QUARANTINE LIFE: LEADERSHIP MATTERS

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” 

~Proverbs 29:2

Leadership matters. 
It’s hard to watch a once thriving or promising thing, weaken or implode, as those who have the responsibility to protect and maintain it, stand idly by, do nothing to stop it, and enable the destructive force that’s causing it all.

Leadership really matters.

Some people are too covetous and opportunistic to lead; they merely talk a good game about who they are, and what they know. 

They spew irrelevant details, at random and inappropriate times, to impress others or monopolize conversations. They want notoriety in areas in which they have neither the temperament nor maturity to succeed. They will lie to, and about others, inflate their resumes, are suspicious, argumentative, and defensive. They take credit for, and cannot applaud the work of others. Their envy of competent people is hard to hide.

They can’t get out of their own way and refuse to acknowledge failure. They applaud mediocrity. 

They must latch on to others, not to learn or assist, but to siphon information to use to make a name for themselves. Everyone in their orbit is dispensable. 

Their own words, attitude, and penchant for causing friction and sowing discord is always their biggest problem. They’ll throw good, faithful, effective people under the bus without blinking an eye. Because they lack discernment, they’ll form alliances with those who, like them, are opportunistic, thus creating an environment void of trust. When they’ve acquired enough information to use for their own benefit, or against others, they will destroy the very thing they say they’re building. 

They seek contact information to boast about who they can call, but lack the personality to establish good working relationships. They may even have good ideas, but aren’t the best to implement them. Arrogance precludes them from admitting that they should ask for help from those who are competent. Fluff looks good to them because they won’t allow the excellence they can’t execute to exist.

Some people, on the other hand, are anointed to lead—not perfect, blameless, or immune to trouble—but anointed for a task. They bring life. They inspire, restore, and invigorate. Their mere presence makes a difference. They know how to wisely delegate authority and mentor future leaders. They don’t see the competent people around them as competition. 

What is a struggle for, and demands hustle from the opportunist, appears easy for the anointed. The tools of the anointed are often innate. Excellence is the goal of the anointed. 

The opportunist will break his or her neck trying to assume the position and reputation of the anointed, but the residue of the anointed lingers. The opportunist can’t keep the name of the anointed out of his mouth. 

The opportunist will dismiss everything and everyone associated with the anointed, but his or her insecurity will never allow for the kind of strong, capable team encouraged by the anointed. 

The blueprints and tools of the anointed won’t work in the hands of the opportunist —or his or her cohorts. The opportunist can’t afford to implement them and they actually work. He or she will feverishly try, but won’t be able to duplicate, replicate, replace, demean, extinguish, erase or cause others to second guess, or forget the efforts and accomplishments of the anointed. Doing so will hinder his or her own efforts, rendering them weak and laughable. 

The opportunist would rather destroy what the anointed has built, than embrace it and continue to build upon it. 

The opportunist soon finds that the anointed—thorough, respected, responsible, teachable, and wise— has abilities and favor that cannot be denied—and receipts that cannot be scrubbed. 

The opportunist, flighty, uncommitted and frustrated, will give up and neglect the endeavor altogether; preferring to see it, and everything and everyone associated with it, implode, rather than step aside.