Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius May 28, 2017 Spiritual Ponderings 15th Diseases of Leadership
Let us continue our look at Pope Francis’s “15 Diseases of Leadership”. Pope Francis’s diseases are in bold and my commentary in normal font.
12. THE DISEASE OF A DOWNCAST FACE. You see this disease in those glum and dour persons who think that to be serious you have to put on a face of melancholy and severity, and treat others—especially those we consider our inferiors—with rigor, brusqueness and arrogance. In fact, a show of severity and sterile pessimism are frequently symptoms of fear and insecurity. A leader must make an effort to be courteous, serene, enthusiastic and joyful, a person who transmits joy everywhere he goes. A happy heart radiates an infectious joy: it is immediately evident! So a leader should never lose that joyful, humorous and even self-deprecating spirit which makes people amiable even in difficult situations. How beneficial is a good dose of humor! …
I am more likely to jump out of an airplane after meeting a paratrooper who says “I get to jump out of airplanes” than if I had met a paratrooper who says “I have to jump out of airplanes.” When people see us lead, do they get to see us lead in such a way that we say “I get to be a Christian” or does it appear that we are saying “I have to be a Christian.” If we are not excited how can we expect others.
13. THE DISEASE OF HOARDING. This occurs when a leader tries to fill an existential void in his or her heart by accumulating material goods, not out of need but only in order to feel secure. The fact is that we are not able to bring material goods with us when we leave this life, since “the winding sheet does not have pockets” and all our treasures will never be able to fill that void; instead, they will only make it deeper and more demanding. Accumulating goods only burdens and inexorably slows down the journey!
I use to think of the sin of gluttony as only as wanting more for the sake of wanting more. Now I believe gluttony has more to deal with wanting more in order to cover up some emotional problem or fear. I can become gluttonous when I don’t want address my fear of loneliness in the right way. Hoarding is a sign that there is something emotionally wrong with us and we should get help in addressing that issue so we can live healthy lives.
14. THE DISEASE OF CLOSED CIRCLES, where belonging to a clique becomes more powerful than our shared identity. This disease too always begins with good intentions, but with the passing of time it enslaves its members and becomes a cancer which threatens the harmony of the organization and causes immense evil, especially to those we treat as outsiders. “Friendly fire” from our fellow soldiers, is the most insidious danger. It is the evil which strikes from within. As it says in the bible, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste.”
Michael Bay, the director of the Transformer movies, said that in the first movie he purposely limited the dialogue of te evil robots in order to make them as scary as possible. The more people talk with those that they consider scary the less scary they become. Being a new person entering a large group can be scary and being a large group accepting a new person can also be scary for the group. It is therefore important to give each other time to talk and trust each other.
15. LASTLY: THE DISEASE OF EXTRAVAGANCE AND SELF-EXHIBITION. This happens when a leader turns his or her service into power, and uses that power for material gain, or to acquire even greater power. This is the disease of persons who insatiably try to accumulate power and to this end are ready to slander, defame and discredit others; who put themselves on display to show that they are more capable than others. This disease does great harm because it leads people to justify the use of any means whatsoever to attain their goal, often in the name of justice and transparency! Here I remember a leader who used to call journalists to tell and invent private and confidential matters involving his colleagues. The only thing he was concerned about was being able to see himself on the front page, since this made him feel powerful and glamorous, while causing great harm to others and to the organization.
Being wealthy or famous does not allow us to live by a different moral code. As Catholics were all bound by the Universal Call to Holiness, the Law of Love, 10 Commandments, and 8 Beatitudes.