Good leadership means accepting shame

Mk 6: 14-29

The Beheading of John

A valued element of good leadership for many is decisiveness. I wonder how many times you can reflect on feeling the urge to take a decision quickly, or offer an opinion - perhaps dressed up as certain fact - so that members of your team know that someone (you!) are firmly in charge and grasps clearly the issue at hand.

Despite this, I have come to find in my leadership that the following appears to be true: 1) That a decision is better than no decision; 2) It is best to wait as long as possible to ascertain the facts before making a decision (i.e. don't make a decision until you have to) and 3) Very often the rush to show decisiveness is proven wrong. Indeed, if there is a 4) it is that the ability and courage to publicly change ones mind is a strong virtue, but very often done.

I reflect upon these concepts as I read about the beheading of John the Baptist in Mark's Gospel. In this passage, Mark relates how King Herod had great respect for John, until the moment the latter rebuked Herod for marrying Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, Philip. Despite this, Herod only had John beheaded when the he granted Herodias's daughter a granted wish, whatever it may be. He did this as it was his birthday, and publically wanted to show his closest associates that he was a man of honour and generosity. Herod even promised her half of his kingdom! To his regret, Herodias's daughter sought the advice of her mother, who held a grudge against John for his rebuke of Herod. Taking her mother's advice, the daughter returned to Herod and demanded John's head on a plate. Herod felt as he had publicly promised the wish would be granted, that he must comply or lose face, and so he did.

How regretful and foolish Herod must have felt. He respected John in his holiness, and dearly wished that he could avoid the request of Herodias's daughter.

How many times in our lives and careers do we feel such folly? Has your rashness and urgency to "decide" or pronounce your view left you in a position where you will feel the embarrassment of being wrong unless you stick to a position you know to be wrong?

It takes strength to change your mind so publicly, a courage that Herod did not possess.

We know we are truly good role-models when we feel that our public shame can be borne.