We tell our children to be leaders and not followers. On several occasions, I’ve repeated that admonition myself. But, when I stepped back to consider those words, I realized how potentially destructive they are.
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1: 22-25)
Have you ever met someone who is determined to be the leader, someone who refuses to take any position or task that implies follower status? Such people are useless.
Worse than useless, they drain the life from an organization, kill progress for any higher purpose, and force everyone into an orbit around themselves until either they have created a cult of personality, a universe in which they are the center , or the weight of their ego forms a blackhole into which the company, agency, ministry, or family implodes.
It’s not a question of styles. Whether authoritarian or egalitarian, laissez-faire or micromanagers, we’re-all-one-big-happy-family or keep-it-strictly-business; any approach can work or fail. It’s not a question of the approach. It’s a question of the intent.
If we tell gifted or positioned individual that they must be the leader, we create a culture in which sabotage and self-advancement are the highest principles. Look around. Take a good look around. See the damage such a culture causes.
On the other hand, people who refuse leadership are differently but equally damaging. People who desire to be followers shrink from responsibilities which they are the best equipped to fulfill. They hide from or (sub)consciously fail at tasks for which they are uniquely gifted. Those who strain to maintain their follower status end up crossing the line from humility to futility. Such people would rather be useless than to be utilized in ways that draw attention to them---- even if they could benefit the mission in the process.
There’s nothing wrong with being a leader. There’s nothing wrong with being a follower. But the most desirable goal is to be a DOER.
Doers get things done.
Doers achieve the goal.
Doers go and gather the resources necessary to fulfill the task. Sometimes those resources include people to whom the doer must give directions. The doer isn’t trying to make himself/herself the leader. This just happens to be how the job gets done.
Doers do what needs to be done. Sometimes that means following a better plan than their own. Sometimes that means setting their better idea aside while the hierarchy sorts out its plan, not because they want to, but because a fight at that point won’t advance the ultimate goal.
Doers don’t care about the title. They care about the task.
Sometimes a doer ends up with the title of "leader," but leaders who aren’t doers are empty egos.
Sometimes doers fill the official follower slots, but followers who aren’t doers are deadweight.
Lead or follow, but help get it freakin' done!
----- Anderson T. Graves IIYou know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10: 42-45)
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1: 22-25)
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is the pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church
Call/ fax: 334-288-0577
If you want to be a blessing to this ministry, contributions may be made by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Rd.,
Montgomery, AL 3611
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