There have been too many failures in leadership. I don’t say that judgmentally, I say it factually. I’ve failed. We’ve all failed. When I talk about failures in leadership, I’m talking about more than a momentary lapse in judgment. I’m talking about intentional, habitual, immoral and maybe even EVIL failure. It’s a failure of leadership that is grossly acceptable in the eyes of a leader and is perpetrated upon society with the intent for personal gain.   

So, how do we respond? One great temptation is to let such failure feed our “self-righteous — I’m better than others — I’ll never fail” attitude. Another great temptation is to let such failure feed our cynicism. After all, if we can’t trust those who have been placed in a position of power, influence, and prestige, then who are we going to trust to lead and serve?  

The field of leadership has landmines buried deep. In arrogance, we’ve tried to walk across that field saying to ourselves and anyone who would listen, “Watch this! We’re going to do it differently! We’ll show them.” We not only walk with a cavalier attitude, but like many leaders, we are wounded by the landmines of pride, arrogance, independence, and self-righteousness.  

So, as I think about this subject of leadership and failure, I’m wondering as to what an appropriate response after the anger, the betrayal, the sense of injustice and mistrust could be? I have four suggestions:

1. Compassion. Compassion is about healing and forgiveness. If you consider leadership as a body of people working for the betterment of others, then it needs to hurt when the body of leadership experiences the puncture of failure. Regardless of the cause, compassion needs to be our response. Through working with a therapist, I've learned that when our inner critic can be compassionate, our healing is accelerated, we live more joyfully and with peace, and therefore, our leadership is elevated in its quality.

2. Critique. Notice, I didn't say critical. Here's a simple distinction. Critique is about assessing and analyzing so learning can happen. Criticism is about judgment and accusation. Sure, the criticism may be right and justified, but we don't learn through criticism. However, we learn through critique. And here's why that's key - Critique is underscored by humility and an unshakable will. Our critique of what happened in the life of a leader and how they failed when they shouldn't have is the practice of humility and an unshakable will to serve a cause greater than ourselves.

3. Care. As a follower of Jesus, I am reminded of what St. Paul wrote - "Dear brothers and sisters (talking to all of us), if another believer is overcome by some sin (failure), you who are godly (responsible, a member of God's family) should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path" [1]. Instead, we want to be judgmental - we want to accuse - we want to point the finger - we want justification - we want to feel superior at the expense of another. A better response than all of these is to learn to care. What seeds I sow today in the garden of failure will determine what fruit I eat in the garden of my own leadership. Here's what children teach us - Treat others the way you want to be treated. Let's make sure we care for others the way we would want to be cared for if we failed.

4. Charge. We are charged to lead from a place of a humble and secure identity. Our leadership does not define us. Our identity defines us and our leadership is the practice of our identity for the betterment of others. With whom do you share your dark secrets, your little failures, your arrogant and egotistical thoughts? With whom do you submit your attitude and heart so that they can remind you of who you are when your behavior and thoughts are not in alignment with your calling and identity? With whom do you share your triumphs so they are celebrated with gratitude and humility?

Sadly, failure in the leadership arena is going to happen again and again and again and again. Let's not grow cynical, but grow humbly, so we leave a healthy legacy for others because of our leadership and service. 

[1] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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