Leadership backlash (I)

“BELIEVE me,” said Jesus, “I am who I am long before Abraham was anything.” That did it—pushed them over the edge. They picked up rocks to throw at him. But Jesus slipped away, getting out of the Temple.” John 8.58-59 Message.

“I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.” 2 Corinthians 12.15

Leadership usually comes with glitz, glamour and gratification but sometimes in your leadership journey you will experience backlash—times when due to no fault of yours or sometimes due to an occasional error you experience unexpected and usually negatively vigorous reaction. At times like this the heat is on and the leader is under attack.

“Leadership backlash is a particular form of work conflict. It refers to the negative reactions of followers, other leaders, staff and sometimes external stakeholders to the decisions and actions taken by the leader, often when initiating change. Leadership backlash tests a leader’s beliefs, values, vision, character and goals. It is often a make or break time, a turning point – a time for growth and learning or a damage to confidence that breaks a leader. Professor Robert J Clinton in ‘The Making of a Leader’, describes leadership backlash as “…the condition when followers react against the course of action taken by a leader; usually due to unforeseen complications arising after the followers have previously approved of the action.” Graham Beattie.

At such times when a leader faces a backlash, the leader feels:

“When leaders experience a backlash their usual reaction is the flight, fight or freeze response.” Graham Beattie

People in the Bible experienced backlash.

1) Apostle Paul. He was a hardworking servant leader who gave his life to his life assignment. But despite this he experienced backlash every once in a while. See his lamentation about the Corinthians.

“Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me. Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.” 2 Corinthians 12.14-16.

2) Jesus too was not exempt from backlash. The people He came to deliver and help turned their backs on Him.

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66-67.

““Believe me,” said Jesus, “I am who I am long before Abraham was anything.”

That did it – pushed them over the edge. They picked up rocks to throw at him. But Jesus slipped away, getting out of the Temple.” John 8.58-59 Message.

3) David led the army to battle and before they came back their families and all they left behind was gone. David himself was a victim but the people turned against David.  “And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:5-6.

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Leadership Backlash Pt 2

““Believe me,” said Jesus, “I am who I am long before Abraham was anything.” That did it – pushed them over the edge. They picked up rocks to throw at him. But Jesus slipped away, getting out of the Temple.” John 8.58-59 Message.

“I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.” 2 Corinthians 12.15

We have been discussing leadership backlash. Leadership usually comes with glitz, glamour and gratification but sometimes in your leadership journey you will experience backlash—times when due to no fault of yours or sometimes due to an occasional error you experience unexpected and usually negatively vigorous reaction. At times like this the heat is on and the leader is under attack.

Many things can cause leadership backlash. We will look at crisis powered by people you are leading.

Leadership is about people and where you have more than one person there will always be the possibility of conflict, crisis and misunderstanding (it takes two to tangle). Everybody under your leadership is coming from different backgrounds; they have different experiences, different agenda, different perspectives, attitudes and expectations etc.

The challenge of leadership is to harness, harmonize, and channel these myriads of issues to effect a smooth and effective execution of the corporate vision. Inability to do this will always lead to crisis, instability, disappointment and sometimes insubordination, subversion, party spirit, rebellion, etc. and this can lead to a backlash.

One major reason for the above crisis is the leader focusing and being concerned mainly with actions and not influencing followers’ beliefs. To avoid and minimize such crisis consciously influence the beliefs of your followers (their thinking patterns, opinions, convictions, allegiance) and not just their actions (pursuits, activities, events, assignments, performance).

You must be the most predominant and preeminent, authoritative voice in the organization. You must regularly meet with your followers (virtually or physically) to influence their beliefs about the organsation and their input. There must be only one voice and that voice should be yours. Having another voice is destructive. There can only be one captain in the ship. There can only be one vision—division is the presence of two voices/visions which will always lead to crisis and a backlash against the leader.

Position yourself to be the only voice without engaging in authoritarianism, manipulation, threats or witchcraft.

 

2) Engage your followers consciously and actively – virtually or physically

– Regular relevant training.

– Speak words of affirmation.

– Speak words of encouragement.

– Paint pictures of a better and glorious future in the organsation.

– Show appreciation – have a reward system.

– Have the milk of human kindness.

– Let people see it as a privilege to work with you.

– Elicit trust.

– Open communication.

 

3) Prayer

– Bind spirit of strife, misunderstanding.

– Pray for wisdom and favour.

CONCLUDED.

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