Ever wonder about this? Or since there is a sufficient amount of drama and chaos that whoever should be in charge… isn’t. Who should? Should you be in charge? Maybe you should but you don’t have the authority? Does this only happen in work situation or volunteer ones as well … in your family? All of those are fraught with power issues and jockeying for control. So… what do you do when you are enmeshed in these situations? Do you try and bring a bit of organization and sanity to it? And how did that go? Do you simply throw up your hands? Do you look to see how you can be an advocate for a proactive approach, regardless if you are the leader or not?
Perhaps an additional question should be – in the absence of (visible) leadership, is this a role you want? are willing to accept? take the responsibility? Actually… what does ‘being in charge’ mean? It may not be what you think. If you think that glamour and prestige automatically occur – think again. If you think it means that you’re first… wrong! Especially when you are the leader, you are suppose to direct, to challenge, to help those who are being led to do their best which will also mean helping them share their giftings for the benefit of all and assisting them to experience ownership in (fill in the blank).
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4, AMP)
Whoever’s in charge… they juggle a number of important considerations: the success of the project, the people involved and their involvement/ownership of what’s going on, the best plan to accomplish the goals, how to help people maximize their gifting for the success, etc. The ‘leader’s’ personal wants and desires come in last. Leaders also lead by example – they don’t issue orders from a safe distance. Leaders surround themselves with excellent and gifted people and then give them the authority over parts of the project that are relevant. These are only some of the characteristics and qualities of good leaders.
We’ve all be in situations that the people in charge are the least equipped to lead. That is incredibly frustrating for those who are subordinate but actually it’s also difficult for the one attempting to lead. If you are out of your depth, the wisest though most humbling thing to do is to admit and ask for help. Always look to your motivation, your goals in making decisions as to what you do and when.
We do have a guide in scripture that underscores who we should be and how we should act… if we are ‘in charge’:
“Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their powerful men exercise authority over them [tyrannizing them]. But this is not how it is among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first and most important among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45, AMP)
