CHAPTER 11
SECURE
Leadership is a sought after position, but it comes with its various dangers, problems and risks, and of all these, the hardest one to endure is probably criticism. Everything a leader does is subject to inspection and scrutiny brings criticism from friend and foe alike. Constant negative criticism can have a devastating effect on a person’s morale and emotional well-being – it can turn a brave and dependable leader into a nervous wreck, into one who is always looking over his shoulder with dreaded expectation, waiting for the next blow, his life spent 'tiptoeing on eggs' listening for the next crack of the whip. When his critics become firmly planted in his thoughts, they have a stranglehold on his every move and are capable of manipulating him to doing their bidding.
Such leaders live in fear. It is a fear that undermines their authority, their decision-making ability as they constantly second-guess themselves. It also affects their performance and jeopardizes not only their future but also the future of those in their care. As a leader you should know where you are going with your followers, what you want to achieve and how you are going to achieve it. Know that criticism is a momentary thing, to be accepted or rejected according to its merits. It is not a movement restricting jacket to be worn for the rest of your life.
Each action you take should resound with confidence. It should be the movement of someone who knows where he is going. Yes, there will be times when you will feel insecure, when you will feel unsure whether the step you are taking is the right one, but it is not necessary to broadcast your insecurities, even if that which you are doing contradicts the advice you have received. You know where you are headed, not your critics, and there are times when you will be called upon to follow your heart:
And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. (2Sam.6:14-22)
David gave no thought to what others would think of him. He was the king, God’s chosen leader, and he would do anything to please his Lord. David, secure and confident in his role as leader of Israel, could humble himself before the lowliest of his subjects without any qualms or second thoughts about what they were thinking. He was the appointed leader, he knew what he was about, knew where he was taking Israel, and he knew what was required to please his God the Source of all his power. Each and all his subjects were afforded the opportunity of seeing him stripped, seeing him humbling himself, even to some humiliating himself, yet each at that moment realized that this was a man of strong character, undeterred by human judgments and obstacles.
His most ardent critic was his own wife, but as David pointed out, it was not she that had placed him on the throne of Israel but God, and he would please God no matter what anyone said or thought. Her criticism stemmed from the embarrassment she felt at seeing her husband almost naked before the people. Her own feelings and emotions were the source of her criticism but David’s words reminded her that she was queen only because God had placed him in authority. As an afterthought, it is interesting to note that because of her attitude to David humbling himself before the Lord, she was to bear no children and died childless, which in ancient Israel was the most degrading thing that could befall a woman. Her own insecurity was to bring her low in the eyes of the world.
David had made a decision to serve the Lord and he would do it openly and confidently in the knowledge that his position as king was safe. The Lord had chosen him because he could do the job, and the Lord would keep him and bless him till the job was done.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Rom.13:1)
There are times when, as a leader, you will be called upon to do things that by human standards are embarrassing, things that may even seem ‘beneath’ the position you hold, but these things allow you to identify with your followers, they see you as someone to whom they can relate, someone who they can understand and someone who understands them and their needs. Many leaders today forget where they came from. They have forgotten the battles they fought and the obstacles they had to overcome to get where they are, forget that there are those in their own departments and teams who are fighting the same battles, who also aspire to leadership, perhaps even your position.
Such a one was Absalom, David’s son, who wanted to be king. He almost succeeded but because David kept sight of what was important, the rebellion was unsuccessful. During the rebellion David was at his most vulnerable but the support of those around him ensured his kingship. People need a leader who they can trust and when the time comes the leader will be able to trust them.
Be secure in what you are doing; know that you were chosen to do it. Be brave in your decisions. Be strong in your directions, but be human. Do not alienate yourself from your support base. Be confident, in your work and your relationships.