Thoughts from the Second Floor Front The Solemnity of Christ the King November 26, 2023
The issue of leadership has long been an interest of thinkers and writers as well as leaders. However, leadership as a distinct entity, has only recently been the focus of academic research. Researchers, theorists, philosophers and scientists have been dealing with the issue literally for centuries but formal exploration of what makes a leader has only been around since about the middle of the 20th century. Up until about the middle of the 19th century, if they thought about it at all, people generally accepted the Aristotelian understanding of leadership as being a matter of birth. For the most part, there was a general acceptance and a sort of benign misapplication of the Shakespearean admonition: “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” (Twelfth Night (II, v, 156-159).
This mindset has been typified in the understanding of leadership in terms of traits or characteristics as well as circumstances in which people find themselves. Some believe that fate has managed a way to fashion an opportunity for an individual’s abilities to shine forth. There was a shift in this type of thought when researchers began to focus, not so much on the personal traits that a leader possessed, as much as linking skills to a situation.
Two forms of leadership, among others, have emerged as a source of study and reflection in the field of academics, business and politics. One form of leadership is called Transactional Leadership. In this the leader demands that the subordinate forgo his or her will and place himself or herself in conformity with the expectations of, and requirements set forth by, the leader. The individual is to yield to the leader for whom he or she has suppressed their own goals and objectives in order to receive something in return. A paycheck for instance.
Another form of leadership that has been identified by researchers is called Transformational Leadership. Transformational leadership is a process in which leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation. This transformational leader inspires rather than mandates, collaborates rather than micro-manages, listens rather than dictates policy, lives and works by example not by fiat.
My own theory of leadership is simple. It is a form of Transactional Leadership use the heuristic (rule of thumb) ABC. An “A” will take on a “B” and work with the individual and actually serve as a mentor, helping the “B” become an “A.” An “A” will even take on a “C” because the “A” has the self-confidence to engage someone who seemingly lacks some skill or knowledge. However, a “B” will rarely if ever take on an “A.” The “B” tends to surround himself or herself with another “B” or more likely a “C” lest the individual fears that his or her own inadequacies become apparent.
This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. With Jesus as our leader we look to someone who has the power to engage us in the ultimate transformation from a life in this world to life forever in His Kingdom. The leadership which Christ practices is not removed from our world. He came into our world to establish a transformation; forming us more closely into His image. St. Athanasius said: God became man so that man might become a God. What greater example of His leadership, servant leadership, do we have than we can find in today’s excerpt from St. Matthew’s gospel account? Our King teaches that we care for Him by caring for the poor, the dispossessed, the prisoner, the infirm and the least among us.
The poverty we can alleviate need not be financial. You may know someone who is impoverished because of loneliness. Visit them. The less fortunate among us have great needs, we may not be able to solve all their problems but our efforts on their behalf can be significant – if only for them. Imprisonment is not limited to the penal system. Some are imprisoned by addiction or they have locked themselves away, unable or unwilling to risk a relationship. Illness comes in many forms; so too does healing.
Jesus’ leadership instills in us a desire to serve Him in others. In our parish we have opportunity after opportunity to engage in the transformational leadership Jesus exercises. Take the risk. Share in His leadership and a share in His Kingdom will come to you before the day is over. Allow yourself to be transformed and demonstrate what it means to call Christ the King.