"But there are disadvantages to directive leadership: it can create very dependent followers who rely too much of the time for too many things in too many circumstances on the leader. No doubt Brigham Young spoke from this kind of concern when he lamented:
"'I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they will settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way.' (JD 9:150)
"President Young was striking at an essential principle of followership and leadership in this particular instance. It is not only important for the growth of the members involved to exercise their own claims on God for assurance about the direction of the kingdom, but it is also important for followers to prepare themselves to follow in such a way that their influence could be much more helpful to the leaders in reaching shared goals. Not only do followers who proceed, as Brigham Young said, 'with a reckless confidence' fail to develop themselves in their own power and resources, but also they deprive the leaders of the kind of support they deserve and need at times from followers who are themselves developing the skills required. The 58th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants indicates that the Lord expects members of the Church to accomplish much on their own without incessant institutional insistence or prodding. It is neither realistic nor wise to expect leaders to provide all of the answers all of the time, to provide solutions to all of the problems that will arise. This would require leaders to be omniscient; further, it would require of them the kind of sustained energy and time which is simply not humanly possible to give over protracted periods of time.
"The counsel by Brigham Young is just as appropriate for today as it was when he gave it. It is particularly needed in a Church that is growing in its size, scope, and strategic situation in the world today."
- Neal A. Maxwell, A More Excellent Way [Deseret 1967], pp. 20-21
This excerpt comes from a collection of Elder Maxwell's essays, published when he was serving as a Regional Representative, before his call as a general authority. He wrote an insightful chapter on leadership in the Church that includes these comments about the relationship between leaders and followers. There is a great danger when leadership is too "directive" that we can become "very dependent followers who rely too much of the time for too many things in too many circumstances on the leader." Elder Maxwell argues for a more involved, active role that followers should take, based on this wonderful quote from Brigham Young:
It's not wise to blindly trust every aspect of leadership; that only weakens the whole organization. Instead, we should always seek to know, through personal revelation, that revelations are from God and that we are being "led in the right way." Elder Maxwell argues that when we become that kind of careful follower, we are more developing "influence could be much more helpful to the leaders in reaching shared goals." We become more useful to God because we are developing skills that will enhance and bless His work. The Lord clearly wants us to "accomplish much on their own without incessant institutional insistence or prodding."
(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)
No comments:
Post a Comment