Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So, throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation garden of your life. – James 1:19-21 MSG
Being the leader is often a humbling experience. People have an opinion of every decision a leader makes. Sometimes the team agrees, but other times they have whispered about how decisions could be made better. In almost every decision that an Executive Director makes, there are pieces to the puzzle that only the Executive Director knows about. The team does not always know all of the factors behind a decision.
However, it is important for leaders to listen. Constructive criticism is ok and beneficial to an organization. When you choose to listen and be slow to anger, you may learn helpful observations about yourself. When a leader becomes defensive and quickly angered, it communicates that the team cannot go to them.
Let’s be clear; there is a difference between constructive criticism and pettiness. Construction criticism would be, “I wish you would walk in your authority as a leader.” It is an observation that helps you do better in the future. Pettiness sounds more personal and an attack such as, “you didn’t get your picture taken with me.” These comments are not helpful unless there is a viewpoint of the greater team.
Leaders must keep the doors of communication open to the team they are leading. Leadership and management issues are one of the main reasons Five Stone Mentoring is hired. If you are struggling in these areas, reserve a free consultation session and learn how our mentors can help you.
Ashley