Podcast Episode #408
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Echo chambers can be disastrous for leaders. Today we discuss ways you can protect yourself from leading in an echo chamber.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- Leaders must surround themselves with people who are not echo chambers.
- Employees need to remember they are there to serve the organization, not vice versa.
- Sycophants tend to kill teamwork.
- It’s easy to want to retreat into the echo chamber when you’re getting criticized publicly online.
- Because of the internet, moral failure among leaders is more widely known and visible.
- Lack of accountability is one of the leading contributors to moral failure.
The six keys to avoiding echo chamber leadership are:
- It is the leader’s responsibility to avoid the echo chamber.
- Sycophants are extremely dangerous.
- Leaders must seek out people who care enough about them to speak truth to them.
- Social media and blogs can drive leadership to the echo chamber.
- The leader’s response to contrary opinions and criticisms will send a message to the watching world.
- Moral failure is common among leaders who dwell in echo chambers.
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Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Becoming a Welcoming Church.
As for #3, the people who are closest to the leader still don’t really want to tell him or her what is necessary or they alter what they have heard so that it doesn’t sound so bad. In churches, it always seemed to me that you had to get to someone who could get to someone else who could get to the leader and by the time that each layer watered down the problem and the leadership actually met, the end result was that everything was fine. This and the never asking anyone too far down the pecking order about anything meant that the real problems never reached the leadership. Thus, the leaders just bounce a few ideas off each other and never know the real problems.
Also, in evangelical churches where there is no real (catechism type) class for youth or confirmation type class for 15-17 year olds, the leaders and clergy almost never interact with the younger generation. Thus, they do not have to hear questions or concerns from the lesser people.
So true Mark. I haved worked as church Admistrator for over 25 years. My pastor is surrounded by “yes men (and women)” in ministry leadership positions who do not respectfully challenge him. Too many poor decisions were ultimately made, even though our attorney (and myself) has consistently provided wise counsel to no avail. As a result, our church is suffering spiritually, financially-and sin abounds. Our attorney has resigned after 15 years.
I am currently reading an excellent literary piece (book) by Dr. Henry Cloud “Necessary Endings.” This book is allowing me to finally be at peace with resigning my position also.
Approximately 15 years ago I figured out that true feelings were not to be tolerated in most churches (liberal or conservative). That is why I started a round-table discussion group that encouraged all folks to have their say. (I am an ordinary congregant/layman). We all learned to argue productively and not take others views personally. Or not to attack others personally. This worked in a dying liberal church. (anything was better than nothing). Liberals, conservatives, blacks, whites, rich, poor, and diverse ethnicities were all at the table. Wonderful! I wanted to learn from the “other.” Any/all subjects were up for grabs. This freedom to be yourself in the church and not a robot was a truly wonderful experience.