The Tar Heel Knight

Greetings from the mountains of western North Carolina.
 
I have been blessed over the years to have been entrusted with various leadership roles in different aspects of my life.  One thing I have always tried to keep in my consciousness:  Am I the type of leader I would want to follow?  Would I want to work for me or with me?  At the beginning of September, I fell short of my expectations as a result of a careless error I made when I tried to hurry to get things done.
 
I am Office Manager at my “day job” and have been for many years.  It is a small business, and I am largely in charge of what’s going on in the office, and in particular, any training needs of our staff.  At the end of each day, I provide a report to the owner of the business via email, and am usually very frank and honest.  I was scheduled to leave early on this particular day to drive down to Charlotte for the Eucharistic Congress.  As I worked through a last minute task that took longer than expected, I wrote up my daily report which was critical of the learning curve of one of the employees and got out of Dodge.  Then, all of a sudden, I got a text message from one of the other employees.  I sent this report to “all staff” instead of the owner.  I had used unflattering language, such as “clueless” in my description of this employee, who is a good and decent human being who deserved better.  I realized that I had caused this person embarrassment and humiliation.  I had failed in the type of leader I wanted to be, not only in the careless error, but in the choice of words, and in trying to get the job done fast instead of getting the job done right.  I did what I knew I had to do.  I called the office and got on the phone with the employee I had inadvertently insulted and had a long conversation with him on my road to Charlotte, during which I apologized for the embarrassment I caused him and the choice of words I used and told him that, if he still wanted to work with me, I wanted to work with him and would help him overcome any obstacles he felt he had, and I let him know that he had my complete support.  Fortunately, he was gracious.  I would have fully understood if he wasn’t. 
 
Why am I talking about this?  Well, sometimes it’s important to acknowledge that we all fall short.  I know I don’t want to be the type of leader who pretends he never makes mistakes.  If sharing my mistakes might possibly help others, so much better than trying to hide them.  As much as we all hate failure, the greatest successes always seem to emerge from previous failures.  Granted, I would have much preferred that my shortfall was one that only caused me embarrassment and didn’t hurt another human being.  I have to look myself in the mirror and learn a lesson from this, and strive daily to make sure I don’t fail my team again.  Failures can be little educational pit stops along the way…it’s how you react to them that ultimately matters.  I hope I reacted properly as I strive to be better.  I am sharing this because I know some of you have probably experienced feelings of failure in one way or another – and that’s OK if you have.  They are all growth opportunities – and they will make you a better person and a better leader if you allow yourself to learn from them.  And I always take solace in the fact that one of the greatest leaders of all-time denied Christ three times…but he learned and the next opportunity he had, he professed his love for Christ three times, and went on to become the rock on which the Church was built.
 
Even moreso, however, I’m talking about this because sometimes we are afraid to take a chance to step up into a new and larger role because of our fear of failure.  Maybe you have considered stepping up into a leadership role within the Knights, perhaps at the district or state level.  Maybe you have briefly considered taking one of the vacant program chairmanships we have available.  A notable quote that has been attributed to a number of different people is, “you miss 100% of the chances you don’t take.”  As Jesus frequently told his disciples, “Do not be afraid.”  If you hear that little voice telling you to “go for it,” that may just be the Holy Spirit.  Listen.  Pray.  Do not be afraid.
 
That brings us to the two specific leadership topics I want to discuss here.  As I mentioned last month, there will be an election for a new State Warden at the State Convention in May.  I am holding a Zoom meeting for anyone even considering it.  The meeting is just to learn about what the job entails, and the process and rules for running for office.  You are under no obligation to actually run if you attend the meeting, which is being held Monday, November 10, at 8:00 PM.  If you are at all interested, please email me at stateadvocate@kofcnc.org and I will send you the Zoom link.  Listen.  Pray.  Do not be afraid.
 
The other topic is that we are holding an exciting event this November on Servant Leadership.  Supreme Director and Past State Deputy Colin Jorsch will be our speaker.  The event will take place Saturday, November 22, at Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro, following the 5:00 Mass.  There will be dinner provided for those who choose to attend in person.  There will also be an option to livestream the talk itself.  Details will be forthcoming.  This will be an excellent way to spend a Saturday evening.
 
I thank you all for everything you do in your communities and parishes every day.  Thank you also for taking the time to read this.  Let’s all strive this month to be the best men we can be and be a beacon of the love of Christ to all we encounter.  Listen.  Pray.  Do not be afraid.
 
“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-3
 
Vivat Jesus!