Note: This is an excerpt from Sergeant Greg Doyle's new book, The Stinging Salve, due for release on June 20, 2009. Greg Doyle is a 28-year veteran of the Upland Police Department, Upland, California.
Thoughts on Status Quo Leadership
When I was a kid, the Hans Christian Andersen classic "The Emperor’s New Clothes" became a favorite of mine not only because someone important was walking around naked (a very funny notion to a ten-year-old boy), but also because the emperor in the story was oblivious to the fact he was being duped by people he trusted. Though the story was written for children, on closer inspection it is clear Mr. Andersen was really addressing serious issues in life, which we all would be wiser to heed.
As the story goes, the emperor was very concerned about outward appearances, so much so that he insisted on wearing very elegant clothing, which he changed every hour. The word of this strange behavior spread all over the Kingdom, until two scoundrels heard about it. They devised a scheme to approach the emperor and pose as two expert tailors, who would craft an outfit unparalleled by any clothing of that day. In fact, the material used would be “invisible” to anyone too stupid to see its beauty and quality.
The emperor was hooked in by the scam. Soon he was paying great sums of money for visits by the two scoundrels, who displayed the invisible cloth for the emperor’s approval. Not wishing to be thought stupid, the emperor began to believe the invisible material was really there. Soon all of his advisors and counselors followed suit (excuse the pun.) With the emperor’s money in hand, the scoundrels fled town. Meanwhile the emperor paraded himself around publicly in his newly acquired suit. Oddly enough, it took a little boy to point out that the emperor was indeed naked.
Status quo leadership tends to be static. Most often, chief executives surround themselves with subordinate leaders who generally agree with them. Unfortunately, choosing subordinate leaders like oneself creates an enormous (and often incestuous) blind spot, which usually translates into miscommunications, misunderstandings, mistakes, and missteps all along the chain of command. Rather than doing what is in the best interests of the organization, status quo leadership becomes more interested in protecting its own power by suppressing subordinates who do not agree with them. Communist and fascist regimes of the last century are stark examples of status quo leadership models at their worst.
Generally speaking, status quo leadership becomes most vulnerable (naked) when it fails to acknowledge the dissenting voice within the organization. Most often, the dissenting voice is the person or group closest to the problem at hand, with the least amount of power to affect change within the organization. Some organizations spend inordinate amounts of time trying to suppress dissent. Usually, suppression creates resentful martyrs, grudging grumblers, and chronic complainers.
Other organizations choose to simply ignore dissenters, most often to their inevitable embarrassment. One can only wonder if the famed vessel Titanic would have survived her maiden voyage had the interest in crossing the Atlantic safely in warmer waters been the real objective, rather than crossing the ocean in record-breaking time.
It may be helpful at this juncture to point out what dissent should look like within any organization. Dissent should never have as its objective the confiscation of power, the overthrow of leadership, or any adverse undertaking that could dismantle or destroy the integrity of the organization. Sinking the organization creates casualties, invites interference from outside influences, and undermines confidence in the organization from its clientele and the general public. One need only remember the losses suffered in the Titanic disaster to appreciate keeping the organization afloat no matter who is at the helm.
Ideally dissent should be the ability to respectfully voice constructive disagreement and be heard. Such dissent should be welcomed within the organization without reprisal and with an
attentive ear by leadership to revisit or address any perceived disparity. For example, if your organization was planning a huge outdoor company picnic and spent thousands of dollars in
preparation, wouldn’t it be a good idea to listen to the voice of dissent who pointed out all weather reports predicted a massive thunderstorm for the day of the event? Has anybody ever eaten soggy potato salad?
Does this mean all constructive dissent should be received by leadership without prejudice? YES! Does it mean every constructive dissent will result in an immediate change in marching orders? No. Positive change within any organization requires a well-communicated and shared vision, thoughtful planning, re-tooling and training, feedback, and a timetable for future implementation. What it could translate into over time is a greater participation in the organization by subordinates and less micro-management from the top of the organization down. It could also mitigate much of the “Us versus Them” mentality which plagues organizational effectiveness.
To whom did Jesus pass the reins of power in his organization? Would you believe Christ initially promoted uneducated fishermen? No one had credentials. No one had experience. One could hardly call Jesus’ selection of subordinates status quo leadership. Jesus selected followers not on the basis of appearance, but on their respective aptitudes and attitudes. Jesus looked to the heart and character of the person, not their ability to pay lip service. The record of the gospels indicated the Apostles were hardly corporate “yes men” by any standard. They were chosen to become servants.
With nearly two thousand years of recorded history on the books, it is clear that Jesus knew how to select the right people for his organization. Jesus had a vision, a message, a mission, and a purpose just like most organizations on the planet, past and present. He effectively selected his executive team, shared his vision with them, and gave them simple instructions for success, while leaving them in charge of His Father’s business. All that was required was to trust in their founder (Jesus) and follow those instructions in faith and obedience.
While there have been more than a few setbacks in two thousand years, the organization still thrives in spite of all the attempts of Christ’s competitor to put Him out of business. I cannot think of any other organization that has survived for so long, except perhaps the organization Jesus was ejected from (rather harshly) for voicing his dissent publicly.
If you believe the message of the gospels, don’t settle for the trifling, stifling static from the status quo; listen to the Word of God and allow Jesus to help your faith grow.
(excerpt from The Stinging Salve, by The Gadfly, (2009) Publish America. Baltimore, Mayrland, pp.79-83, reprinted by permission)
Showing posts with label faith-based. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith-based. Show all posts
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Semper Fi
Note: The following excerpt is from Sergeant Greg Doyle's new book on faith due for release on June 20, 2009, called The Stinging Salve. Greg is a 28-year veteran with the Upland Police Department, Upland, California.
The Marine Corps Model
As a formerly trained Army bullet-catcher (Company B, 2nd Battalion, 60th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division), I can honestly say I do still profess to be a soldier, after thirty years since my honorable discharge from the service. First and foremost, I am a soldier in Christ in the midst of a spiritual war being waged by an evil Enemy here on Earth. In my capacity as a police sergeant, I am a soldier of my trade dealing with battles on the streets with violent lawbreakers and criminals. At home, I am an old soldier at my post, guarding and protecting my family to the best of my abilities.
But the truth remains, because I never had the opportunity to serve my country in a war zone, I am a American veteran, but not a combat veteran. I have a deep and abiding respect for any man or woman who wore or still wears an American military uniform, especially those who have served in combat zones, and particularly those who came under fire in combat zones. Who cannot be moved at the assembly of U.S. war veterans at a military memorial service? Who can fully recognize and understand the burden of freedom they shouldered for the rest of us by stepping into harm’s way?
I mention the United States military and my former affiliation to illustrate a principle that most folks would recognize, but rarely discuss openly. For the purpose of discussion, I will call this particular concept The Marine Corps Model. It has a direct application to faith and helps to explain, in part, why Christianity is what it appears to be.
I have a great affection for the Marine Corps, though I have never served in that uniform. While all of the military branches have some form of basic training, the ground-fighting branches (namely the Army and the Marines) have the most rigorous and intensive physical training standards among the five branches of service. I have never witnessed a former American Army soldier stand up in a crowded movie theater and salute when the Army theme song, “The Caissons Go Rolling Along,” was being played as part of any particular movie. But I swear I have been privy to observe old marines leap to their feet at the first few bars of “The Halls of Montezuma,” throw a salute, and suffer cat-calls and ridicule through the entire song (especially from movie-goers who were seated directly behind them).
The principle is quite simple: once a marine, ALWAYS a marine. Semper Fi (short for Semper Fidelis) in Latin means always faithful. And to what or whom are marines always faithful? To the Marine Corps and the country they serve. The spirit of camaraderie and of belonging to the best of the best (from the marine outlook) is what makes the Marine Corps one of the most respected and fearless fighting forces on the face of the planet; ever.
As one might rightly guess, not everyone who enlists in the U.S. Armed Forces completes the training or earns the right and privilege to wear the uniform. Fewer still make it through Marine Corps training to call themselves marines. Of course, there are those in non-military circles who don fatigue shirts or camouflage pants or combat boots, but no one in their right mind would mistake them for military personnel, let alone real marines.
That is the point I wish to present to you concerning Christianity. While there are many detractors these days concerning the issue of whether or not God exists (while they are generally very loud, rude, and obnoxious about their opinions) they are NOT among the
majority who have some inkling there must be a higher power. Those unbelieving detractors disqualify themselves from membership in the family of God because they refuse to enlist and participate in the exercise of faith.
Then there are those who believe there must be something out there (spiritually speaking) but are unwilling to make a commitment as to what that something might be. Perhaps they pray to that something on occasion, but in reality, it is more out of habit (as a superstition) than a real exercise of faith (much like wearing a military insignia, having never been in the service.) Spiritual bench-warmers never get picked to play on either team. Much like a vehicle transmission, which is perpetually stuck in neutral, non-committal types never get in gear to go anywhere with their faith.
Christianity draws some of its greatest criticism from those who have other belief systems. If, as he has declared, Jesus is the only way to God, then where does that leave everyone who does not believe in Jesus? Again, I refer to The Marine Corps Model.
You can bomb an objective on the ground from an airplane with precision accuracy and inflict casualties. You can bombard an enemy’s defenses and weaken them with the biggest artillery shells (known to mankind) from a ship offshore. You can even drop paratroopers in hundreds of sticks from the sky into enemy-controlled territory to disrupt communication and delay reinforcements. But you will never establish a viable supply line to make any serious gains into enemy-held territory until you establish a beachhead. And if you want a breakthrough in the first line of the enemy-held defenses (to hold and secure that beachhead), you send in the Marines. A well-trained Marine regiment is a force to be feared and reckoned with.
By comparison, mankind has been held in enemy-controlled territory since Adam and Eve fell from grace and sinned in the Garden of Eden. And, in this spiritual war between the forces of Heaven (God) and the forces of Earth (Satan), God has selectively bombed His objectives from the skies (through His Word), and God has bombarded Satan’s strongholds using some pretty big guns (the Law of Moses.) God has dropped messengers (the Prophets) behind the lines to disrupt communications between the Enemy (Satan) and those trapped by the occupation (us.)
But when God needed to establish a beachhead He sent the best; He sent the toughest; He sent the most respected; He sent the fearless; He sent the force to be reckoned with; God sent Jesus. Unlike the Marine Corps motto, Jesus is more than a slogan. Jesus is Semper Fidelis incarnate. Jesus is the I AM! Faithful to the Father and to the mission God assigned to him, Jesus stormed the beach to rescue you and me from sin’s captivity.
Because of the spiritual beachhead, the breach in the Enemy’s defenses on Earth was established and held secure through Jesus’ death on a cross and by his divine resurrection from the tomb in victory over Death. If you are content to remain a captive, then believe what you will. But Christians stand and sing our tributes to Jesus because he is our liberator. We love Jesus to the core!
Oo-rah! Jesus! Oo-rah!
(excerpt from The Stinging Salve, by The Gadfly, (2009) Publish America, Baltimore Maryland, pp 25-29, reprinted by permission.)
The Marine Corps Model
As a formerly trained Army bullet-catcher (Company B, 2nd Battalion, 60th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division), I can honestly say I do still profess to be a soldier, after thirty years since my honorable discharge from the service. First and foremost, I am a soldier in Christ in the midst of a spiritual war being waged by an evil Enemy here on Earth. In my capacity as a police sergeant, I am a soldier of my trade dealing with battles on the streets with violent lawbreakers and criminals. At home, I am an old soldier at my post, guarding and protecting my family to the best of my abilities.
But the truth remains, because I never had the opportunity to serve my country in a war zone, I am a American veteran, but not a combat veteran. I have a deep and abiding respect for any man or woman who wore or still wears an American military uniform, especially those who have served in combat zones, and particularly those who came under fire in combat zones. Who cannot be moved at the assembly of U.S. war veterans at a military memorial service? Who can fully recognize and understand the burden of freedom they shouldered for the rest of us by stepping into harm’s way?
I mention the United States military and my former affiliation to illustrate a principle that most folks would recognize, but rarely discuss openly. For the purpose of discussion, I will call this particular concept The Marine Corps Model. It has a direct application to faith and helps to explain, in part, why Christianity is what it appears to be.
I have a great affection for the Marine Corps, though I have never served in that uniform. While all of the military branches have some form of basic training, the ground-fighting branches (namely the Army and the Marines) have the most rigorous and intensive physical training standards among the five branches of service. I have never witnessed a former American Army soldier stand up in a crowded movie theater and salute when the Army theme song, “The Caissons Go Rolling Along,” was being played as part of any particular movie. But I swear I have been privy to observe old marines leap to their feet at the first few bars of “The Halls of Montezuma,” throw a salute, and suffer cat-calls and ridicule through the entire song (especially from movie-goers who were seated directly behind them).
The principle is quite simple: once a marine, ALWAYS a marine. Semper Fi (short for Semper Fidelis) in Latin means always faithful. And to what or whom are marines always faithful? To the Marine Corps and the country they serve. The spirit of camaraderie and of belonging to the best of the best (from the marine outlook) is what makes the Marine Corps one of the most respected and fearless fighting forces on the face of the planet; ever.
As one might rightly guess, not everyone who enlists in the U.S. Armed Forces completes the training or earns the right and privilege to wear the uniform. Fewer still make it through Marine Corps training to call themselves marines. Of course, there are those in non-military circles who don fatigue shirts or camouflage pants or combat boots, but no one in their right mind would mistake them for military personnel, let alone real marines.
That is the point I wish to present to you concerning Christianity. While there are many detractors these days concerning the issue of whether or not God exists (while they are generally very loud, rude, and obnoxious about their opinions) they are NOT among the
majority who have some inkling there must be a higher power. Those unbelieving detractors disqualify themselves from membership in the family of God because they refuse to enlist and participate in the exercise of faith.
Then there are those who believe there must be something out there (spiritually speaking) but are unwilling to make a commitment as to what that something might be. Perhaps they pray to that something on occasion, but in reality, it is more out of habit (as a superstition) than a real exercise of faith (much like wearing a military insignia, having never been in the service.) Spiritual bench-warmers never get picked to play on either team. Much like a vehicle transmission, which is perpetually stuck in neutral, non-committal types never get in gear to go anywhere with their faith.
Christianity draws some of its greatest criticism from those who have other belief systems. If, as he has declared, Jesus is the only way to God, then where does that leave everyone who does not believe in Jesus? Again, I refer to The Marine Corps Model.
You can bomb an objective on the ground from an airplane with precision accuracy and inflict casualties. You can bombard an enemy’s defenses and weaken them with the biggest artillery shells (known to mankind) from a ship offshore. You can even drop paratroopers in hundreds of sticks from the sky into enemy-controlled territory to disrupt communication and delay reinforcements. But you will never establish a viable supply line to make any serious gains into enemy-held territory until you establish a beachhead. And if you want a breakthrough in the first line of the enemy-held defenses (to hold and secure that beachhead), you send in the Marines. A well-trained Marine regiment is a force to be feared and reckoned with.
By comparison, mankind has been held in enemy-controlled territory since Adam and Eve fell from grace and sinned in the Garden of Eden. And, in this spiritual war between the forces of Heaven (God) and the forces of Earth (Satan), God has selectively bombed His objectives from the skies (through His Word), and God has bombarded Satan’s strongholds using some pretty big guns (the Law of Moses.) God has dropped messengers (the Prophets) behind the lines to disrupt communications between the Enemy (Satan) and those trapped by the occupation (us.)
But when God needed to establish a beachhead He sent the best; He sent the toughest; He sent the most respected; He sent the fearless; He sent the force to be reckoned with; God sent Jesus. Unlike the Marine Corps motto, Jesus is more than a slogan. Jesus is Semper Fidelis incarnate. Jesus is the I AM! Faithful to the Father and to the mission God assigned to him, Jesus stormed the beach to rescue you and me from sin’s captivity.
Because of the spiritual beachhead, the breach in the Enemy’s defenses on Earth was established and held secure through Jesus’ death on a cross and by his divine resurrection from the tomb in victory over Death. If you are content to remain a captive, then believe what you will. But Christians stand and sing our tributes to Jesus because he is our liberator. We love Jesus to the core!
Oo-rah! Jesus! Oo-rah!
(excerpt from The Stinging Salve, by The Gadfly, (2009) Publish America, Baltimore Maryland, pp 25-29, reprinted by permission.)
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Collaborations for Faith-Based Initiatives
Join an Online Discussion
On June 27, 2007, at 2 p.m. (eastern time), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will present a Web Forum discussion with Rev. Theresa Mercer and Elaine Witman on best practices for collaborating on faith-based initiatives. In addition to their individual experience, Rev. Mercer and Ms. Witman co-directed the Baltimore chapter of the OVC-funded Spirituality and Victim Services Initiative from 2003 through 2006.
Rev. Mercer has 19 years of experience in program and community development working with faith-based, grassroots, and professional organizations throughout the country. She recently worked on the Maryland Faith Partnership Initiative as a project specialist for the Cabinet Council on Criminal and Juvenile Justice through the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention.
Ms. Witman is Director of Partnership and Program Development at the Sidran Institute, a nonprofit organization that educates people about traumatic stress and advocates for those who suffer from it. She has more than 20 years of experience in organizational development and capacity building; program design and implementation; community organizing; training, technical assistance, and community education; and systems integration.
Visit the OVC Web Forum now to submit questions for Rev. Mercer and Ms. Witman and return on June 27 at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) for the live discussion. Learn how to participate beforehand so you are ready for the discussion.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
On June 27, 2007, at 2 p.m. (eastern time), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will present a Web Forum discussion with Rev. Theresa Mercer and Elaine Witman on best practices for collaborating on faith-based initiatives. In addition to their individual experience, Rev. Mercer and Ms. Witman co-directed the Baltimore chapter of the OVC-funded Spirituality and Victim Services Initiative from 2003 through 2006.
Rev. Mercer has 19 years of experience in program and community development working with faith-based, grassroots, and professional organizations throughout the country. She recently worked on the Maryland Faith Partnership Initiative as a project specialist for the Cabinet Council on Criminal and Juvenile Justice through the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention.
Ms. Witman is Director of Partnership and Program Development at the Sidran Institute, a nonprofit organization that educates people about traumatic stress and advocates for those who suffer from it. She has more than 20 years of experience in organizational development and capacity building; program design and implementation; community organizing; training, technical assistance, and community education; and systems integration.
Visit the OVC Web Forum now to submit questions for Rev. Mercer and Ms. Witman and return on June 27 at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) for the live discussion. Learn how to participate beforehand so you are ready for the discussion.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
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