This post could also be called “Three Wise Decisions a Foolish Leader Can-and-Need-to-but-Probably-Will-Never Make.”

The Bible makes a very sharp distinction between wisdom and foolishness. It is a joy to others when you lead wisely. Growth, unity and productivity are fostered. However, the leader that leads foolishly will bring all sorts of trouble, misery and division to the organization and to those who follow.

“People do not wish to appear foolish; to avoid the appearance of foolishness, they are willing to remain actually fools. ”

Alice Walker

Here are three mistakes wise leaders must avoid that are made by foolish leaders:

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. A foolish person is a very bad listener. They only appear to be listening so they can deliver what they really want to say in return. They don’t enjoy understanding. They don’t seek understanding, because foolish leaders are self-centered and ultimately, self-concerned.

#1 – Wise leaders decide to put their followers concerns over their personal interests. These can be challenging because every follower inevitably is not working from the same information or experience as the leader. However, wise leaders listen! Wise leaders decide to ingratiate themselves not isolate themselves. Bottom line, a foolish leader doesn’t listen for understanding, because his mind is already made up, thus the interaction with followers is always impersonal and inattentive.

Wise leaders decide to diligently know the condition of their followers and give them careful attention.

A fool’s leadership brings strife, and his conversations invite conflict. Foolish leaders tend to spout off arbitrarily, with partially, and without careful thought of future outcomes. A foolish leader doesn’t listen well, and to make it worse will follow up the poor listening with diatribes that inflame and inject venom that stir things up. If you are a leader and you are wondering why you encounter so much conflict? Then, it may very well be your mouth is a source of fuel to your follower’s fire.

#2 – A wise leader decides that his speech will always show impartiality, with tenderness that invokes peace and harmony among his followers. A wise leader understands that the very words, the tone, and the nonverbal gestures all greatly affect those that follow. Words can heal and harmonize or divide and destroy. The wise leader decides for unity, the foolish leader decides for himself!

Wise leaders decide to speak with affirmation and harmony to their followers, because wise leaders are concerned with bringing everyone along, not just a small group.

A fool rejects any instruction or correction not his own. Moreover, a foolish leader rejects instruction that either isn’t in line with his desire or doesn’t fit with his plan. Leadership doesn’t demand that the leader be right 100% of the time, since there are no perfect leaders on earth. However, followers will demand that leaders “get it right” and when they don’t followers will always judge the response of the leader’s personal accountability. A foolish leader shirks acceptance for failure and blames others or insists all the facts were not available for them to make the right judgment.

#3 – Wise leaders decide to subject themselves to accountability. In essence, they are touchable and accessible. Wise leaders come out of the cloisters and ivory towers to be in and among their followers. Foolish leaders hide behind walls to protect their personal insecurities from being exposed. Wise leaders live a disciplined life. Because of this disciplined life, they are willing to receive correction, discipline, and counsel.

Wise leaders decide to make themselves accountable to those they lead by taking responsibility and leading disciplined lives.

Leaders, which will you be: a foolish leader or a wise leader? The decision is yours.

(Further reading: Proverbs 15:5, 18:2, 6-7)

What are you chasing? Why are you chasing it? 

Remember being chased or chasing someone on the playground? Maybe you had a secret crush that developed into “boys chase the girls” at recess?  There was a physiologic thrill involved in the chase. However, the more time passed, the thrill on both parties eventually grew into exhaustion or boredom. It wasn’t about the catching, it was about the being chased. When the chase was over, the thrill was over. This explains why so many relationships, goals, and objectives get unceremoniously dumped and die. Chasing is the impulsive, immediate response to achieving a goal or an objective. 

1. The Thrill of the Chase

Chasing is like the untrained dog that lies dormant until a squirrel, a shadow or even his tail catches its attention. Squirrel……he’s gone! The dog springs into action–the thrill of the chase! That is until he catches what he was chasing or like his tail he can never fully grasp–the thrill is over. When you find yourself exhausted or bored, it’s often because you’ve been un-strategically chasing something.

2. The Will of the Pursuit

Pursuit is different. Pursuit is the strategic and enduring approach to apprehending your goal. Pursuit is more about measurement than movement. Restless, impatient leaders chase, because they need movement. But movement doesn’t always mean growth or apprehension. It often merely means activity. And many leaders are “action addicts.”

Pursuit is more a matter of the will, than a physiological need for stimulation. When a leader’s will is set, pursuit is not a question of time, but of outcome. Pursuit is steadfast, chasing is fickle.

Consider your organization, are you chasing or pursuing?

3. Don’t Become an “Action Addict” 

Leaders that are “action addicts” require constant activity in their organization. Their personal impatience impedes the systemic growth of the organization. A leader that requires stimulation by the  activity of the organization will unknowingly produce an unstable environment. Followers like thrills, but demand stability.

Parents who are action addicts will subject their children to any number of activities to keep them “involved” or “engaged.” Bosses who are action addicts will subject their employees to any number of new initiatives, but will never see the prior initiative through. Action addicts are impatient and demanding.

You chase fantasies, but pursue goals. You chase ghosts, but pursue people.

Decisions. Pure and simple. One of the hardest things in life to execute is to make a perfect decision. It’s almost impossible. Stop trying. Make good decisions. Make right decisions. Do this and people will follow you.

Teddy Roosevelt said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

1. Don’t  be Waffler or Wind-Checker

Too many of our leaders waffle on the really important decisions. Too many leaders are checking to determine which way the wind is blowing, then make their decisions. Their decisions are often bad decisions. Great leaders make their decisions despite the wind blowing. Winds will always blow, but people will not always follow.

2. Get the Direction Right

Great leaders distinguish themselves from all comers and all others because they have the singular ability, among other qualities, to make good decisions. I’m not even saying they have to make a great decision every time. Great leaders make decisions in the right direction. Getting the direction right allows for better implementation and, as needed, adjustments.

3. Communicate Clearly to those Following 

Followers want stability and clear direction. Leaders must provide these. Followers will only tolerate an arbitrary leader for so long. A leader who makes arbitrary decisions is viewed as selfish, fickle, insecure, and untrustworthy. A leader who makes good and right decisions is seen as selfless, stable, secure, but most importantly, trustworthy.

Great leaders understand how their followers will respond and react to decisions. King Solomon said, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.”* The leader must be in and among his followers, not cloistered from them.

Decisions bathed in counsel that accurately paint the full picture, inspire followers and create a harmony in the organization. Leaders who isolate themselves from their flocks will make poor decisions and the flock will wander or disperse. The careless leader will look up to see a diminishing flock.

4. Make Your Decisions Good 

Jimmy Collins, former CEO of the multi-billion dollar chicken giant Chick-fil-A, says “make your decisions good.” Good decisions point in the right direction, consider well who will be affected, and yield good results.

How well are you leading?

*Proverbs 27:23, ESV

 Do you really want to be great at something? If crickets filled that space in your mind, then chances are you may live dangerously close to the camp of complacency. If not, get excited and read on…

We were born to greatness, however, most people never discover greatness because they are working off (a) their own wrong definition, (b) someone else’s definition, or (c) they simply lack the critical characteristics that facilitate it.

Understanding the Pursuit of Greatness

1. Get a good definition. To achieve greatness merely means you have mastery over something—in essence, you’ve become “great” at something. When you examine your opportunity and your talents, don’t measure them against someone else’s ability, but rather, against your potential. Simply, be the best “you” that you can be. You can never be someone else. Understand the difference between being viewed as great (recognition) and grasping a great skill or aptitude at something (achievement).
2. Don’t worry about who you know or how you got there. Rather, be concerned with what you are doing now with where you find yourself. Too many leaders end up using past circumstances to justify present poor performance or failure. Stagnation and regret can keep a leader from growing.
3. Learn how to serve others. The path to greatness comes not because of how you are recognized publicly. We have been wrongly taught that “the greatest deserve the most recognition.” Greatness really is in your ability to influence the most people or serve one person greater than anyone else. Serving is hard because true serving is selfless. It is not motivated by “what I will get because of what I am doing.” It is also not motivated by appearance. Too many people serve to get recognition. A great leader learns to master the temptation to pursue recognition. Rather, true greatness is found in the motivation that considers others before considering yourself. True greatness never comes through demanding respect, but rather earned respect that is freely given.
4. Become a master of what you do and what you know. Becoming a master means being a life-long student. The best “masters” constantly learn and engage their mind in the development process of whatever skill, talent or ability they have mastery in. Too often, leaders reach a point in their development process where someone else validates their ability or they hit a level they perceive to be mastery and they simply—turn off. Don’t turn off, check out, or tune out. Stay engaged, fresh, and rested in the learning and developing process.
5. Don’t purse greatness, purse excellence. Don’t pursue perfection, rather purse excellence. There are always variances, accidents, and good intentions gone wrong. In short, mistakes are always going to be made. Focusing on the details and the disciplined approach to a fully committed work ethic are keys to pursing excellence. Leading with excellence while serving others can yield some incredible results.
6. Temper your unseen expectations. Be careful how far ahead you allow your mind to roam. Your mind can lead you where your body, opportunity or ability will never allow you. I am not saying to shelve your dreams, but don’t become a slave to a dream that in turn warps reality. Tempering is best done through trusted counsel and true personal assessment.

Jesus was asked once who would be the greatest in his kingdom. He responded by directing his followers attention to a little child stating that “the first shall be last and the last shall be first” (Matthew 18). Greatness is best achieved by humbling ourselves, serving others, and seeking mastery over things, not recognition from people.