Being a Leader means not always being loved
I know of folks who want to be in leadership. Let me check that- I know folks who want a title and aren’t really hip on the idea of leadership. Being a leader and having a title are soooo not the same thing. Titles can be awarded (for heaven’s sake, Mick Jagger is a knight) but being a leader requires making decisions that will not always be popular.
We had a lousy fund raising year in Sunday School this year. Maybe it’s the economy. Maybe folks are tired of me. I don’t know but the fund raising was lousy. As a result of this, we get to tighten our belts. Taking away perks and programs that have always existed is not the way to win friends and influence people. However, being a leader demands that you lookout for the whole of your organization and not just the squeaky wheels. I could become immensely popular with a small but vocal faction but dropping a lot of money on one particular program. In the process, I would hamstring my organization and cripple our ability to do what we are charged with doing. So, you endure the slings and arrows because you are leading, not participating in a popularity contest.
The question is asked, would you rather be loved or respected? I don’t think it’s an either or but I’ll take respect every time. Even if it means fewer Christmas cards.
