I am a reformed leader who believes humanity trumps functional benefit. I have championed projects and also supported other leaders. So, I have the advantage of seeing things from the perspective of a principal as well as from the point of view of a follower.
Many choleric leaders are focused on goals to the detriment of humanity. Followers are seen as tools to attain targets. Many spiritual heads and business entrepreneurs are on this table.
Some are passionate about what they are building for the greater good. They pour passion, energy and focus into it and that’s what makes them so successful. But, they tend to see things in black and white, including people. “Is this person helpful in achieving my goals?” They then retain or discard people based on the answer.
Leaders, where is your humanity?
You’ll find that many leaders befriend employees or volunteers on the basis of who is deemed loyal, reliable and efficient. But, the minute those people decide to do something else, a mental sorting process happens. It’s not malicious. It’s just instinctive. The person ceases to be relevant to the cause.
Sometimes a leader may even feel a misplaced sense of betrayal. They forget that the person has given their life for the organization’s goals, often at great personal cost. They have paid their dues and were faithful. The organization in fact owes some measure of its success to their contributions.
Another thing I’ve observed, is that some leaders may not realize how much of their personal comfort and peace they owe to their loyal followers. Because they are surrounded by good people, they don’t have to worry about trustworthiness or even mundane personal tasks. They might take those things for granted, without understanding the sacrificial price paid by the follower. How they neglected their own lives to prioritize the leader’s needs. They forget that good people are very rare.
Finally, when a good follower leaves, leaders, show empathy. Don’t just move on. For instance, if they are leaving for a second degree, ask them about it. Show interest. Write a glowing reference. Contribute to their tuition fee and try to check in on them, in future. Don’t make them feel like they’ve outlived their usefulness and no longer matter. Be humane.
For more, read Pastor, Find Your Humanity.
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