I’ve been thinking a lot about servant leadership and followship here of late and have done some writing here, here and here. Let me briefly discuss a few of the pitfalls of leadership and why it is imperative to be accountable (aka follow) someone.
Robert Trapani, a recognized expert in family and ministerial life, notes that almost all leaders fall because of one or more of these things: sex, money, or power. When leaders fall due to sexual failings, it seems these make a much bigger splash in the press. It’s not necessarily because more leader fall via this route it’s that, to use a cliche, sex sells. Not only has it be sensationalized regarding our political leaders (see here, here and here) but also, unfortunately, by those in the pulpit (see here and here). When leaders fall because of financial issues it is often due to issues eerily similar to those who fail because of sex. Strangely enough, my limited experience with people who have failed in these regards the root issues had less to do about sex and money and had much more to do with relationships and identity issues. I could go on all day with all manner of pop psychology but the fact is these two issues are more direct to address because they are rooted in the flesh.
Power is a completely different issue and yet it’s not. The issues with sex and money are often rooted in power. Specifically, one feels that he is so powerful that he will not get caught or is immune from the pitfalls that ensnare others. There’s a second kind of power issue. This is the one where a leader becomes so autocratic that they are unable or unwilling to listen to another. These folks usually blow up so big that they well, blow up.
At the root of all of these issues is a lack of accountability. Everyone in leadership needs to be accountable to someone, ie, be under someone’s authority. If you’re an employee it’s your bosses; if you’re a congregant it’s your pastor. Bosses and pastors are also in need to someone to be accountable to such as boards, organizations and peers. One of the best methods of accountability is the peer pressure method. Specifically, find a peer or two and give them the right to speak into your life at any time about any thing and give up the right to be offended by it. Agree to not only receive it as constructive criticism but act on the feedback because in your heart you know this person’s evaluation makes you better. The scariest thing you can do is give control away to another. It’s the only way to have true accountability.
As I mentioned before, great leaders are always good followers.