Two highly potential qualities often not viewed in the same boat.
After reading an article discussing the role of apologetics, I have been thinking about how it fits in with leadership.
Do they fit in with each other? And if they do, what should it look like?
There is definitely a right way and a wrong way of doing this.
I have been in leadership circles that have done at least one of the three of these, if not more:
- Lead by ordering
- Lead by convincing
- Lead by winning
There are certainly other ways one can lead, but these seem to emerge as the top three that I have seen.
Even with with leading by example, you are winning and/or convincing others to follow you.
Leading by example is one of my favorites, because you are both winning your followers over and are better able to convince them of your vision.
So where does apologetics fit in here?
I think there are a few ways. Two in particular are protuberant.
#1. The Edifying Apologetical Leader
This does not mean the leader tells you he or she is sorry that they are leading.
This is the person who uses apologetics in a very beneficial way—a way to benefit those who listen.
He or she will lay out the direction for the team or group, and at the same time give reasons for taking this direction.
And the reasons make sense.
But not only will the reasons make sense, you are drawn in to follow them.
This leader wins you over, AND convinces you that the current direction is the best direction.
You will walk away from a meeting knowing where your team is going, what your team is doing, and how to explain the reasons for your team’s direction to others.
Some traits you will notice with this leader
- Does his or her best to keep everyone up to speed
- Doesn’t just ask “Does anyone have any questions?” But instead welcomes feedback
- Will reevaluate his or her plan flaws are spotted
#2. The Ordering Apologetical Leader
This leader doesn’t tell you he or she is sorry either. Instead, this leader will tell you how he or she is right.
Apologetics are used by this leader as a means to justify his or her reason(s) for the direction the team is going.
Often times you will leave a meeting knowing what to do, but without having the feeling of being included.
The main way direction is communicated is by giving orders. When the order is not taken well, neither is the feedback and arguments emerge.
Input from others is commonly asked only from a key “player” and not welcomed from the whole team.
Some traits you will notice with this leader
- Asks the question “Does anyone have any questions?” as another way of saying “Does anyone have any problems with this?”
- Quickly moves to defense when flaws are spotted in his or her plan
- Speaks in mostly a first person manner (i.e. I want, I need)
We need to use apologetics to edify each other and the people we lead
Not to justify our cause.
Not to prove to the ones we lead that they are wrong and we are right.
Not to make them look dumb and making self look smart.
So what have I missed? Is there anything edifying you can add to this? Leave your comment below.
- New here? Consider Subscribing via RSS feed. It’s the best and fastest way to get content!
Related articles
That's a great insight. I know the tendency is to fall into the category of ordering because we fear we might be wrong. And gosh, who wants to be proven wrong? Thing is, most of what we bicker about is tangential to the real issue, so we could hypothetically concede on a lot of points to gain a platform to talk about the bigger ones.
Good stuff, Jonathan. I like where you are going with this leadership thing.
My recent post The Puddle: An Elegant but Not-Perfect Analogy
Thanks bro. I want to do a leadership interview series. Something like what you did with atheists. I've got one guy who's been a small, out of the house, business entrepreneur. Hopefully I will find some more people I can shoot some questions to that are willing to take some time in answering.
My recent post Leadership and Apologetics
By the way, good call on the "fear" factor. You are correct that we do fear being wrong, thus often times dig our hole deeper.
Great stuff Jonathon! As a guy who works primarily in leadership roles, I had never heard of apologetics. My guess would be that quite a lot of professionals are aware of or have been exposed to some of the concepts without ever delving into the terms and theory.
Thanks for your post.
L