Page 95 - The Bible On Leadership

82 THE BIBLE ON LEADERSHIP

months. But at least Ciena could admit it had made a mistake, allowing
it to change direction rather than maintain the same disastrous course.
Notes Chaddick, ‘‘Most business cultures are incapable of accepting
error. We teach from the top down that sometimes we will be
wrong.’’ 17
Jack Stack of Springfield Re also found that humility paid. Many
leaders, when confronted with a unionization battle, immediately as-
sume that the arrogant, aggressive route is the strategy of choice. Stack
chose another method, one that perhaps came more naturally to him
since he had started out as a humble mailroom clerk. ‘‘We got down on
our hands and knees and begged them to trust us. We groveled.’’ Per-
haps it was his sincerity, perhaps his humility, but Stack’s efforts resulted
in a three to one vote against the union.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer could (and sometimes does) throw its
multibillion-dollar weight around with its suppliers, competitors, and
employees. But CEO William Steere wants it to stop short of down-
right arrogance. ‘‘I detest arrogance,’’ declares Steere. ‘‘When I find it
in a product manager or in a research scientist, I speak out against it . . .
Arrogance is the beginning of the end in remaining agile. Arrogant
companies—and leaders—fail to see or react to threats. They also miss
opportunities to partner with others, because they want to do it all
themselves.’’ 18
Just think if Pharaoh had been more agile and suggested an alliance of
equals with the Hebrews, or if Haman had teamed with Mordechai to
create an interreligious kingdom in ancient Persia. Too often, lack of
humility blinds leaders to the tremendous power of alliances and to the
destructive effects of arrogant ambition.
If only these failed leaders of biblical times (and those of modern
times) had paid more attention to warnings like these:

‘‘The Lord has a day in store for the proud and mighty, for they will
be humbled.’’ (Isa. 2:12)
‘‘Because you think you are wise as a god, you will be brought down.’’
(Ezekiel to the King of Tyre, Ezek. 28:3)
‘‘To those who say, ‘I am too sacred for you’—Such people are a stench
in my nostrils.’’ (Isa. 65:5)