Mike 
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I learned about a “major” controversy: whether a “bevel” should be part of a certain university’s logo. Apparently the bevel was added more than 15 years ago, but the debate still rages on. (For the uninformed, like me, the white accents in the “T” are the bevel.) There’s even a web site dedicated to rallying support to have the bevel removed.
Why does this matter to you as the leader of a church or ministry or non-profit? Actually, it matters quite a bit. You may also find yourself embroiled in controversy over seemingly minor issues or decisions that were made long ago. Here are four leadership lessons from the simple bevel:
- No decision is immune from the possibility of opposition. If you make a decision thinking that “no one will care,” you may be in for a surprise. I’m not saying that you need to agonize over every decision – if you do, you’ll never get anything done. But at least pause long enough to consider the potential for pushback.
- A well-organized, vocal minority can seem much bigger than they are. One of the challenges for a leader is to discern the difference between opponents that are serious versus ones that are just loud. While both may deserve respect, a small minority shouldn’t be allowed to hijack the decision-making process (or reverse a decision).
- Opposition doesn’t necessarily fade away over time. I’m amazed at how long people will campaign against a decision, sometimes long after the decision has been made. Whether they’re trying to reverse the outcome or protest against the leadership, opponents may linger.
- The internet has fundamentally changed the rules for opposition. It is much easier today to create a web page or start a social media campaign to build support against a decision. Leaders who ignore this reality do so at their peril.
- The internet has also changed how leaders can rally their own support. You can be a victim of the internet, or you can use it as a tool. That could mean responding directly to opposition, encouraging supporters to chime in, or simply reinforcing key messages while ignoring minor controversies.
