Comments on: Leading From A Position Of Fear Or Security http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html The Blog of Leader, Pastor, and Church Planter Ron Edmondson Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:24:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ronedmondson http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-20091 ronedmondson Thu, 19 May 2011 11:43:49 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-20091 That's a great observation Charles. I kind of write about that today in my leading with control vs. leading with influence post. Fear and the domination with it can be a very negative trait for a leader and the team. That's a great observation Charles. I kind of write about that today in my leading with control vs. leading with influence post. Fear and the domination with it can be a very negative trait for a leader and the team.

]]> By: Charles Flemming http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-20065 Charles Flemming Thu, 19 May 2011 00:27:46 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-20065 Leading from fear is one of my soapbox items these days. One thing I've noticed in the non-church workplace is that fear causes people to put their entire focus into placating their bosses rather than in creating excellence. I work for an incredibly large retailer doing perpetual inventory. Nearly every day we are taken from our mission-critical routine in order to rush some process that should have been done routinely (but wasn't because we were taken off THAT routine in order to rush some OTHER process that should have been done [but wasn't, because...]). The undone stuff just piles higher because all anybody can focus on is whatever they're going to get slapped about over. Nobody in management ever seems to notice what's causing their work to remain undone. It's all up the line. Placating the Work Gods instead of doing daily what needs to be done. It's because they're afraid of losing their jobs because of a bad visit. Leading from fear is one of my soapbox items these days.

One thing I've noticed in the non-church workplace is that fear causes people to put their entire focus into placating their bosses rather than in creating excellence.

I work for an incredibly large retailer doing perpetual inventory. Nearly every day we are taken from our mission-critical routine in order to rush some process that should have been done routinely (but wasn't because we were taken off THAT routine in order to rush some OTHER process that should have been done [but wasn't, because...]).

The undone stuff just piles higher because all anybody can focus on is whatever they're going to get slapped about over. Nobody in management ever seems to notice what's causing their work to remain undone.

It's all up the line. Placating the Work Gods instead of doing daily what needs to be done.

It's because they're afraid of losing their jobs because of a bad visit.

]]> By: Don’t Confuse Critical Thinking With Negativity @ Ron Edmondson http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-7191 Don’t Confuse Critical Thinking With Negativity @ Ron Edmondson Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:19:52 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-7191 [...] Development involves asking questions, thinking how things can be made better and desiring consistent improvement.  The problem for developers is that we get push back from those that prefer growth or maintenance.  (Or those who operate out of fear or insecurity.  I wrote about that HERE.) [...] [...] Development involves asking questions, thinking how things can be made better and desiring consistent improvement.  The problem for developers is that we get push back from those that prefer growth or maintenance.  (Or those who operate out of fear or insecurity.  I wrote about that HERE.) [...]

]]> By: ronedmondson http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-5259 ronedmondson Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:34:37 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-5259 Daniel, that's a great question. I think I will make that another post. In the meantime, I have this post that I wrote previously: <a href="http://www.ronedmondson.com/2008/11/getting-rid-of-fear-in-life.html" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.ronedmondson.com/2008/11/getting-rid-o...</a>" target="_blank">http://www.ronedmondson.com/2008/11/getting-rid-o...</a></a> Stay tuned. Thanks for your great question. Daniel, that's a great question. I think I will make that another post. In the meantime, I have this post that I wrote previously:

http://www.ronedmondson.com/2008/11/getting-rid-o…

Stay tuned. Thanks for your great question.

]]> By: Daniel_Berman http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-5258 Daniel_Berman Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:30:22 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-5258 So how do you unlearn to lead from a position of fear, when that's what you confront every single day from people above you? So how do you unlearn to lead from a position of fear, when that's what you confront every single day from people above you?

]]> By: ronedmondson http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-4633 ronedmondson Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:05:46 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-4633 Thanks Josh. I agree with you completely. I hear great things about your ministry also! Thanks Josh. I agree with you completely. I hear great things about your ministry also!

]]> By: Joshua Woodlief http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-4632 Joshua Woodlief Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:32:57 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-4632 Hey Ron! This is Joshua from oneChurch. This is a great post! More of us who are in leadership need to surface these issues and deal with them. Thanks for posting this! The sad thing about fearful leaders is that many times there is some sort of bad church/corporate job experience that has left them wounded. It is sad that the ones who are supposed to lead and protect the broken and hurting in our churches often times end up being the ones who are hurt and broken. It's a sad cycle! I am not sure what the fix is, but I believe that we will have to see church and leadership culture begin to change before insecure leaders can step back into who they should be. Michael Bayne has been filling me in on all God is doing at Grace. It's exciting to see! Thanks for loving Clarksville! Blessing to you Hey Ron! This is Joshua from oneChurch. This is a great post! More of us who are in leadership need to surface these issues and deal with them. Thanks for posting this!

The sad thing about fearful leaders is that many times there is some sort of bad church/corporate job experience that has left them wounded. It is sad that the ones who are supposed to lead and protect the broken and hurting in our churches often times end up being the ones who are hurt and broken. It's a sad cycle! I am not sure what the fix is, but I believe that we will have to see church and leadership culture begin to change before insecure leaders can step back into who they should be.

Michael Bayne has been filling me in on all God is doing at Grace. It's exciting to see! Thanks for loving Clarksville! Blessing to you

]]> By: ronedmondson http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-4509 ronedmondson Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:36:21 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-4509 Great addition Steve. Thanks for commenting. I'm honored. I love your blog and your continued contribution to leadership. Great addition Steve. Thanks for commenting. I'm honored. I love your blog and your continued contribution to leadership.

]]> By: Steve Roesler http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-4507 Steve Roesler Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:20:38 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-4507 Ron, One key ingredient missing from this good discussion is this: leading from a position of fear, by definition, creates a vacuum for the #1 ingredient needed to gain committed followers. That's "trust". Insecurity reflects a lack of trust in one's self; this prevents the "leader" from trusting, and showing trust, in others. This undermines the development of genuine relationships needed to effectively oversee a church or business. The result: Conflict, high turnover, and staff needing to spend more time protecting themselves than doing that for which they are gifted. Your post can be used as a checklist for interviewing new pastors and leaders as well as those provided as references. Keep writing. . . Ron,

One key ingredient missing from this good discussion is this: leading from a position of fear, by definition, creates a vacuum for the #1 ingredient needed to gain committed followers. That's "trust".

Insecurity reflects a lack of trust in one's self; this prevents the "leader" from trusting, and showing trust, in others. This undermines the development of genuine relationships needed to effectively oversee a church or business. The result: Conflict, high turnover, and staff needing to spend more time protecting themselves than doing that for which they are gifted.

Your post can be used as a checklist for interviewing new pastors and leaders as well as those provided as references.

Keep writing. . .

]]> By: Ron Edmondson http://www.ronedmondson.com/2009/12/leading-from-a-position-of-fear-or-security.html#comment-4502 Ron Edmondson Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:52:32 +0000 http://www.ronedmondson.com/?p=4640#comment-4502 Thanks Billy for your comment. I think I'll make the same commitment to myself! Thanks Billy for your comment. I think I’ll make the same commitment to myself!

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