Leaders - Ante Up

First, it was "No, I understood you.  I did not do it", then "Well, he said you said that you wanted it done that way", then "Well maybe I did it but if I did I must not remember it", and finally, "I must have done it - no one else could have." 

This from a dear friend and Emerging Leader who most certainly would never want to lie to me but certainly ended up appearing to lie.  Even now, after the fact, I am still being too generous.  Simple logic says that some portion of the above was a lie.  Why do you think he said these things?

I guessed that it was simply that the further I dug and pursued circumstances that did not seem to add up that he had to admit more and more culpability and finally responsibility.  So what would have happened if I simply didn't dig, didn't pay attention or didn't ask?  First, there was a staff misunderstanding that resulted from his actions and it would have grown in magnitude if I hadn't finally figured out who was responsible and thus, how to handle it.  Second, I would have never known the staff member lied and they would have just let it all slide.

If people want to be leaders that endure - especially as Christian Leaders - they need to take responsibility in a truthful manner even when they mess up.  Working through problems can be uncomfortable but it is better than working through problems with no integrity because in the end your sins will always find you out.  Christian leaders need to go one step further and not even wait for someone to find out - waiting and hoping that no one figures it out is deception, which is lying (oops!  there goes your integrity).  If we are concerned about the consequences of an action enough to lie or decieve, then perhaps we should take more time and effort to do it right.  Truthfully, the results of owning up to your responsibility in an error are less than the results of lying.

 However, the worst part of this scenario was that I did not confront him about the lie.  I didn't want to go through the motions, the conflict and the hassle - so, I did nothing and, thus, became culpable in his failure.  Sometimes people lie (or do other wrongs) because they get away with it again and again.   What good is the Top Dog if he or she does not care enough to suffer to help a leader even if it means removing them?

So whether it is failure, a lie, an ill word or other wrong that your following leaders make - don't cheat them out of success because it isn't comfortable for you or because you don't have time.  Remember, the watchman on the wall illustration in Ezekiel.