Leading Wise, Foolish and Immoral people
What should you do with people who work with you or for you in each of these categories.
THE WISE
When the light (truth) comes to them, that person adjust themselves to match the light and they change. If you are correcting them, they smile at you and thank you – they view it as a gift.
Strategy when leading a wise person: Talk to them, offer correction, coach them, give them feedback and resource them.
The challenge is this: make sure that they are a match for what your organization needs and keep them appropriately challenged otherwise they might go elsewhere. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach him, and he will add to his learning. (Proverbs 9:9)
2. THE FOOL
They may be the smartest person around, and that is what has gotten them this far but when the light shows up, they adjust the light (dim it), in other words they adjust the truth—they are allergic to it.
Their first reaction is external (in other words, they don’t look inside themselves) - They shoot the messenger, makes excuses, defensive, minimizes it or denies its reality. If you are correcting them they give you a sad face and they are angry—they may even have a meeting after the meeting to get people on their side, which can cause division.
Strategy when leading a foolish person: Stop talking with them...at least in the way you have been. You may need to have a different conversation that might look something like this:
“You know how we have talked about _(the issue)_continually? I don’t want to talk with you about that anymore. I want to now talk about the fact that talking with you about things doesn’t change anything. I don’t know how to give you feedback that will change things. I have to protect this team and its culture, so we’re going to talk about this issue and we’re going to do something different. I’m going to set some limits here, because I cannot afford to be stuff here and hinder our productivity. What I need in this chair is someone who can face reality, who's going to be willing to make adjustments. I hope that's you. If not, I will need to find someone else." (establish consequences)
The challenge is this: Understand that fools change when the pain of not changing becomes greater than the pain of changing - when they must camp out and feel the truth. Limit your, or your company’s, exposure. Be clear about consequences, give them a choice and then follow through. Remember that Jesus died for fools like you and me and fools can change.
The wise change themselves, while the fool changes the truth.
Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words. (Proverbs 23:9)
3. THE IMMORAL
Immoral people have destruction in their hearts and want to do harm. Their attitude is, “I will bring this place down!” They are very divisive. They say things that is intended to make people angry with each other
Strategy when leading or dealing with Immoral people: Tell them assertively that their behavior is not acceptable and must stop. If it continues give them one more warning. After that if it continues, remove them and avoid them.
The challenge is this: Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. (Titus 3:10)