Sunday 22 May 2011

Global MC—Pearl Eight

Resources for Good Practice

Eastern Orthodox representation of Jesus Christ
as the Pantocrator (The Almighty)

We are exploring member care by using brief quotes from the book, Global Member Care: The Pearls and Perils of Good Practice (published February 2011). Drawing on the metaphor from Rev. 21:21, each quote is like a huge pearl--a pearl gateway--that allows us to enter more fully into the global field of member care. This eighth entry is from Part Two in the book, “Promoting Health in Mission/Aid.” https://sites.google.com/site/globalmca/

Pearl Eight
“People ought not to be encouraged or allowed to acquire the rights of statutory tenants to any part of the organization. In the voluntary world this applies particularly to management and executive committees, which have a preference for the re-election of their existing members, for co-option and for committee nomination for new members. Such ways encourage vested rights, and while there is a lot to be said for retaining wisdom and experience in the organization it need not always sit in the same place.” (Charles Handy, Understanding Voluntary Organisations, 1988, page 148) (page 140 in GMH book)

Some examples [of “bad” leaders, based on a lecture from Dr. Robert Sternberg, Tufts University, October 2007]:
• They see themselves as being above accountability—“ethics” are for other people.
• They do not avail themselves of needed input from others to complement, balance, and correct themselves.
• They lapse into an unrealistic and often disguised sense of omnipotence, inerrancy, mega-importance, unrealistic optimism, and invulnerability.
• They become entrenched in their ways, even when it is obvious to others that these leaders are digging a bigger pit of mistakes into which they and others will fall.
• They may have high intelligence, but ultimately all the above makes them “foolish.”

Ultimately, bad leaders distort and ignore reality. They create their own reality.
Bad leaders also display a significantly diminished moral competency. (page 144 in GMH book)

Reflection and Discussion
**Recall one aspect of your life/work that relates to the quote above.

**Have a go at connecting the above quote with a current international area that interests/concerns you.

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