Neutrality Is Not Leadership

Posted by Scott Williams
6 Comments
August 23, 2009
Leaders | Leadership | Next-Level Leader

neutralNeutrality is defined as: the state of being neutral; refusal to take part in a war between other powers; the policy or status of a nation that does not participate in a war between other nations.  Often times “supposed leaders” will take the position of neutrality rather than taking the position of leadership.  Leadership could care less about neutrality and even thrives on the ability to engage in war with other parties, policies, people, practices, direction, rules… if the engagement can result in moving their team closer to the goal.

There is nothing weaker than a “supposed leader” that sits in a room and waits to see the direction that the wind is blowing before they make a decision.  A true leader must have a mind of their own and not simply take the position of neutrality because it’s comfortable, feels good or won’t hurt anyone’s feelings.   Neutrality and insecurity are kissing cousins; they go hand-in-hand “Hi my name is name is Bob and I want to be a leader, but deep down I’m insecure; so instead of embracing leadership, I settle for neutrality.”

A leader should always be wise, discerning and take all things into consideration when making decisions; however they should never make decisions for the sake of being a neutralist.  All of us have either worked for or around a neutralist, or maybe we’re the nuetralist ourselves.  Neutrality Is Not Leadership, because leadership requires movement, engagement, action, war… and neutrality is simply the state of being neutral.

Remember: Your car doesn’t move while in neutral.  Neutrality embraces status quo, while leadership yearns to grow! 

Have you worked for or around a nuetralist?  Are you a struggling neutralist?  Share your thoughts on Neutrality vs. Leadership!

  • http://www.studentministry101.com dmehrle

    I love the thoughts you have here. Too often we find ourselves just listening and not really responding to people as they share their thoughts about the church or others. What we don’t realize is that when we listen and don’t stand we are ultimately agreeing with them in their minds.

    Neutrality can be a destroyer of vision and is definelty not leadership.

    Thanks for the thoughts!

  • http://www.theonology.com mnewboult

    Yes – absolutely agree.

  • http://Scottgould.me Scottgould

    Excellent post that puts to bed an old rumour with an excllebt analogy

    thank you so much – I needed this

  • http://www.annameadows.com Anna Light

    I had a thought: when your car is in nuetral, it rolls in either direction it’s facing. If it’s on a hill in nuetral it will roll back, if it’s facing down in nuetral it will roll down. Good thoughts.

  • http://www.Twitter.com/marcmillan Marc Millan

    The core values of a person, that instinctive nudge or inner core IS what makes people leaders! When we tell all of the above mentioned to “Hush”….we are btraying the very person God created us to be, LEADERS.
    Another reason some people struggle with this Scott, I think is
    A. They are afraid of what that might do for them or too them at their place of work
    B. They don’t know how to speak Truth in LOVE yet.
    If you don’t stand up for something, you’ll lay down for anything.

  • http://www.glow4him.com Gloria

    Ana/Marc, LOVE your thoughts and insight. Pastor Scott, as always, it’s eye opening reading Your thoughts.

    My personal “struggle” with the neatural thing would be, “people pleasing”…. worried about what someone thinks. However, as I’m being emptied and filled, I am be restored with confidence to keep it vertical – always – and never forget to be patient with people’s ingorance and speak out of love and gentleness.

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