successful. Every church he pastored almost always grew to over two-thousand members. One man visited this pastor and came away under-whelmed with his charisma and leadership style. He commented that this pastor wasn’t all that impressive, but that he had great leaders working with him. If we are honest with ourselves about our own strengths and weaknesses then we will be in a much better position to recruit a team to work with us. This pastor was growing great churches because he was honest enough with himself, and secure enough in himself to bring into the team others who could work together to build a successful organization.

I’ve often said that one man cannot build a great church or organization alone. It takes a team and that team must consist of strategically chosen people who can work together appreciating and complementing one another’s strengths weaknesses. One man does not a great organization make, but one man can tear down a great organization. One man or woman in a leadership position who is insecure and unable to address his or her own issues will undermine the effectiveness of the team and can, over time, cause the collapse of the entire structure.

Being a leader is a heady thing. To be “in charge” and to be in a position where people look to us as an authority figure is a awesome responsibility. Some leaders are humbled by this and they understand that they are called to serve the organization, and not the other way around. But sadly, too many think that the organization is there to serve them, to keep their ego buoyed and their name in the limelight. When things are not going in in a positive direction they will judge others and blame them for the failure when it may well be that they need to get the beam out of their own eyes before they try plucking the splinter out of the eye of someone else.

If you are in a leadership position and the organization you are leading is not succeeding, begin by looking in the mirror. Leaders set the tone for the entire organization. Our attitude will filter throughout the organization and will either elevate or deflate. I've seen churches rise and fall with the transition of leaders. The same facilities, the same people, the same resources, but one man saw the organization in decline, and the next saw it grow. The first was insecure and controlling. He often called his leadership team into his office to dress them down and to intimidate them with the threat that if things did not turn around their jobs would be terminated. The next brought a positive can do attitude and took the time to invest this attitude into his staff. He promoted a team approach to leadership and attempted to share the rewards and accolades of success with the entire team. The first leader saw decline and eventually resigned. The second continues to see growth and the atmosphere of the entire organization is now hopeful and enthusiastic.

It is very likely that the organization you lead is a reflection of your own leadership style. If the people are defeated, it may be that you are projecting an attitude of defeat. If it is positive and upbeat, it is very likely that you, as a leader, are projecting these very qualities to your team, and from the team to the whole organization. If things are not going well, begin by removing the beam in your own eye and then being to project the possible, the positive, and the potential that is within your reach and the reach of your organization.