When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2 NIV
Last week we learned that the former Governor-General, Julie Payette, had resigned after an investigation into reports of alleged workplace harassment. Some of the toxic behaviours that employees complained about include: throwing tantrums and dropping “explosions” or “bursts of emotions” on staff, openly criticizing people’s work to a point where they were reduced to tears, tossing employees work aside and calling it “shit”, and intentionally trying to embarrass staff by putting them on the spot and quizzing them about outer space.
If you were like me, you were probably shocked and horrified by what was reported. This does not describe the characteristics and behaviour of a strong leader and certainly not of a Christian leader. Sadly, she is not the only public figure that we could hold up to scrutiny in this way.
But not so fast…… let’s hold on to our judgement of other leaders for a moment and examine our own leadership behaviours. Let’s search our own hearts for prideful thoughts or behaviours that are not Christ-like.
On one hand, pride, like other human emotions can help us succeed by inspiring us to be the best we can possibly be. Pride can encourage and motivate us to strive for excellence and to “do good”. Helping others feel pride in their own accomplishments can provide motivation and confidence to those that work for us. If we use pride as a motivation to better ourselves and to help those we lead – versus to build up our own egos or status – we can help create a better future for everyone.
But pride has a dark side as well. It can lead to hubris, arrogance, ego or self-aggrandizement at the expense of others. That is why it is often referred to as the “deadliest sin of all”. There are many signs of pride in all aspects of our life. Here is just a partial list:
- False humility
- Need to get in the last word
- “Teasing” that actually tears down others
- Struggle to admit a mistake or wrong
- Difficulty in genuinely apologizing
- Inability to take criticism well
- Attack back when questioned or confronted about a mistake or wrong
- Seeking to build ourselves up by tearing others down
- Failing to seek the counsel and wisdom of others
- Thinking we are the smartest person in the room
- Unwillingness to listen to the ideas of those we lead
- Trying to prove others wrong
- Catching ourselves thinking or saying “That’s just the way I am, they just have to deal with it”
- Being highly opinionated; unwilling to listen to divergent perspectives
- Blame everyone but ourselves when something goes wrong
As we start 2021, let’s take this opportunity to search our own hearts and confess any prideful thoughts or behaviours that could inhibit us from being the leaders, spouses, parents and friends that God is calling us to be. Jesus provides us with an example of a humble leader to emulate.
