Operation Courage
An interview with H. Norman Schwarzkopf
October 1, 1997
A building program is running out of steam. Key leaders have defected and are recruiting others to join their "new" congregation. A major employer in the community has just announced more layoffs—news that portends critical consequences for your church.
Sometimes, ministry can be formidable. How do you lead with confidence when you're scared stiff yourself?
Perhaps only a military leader experiences the same anxiety of leading people through the valley of the shadow of doubt and fear. Leadership's Ed Rowell spoke recently with General (Ret.) H. Norman Schwarzkopf about finding the courage to lead.
Schwarzkopf retired from the army in 1991 after serving as Commander in Chief, United States Central Command, and Commander of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
In a time of crisis, how much should a leader mask his or her
fear?
Schwarzkopf: Fear is a natural defense mechanism that sharpens your senses and your wits. It's really an ally that makes you more effective at overcoming the source of your fear. There's no reason to hide your fear if it's rational.
What you do need to guard against is allowing fear to paralyze you or cause you to react irrationally. That is the type of fear that causes followers to be concerned. They need reassurance that your judgment has not been overcome by fear, that you are still dealing rationally with the problem.
To be frank, if there's a dangerous situation and the leader pretends to be fearless, it will cause people to say, "Wait a minute. This person doesn't realize how dangerous things are. He's liable to sacrifice us needlessly because he doesn't understand."
So leaders must demonstrate that they understand the danger and are in command of the situation. The right ...
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