Do We Teach Leadership?

As a function of our Lodge

The teaching of leadership is not a primary function of Freemasonry.

But, if we hope to make good Masons, we must have thriving Lodges, and if we hope to have thriving Lodges, we need quality leadership.

So, leadership training isn’t something we can ignore.

Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash

Here in my Jurisdiction our primary leadership training program is called the Lodge Leadership Retreat. A long weekend where future Worshipful Masters are taught the ins and outs of running a Lodge. It’s good, practical stuff.

But, there is more to leadership than that.

In my view, the most important thing a leader needs to do is develop a solid and clear vision of where he would like to see his organization go. Then he needs to effectively and positively communicate that vision, so that he garners support and assistance for it moving forward.

And I’m not sure that can be taught in a classroom.

I think that it likely has to be learned through doing.

That is where the various officer positions in our Lodge come in.

In order to develop leaders, Worshipful Masters must delegate to their junior officers. Particularly the most junior officers.

Delegate tasks or programs that require the junior officer to convince others to help. Don’t dictate the method, simply communicate the desired result. Then turn it over and stand back. Let the junior officer run with it.

Sometimes the junior officer will fail. Most often he will succeed. Whatever the outcome, he will learn. If the project did require him to get the assistance of others, he will learn leadership.

If this process is repeated over the course of years as he sits in different chairs, he will learn a great deal about leadership.

And that benefits the Lodge tremendously when he eventually rises in the East.

But, the Worshipful Master who does everything himself is failing his Lodge, because he is not allowing leaders to develop for the time when he is gone. The same is true for the Worshipful Master who does delegate, but then micromanages, or can’t let go in some other way.

Ultimately, it requires Worshipful Masters who are willing to let go, and accept that sometimes a junior officer will fail, and that’s OK, as long as the Brother learns from the failure.

Leadership training is not Freemasonry’s primary purpose.

But the man who has been trained, in his Lodge, to be a quality leader has gained something of immeasurable value. And that is a tremendous value indeed.

How else can we teach the vital skills of leadership within our Lodges?

What things must we avoid in our Lodges because doing them prevents leaders from emerging?

Let’s chat about it…

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In totally unrelated news, I bought another new hat today! A super dark green Effanem to wear while feeding the birds and hauling firewood. Very cool, and great fun!

I mention this because it is Installation season, and many new Masters are going to be considering hats. A black Effanem is a good choice at a shockingly reasonable price. Shape it with some steam, maybe even hit it with some hairspray to keep the shape and you’ll be a super snappy lookin’ WM. Check it out:

A Practical Solution