Thursday May 12, 2011

I have had a couple of micro managers over the years who have needed to control the work environment. There is a universal negative feeling about managers who are micro managers. No one wants to have someone looking over your shoulder to evaluate every thing you do and every step you take. Managers who use micro management techniques are controllers and want to make sure that everything is done according to their specifications. In order to operate under this type of leader, you as an employee or a family member have to scrap your identity and adopt the mindset of that leader in order to survive. In business or in a family environment, controllers need to have their plans implemented and don’t look to others in the family for input regarding plans for the future. Embedded in the personalities of leaders who use micro management techniques is a streak of insecurity. These leaders seem to be very confident and self assured so insecurity is difficult to spot, but controllers can only be comfortable when they are in total control of all those in their charge. Anyone that wants to have a say in the plans of the work environment or a family outing becomes a threat to the leaders value.

One such person that emerged in my reading this morning was a man named Haman. The life of Haman is found in the book of Esther. In chapter 3 it says, “After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.” he was given power and loved that people bowed down to him when he walked around. They were giving allegiance to him. Everyone except, Mordecai. Some of Haman’s friends tried to get Mordecai to gown to Haman several times but Mordecai refused and so they told Haman. Haman found out that Mordecai was of Jewish origin. When Haman walked by Mordecai, he “saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.” (Esther 3:5). Haman was a controller and needed to have everyone bowing to him and honoring the ground he walked on. Mordecai wouldn’t do that and Haman became enraged. He was so enraged that he plotted to have not only Mordecai killed, but he wanted the whole Jewish nation killed–for one man not bowing down to him. This is power that becomes uncontrolled. Haman had second-in-command power in all the country, but his insecurity caused him to focus his power on one man in getting him to confirm to his expectations, rather than looking at all those who did follow him.

On this journey, there will be times that God gives us opportunities to lead others and we need to be careful the kind of leadership we use to guide and lead.