Leadership
Leadership is a word we hear a lot of in both sacred and secular circles. But what does this word mean?
I could give the strict dictionary definition - the denotation of the word. But instead I want to focus on the connotation, the implied meaning.
Leadership, in the connotative sense, so often means guiding others to follow the rules of whatever establishment the leader is in charge of. For instance, a manager at a business should lead the employees to do their job to the best of their ability. All too often, however, managers, because they are also being pushed, will attempt to push employees to work beyond human ability - to perform beyond what is physically possible - in order to ensure the business continues making a profit. The corporate business, on the look-out for its own profits, will not hire enough employees to do the job adequately; so the employees that are doing their best are not able to keep up with the demand.
Teachers often get frustrated with this connotation of leadership. Many teachers that I studied with when working on my bachelor's level education classes would complain that they were forced to push students way too far in order to keep government funding for their school. It was a part of the job they dreaded.
Leaders of religious establishments focus on the doctrine of their particular denomination, even if that doctrine is not what is best for the people they are leading. I have written quite regularly about spiritual abuse. One of the first things any victim of spiritual abuse will tell you is how difficult it is to become involved in another church. I have found this to be true in my experience as well. It takes a church that does not push doctrine, but instead provides guidance in a relationship with God for these victims to flourish in a church environment. But all too often, this is not what church leadership is.
This focus on the rules of the establishment is what leadership has become. It has become a position of authority to ensure that the rules of the establishment are followed and the system keeps its place. Little regard is shown for the individuals involved.
Socrates is often quoted, "I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think." Imagine the possibilities if this philosophy would replace the ideas of leadership in place today. What if leaders were to teach people to question the "this is how it has to be" mentality? What if leaders would guide people to think for themselves, instead of going along with the "normal," the "average"? Just imagine.
I could give the strict dictionary definition - the denotation of the word. But instead I want to focus on the connotation, the implied meaning.
Leadership, in the connotative sense, so often means guiding others to follow the rules of whatever establishment the leader is in charge of. For instance, a manager at a business should lead the employees to do their job to the best of their ability. All too often, however, managers, because they are also being pushed, will attempt to push employees to work beyond human ability - to perform beyond what is physically possible - in order to ensure the business continues making a profit. The corporate business, on the look-out for its own profits, will not hire enough employees to do the job adequately; so the employees that are doing their best are not able to keep up with the demand.
Teachers often get frustrated with this connotation of leadership. Many teachers that I studied with when working on my bachelor's level education classes would complain that they were forced to push students way too far in order to keep government funding for their school. It was a part of the job they dreaded.
Leaders of religious establishments focus on the doctrine of their particular denomination, even if that doctrine is not what is best for the people they are leading. I have written quite regularly about spiritual abuse. One of the first things any victim of spiritual abuse will tell you is how difficult it is to become involved in another church. I have found this to be true in my experience as well. It takes a church that does not push doctrine, but instead provides guidance in a relationship with God for these victims to flourish in a church environment. But all too often, this is not what church leadership is.
This focus on the rules of the establishment is what leadership has become. It has become a position of authority to ensure that the rules of the establishment are followed and the system keeps its place. Little regard is shown for the individuals involved.
Socrates is often quoted, "I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think." Imagine the possibilities if this philosophy would replace the ideas of leadership in place today. What if leaders were to teach people to question the "this is how it has to be" mentality? What if leaders would guide people to think for themselves, instead of going along with the "normal," the "average"? Just imagine.
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