This post could also be called “Three Wise Decisions a Foolish Leader Can-and-Need-to-but-Probably-Will-Never Make.”

The Bible makes a very sharp distinction between wisdom and foolishness. It is a joy to others when you lead wisely. Growth, unity and productivity are fostered. However, the leader that leads foolishly will bring all sorts of trouble, misery and division to the organization and to those who follow.

“People do not wish to appear foolish; to avoid the appearance of foolishness, they are willing to remain actually fools. ”

Alice Walker

Here are three mistakes wise leaders must avoid that are made by foolish leaders:

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. A foolish person is a very bad listener. They only appear to be listening so they can deliver what they really want to say in return. They don’t enjoy understanding. They don’t seek understanding, because foolish leaders are self-centered and ultimately, self-concerned.

#1 – Wise leaders decide to put their followers concerns over their personal interests. These can be challenging because every follower inevitably is not working from the same information or experience as the leader. However, wise leaders listen! Wise leaders decide to ingratiate themselves not isolate themselves. Bottom line, a foolish leader doesn’t listen for understanding, because his mind is already made up, thus the interaction with followers is always impersonal and inattentive.

Wise leaders decide to diligently know the condition of their followers and give them careful attention.

A fool’s leadership brings strife, and his conversations invite conflict. Foolish leaders tend to spout off arbitrarily, with partially, and without careful thought of future outcomes. A foolish leader doesn’t listen well, and to make it worse will follow up the poor listening with diatribes that inflame and inject venom that stir things up. If you are a leader and you are wondering why you encounter so much conflict? Then, it may very well be your mouth is a source of fuel to your follower’s fire.

#2 – A wise leader decides that his speech will always show impartiality, with tenderness that invokes peace and harmony among his followers. A wise leader understands that the very words, the tone, and the nonverbal gestures all greatly affect those that follow. Words can heal and harmonize or divide and destroy. The wise leader decides for unity, the foolish leader decides for himself!

Wise leaders decide to speak with affirmation and harmony to their followers, because wise leaders are concerned with bringing everyone along, not just a small group.

A fool rejects any instruction or correction not his own. Moreover, a foolish leader rejects instruction that either isn’t in line with his desire or doesn’t fit with his plan. Leadership doesn’t demand that the leader be right 100% of the time, since there are no perfect leaders on earth. However, followers will demand that leaders “get it right” and when they don’t followers will always judge the response of the leader’s personal accountability. A foolish leader shirks acceptance for failure and blames others or insists all the facts were not available for them to make the right judgment.

#3 – Wise leaders decide to subject themselves to accountability. In essence, they are touchable and accessible. Wise leaders come out of the cloisters and ivory towers to be in and among their followers. Foolish leaders hide behind walls to protect their personal insecurities from being exposed. Wise leaders live a disciplined life. Because of this disciplined life, they are willing to receive correction, discipline, and counsel.

Wise leaders decide to make themselves accountable to those they lead by taking responsibility and leading disciplined lives.

Leaders, which will you be: a foolish leader or a wise leader? The decision is yours.

(Further reading: Proverbs 15:5, 18:2, 6-7)