Insecure leaders make irrational decisions. Weak leaders prioritize their own status and their own agendas over the well-being of their subordinates. And leaders that lack humility are chronically defensive about their motives and their policies.
King Saul was a good example of bad leadership. Saul was tall…and woefully short on confidence. He was such a coward that during the ceremony proclaiming him as King of Israel, he was “hiding in the baggage” and had to be dragged out to finish the procession. And unfortunately, his entire reign was checkered by ill-advised decisions reeking of insecurity.
And in one of his many ignominious expeditions against the Philistines, Saul decided that it would be a good idea to prohibit his battle-weary men from eating any food “until he was avenged on his enemies.” The penalty for repleting glycogen was DEATH! Because the battle was all about HIM and HIS STATUS, he initiated an absurd edict that violated all principles of practicality. And then later, after discovering his own son had violated his orders, he didn’t follow through with the consequence. I’m sure he lost a lot of respect that day.
It reminds me of a time playing baseball when we made 7 or 8 fielding errors that cost us a game against a team that we usually would destroy. Our coach, in his infinite wisdom, decided that the next day at practice, we needed to practice fielding…WITHOUT OUR GLOVES. And then he proceeded to hit full-velocity ground balls to us while we fielded them with our bare hands. I broke 2 fingers that day and another player fractured his hand. Great strategy, Coach Saul!
The ultimate example of leadership was humble enough to watch his disciples’ feet. The ultimate example of leadership was characterized by power under control. And the ultimate example of leadership could confidently say, “Follow me” and fearlessly lead through even the darkest valleys. Leaders and coaches would do well to follow in His footsteps rather than blaze their own trails on a perpetual Saul-like power trip.
