Leaders as Guardians or Servants

I tried a number of times to get a blog together on the boat. However, the wifi kept closing down. As a result nothing could be saved. So after typing for a period of time, and then checking the results...nothing! I gave up until I moved home and now I feel I can trust the wifi connection.

I wanted to write something about power. I often wondered if some source of 'divine"wisdom came with a promotion. When I was in a position of leadership I kept waiting for that divine infusion of all knowing, but it never materialized for me. It always concerned me that people were so willing to take on the difficult tasks of leadership, when in practice they had no idea what it means to lead. Insecurity usually comes to my mind..but then I am being judgmental! In  some incidents the change of role seems to go to their heads and their behaviour suddenly is altered as well... often, not for the best. The  rise of status seemed to bring to them some mysterious source of perfect knowledge and the normal balance of leadership was broken. Dialogue, discussion, communication would wither on the vine and a great chasm would follow. As I think back over a long career of working in various environments, I have experienced this misunderstanding and misuse of power. To save my job I allowed some to exercise their bogus power over me, knowing at the same time I could snatch it away in an instant.....and, of course, lose my job at the same time!

Lord Acton once wrote,"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." To this he added, "Great men are almost always bad men."

Control Freak!

The problem with power is that almost everyone thinks they know what it means. We usually have our own concept or understanding of power. But in reality, the word power is very ambiguous, enigmatic or mysterious. On the other hand I think the idea of freedom is  enigmatic as well.  But in truth they are related terms that describe our interdependence. One thing is sure, we can't avoid power in our daily lives.

Power comes in different shapes and sizes. Some leaders of old said they got their power directly from god. Many enforced their power by the sword and the use of fear. There are still a few of these bad apples around today. Thank goodness we do not have to deal with such creatures in our political system...well I like to think that is the case! In a democracy, the people took that absolute power away from those who lorded it over them and put it in the hands of the people. At great sacrifice I might add.

Unfortunately the custodians of that gift of power often still  find ways to lord it over us. The boss can  use his position in the up-down hierarchies we work in, and threaten to fire us if we don't comply. People who volunteer or are elected to a position of trust and leadership often abuse their position. Nepotism, favours for friends, and fear of offending along with threats are used to maintain their concept of power.

I do not profess to be able to understand the extreme nature of power. I did experience it in almost all organizations I belonged to. But down deep I always realized that power, especially in our democracy, is ultimately determined by me and how I have chosen to live with it and exercise it. Of course, I always do this with some risk. I do believe that I must have the courage to act on my own when necessary.

The late newspaper commentator Walter Lippmann in one of his syndicated columns (Today and Tomorrow)  defined leaders as guardians or caretakers. This means they should not be motivated by self-interest. Rather, their attitude should focus on what needs to be done for others and not what the leader may gain from his or her position. Not many of those leaders around today!! Some universities and the Kiwanis Club still attempt to teach what they call Service Leadership Skills to young people. I wish them luck!

So I will let the discussion of power rest with those who have a far better knowledge of the subject and I will content myself with my own adaptation to all of these sources of power around me. I am still old fashioned enough to believe what is good for the majority in a democracy is best for the individual and therefor for me.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week