Leadership Principles
Question: At some point will there be an actual formal document of some sort that specifically states the rules, limitations, guidelines and powers under which the Molecule, it’s leader and members operates?
JJ: Unless there is some specific question or project that needs to be defined I think what is written makes the process fairly clear if the student studies it well.
As questions come up, we can clarify details but for now I think I have covered the essentials.
The Keys is not exactly molecular but when I introduce things where group participation is helpful, I try and treat it as if it were.
For instance, I am going to attempt to initiate an organization that will create change in Congress and our country and would like to have the group’s support and cooperation. I came up with the best acronym I could think of but threw the idea out to the group for input. Members of the group came up with a better name than I did and we are now down to “AID” (submitted by Larry Kennon) and “POP” (submitted by Susan Carter). I thought they both had a lot of value so I threw the two names out to the group to vote on the one they liked best.
The majority voted for POP but the molecular leader does not have to go with the majority vote unless he first tells the group he is going to do so. I still have the right to pick any name I want.
The light that is in me tells me that it makes sense to pick the name with the broadest appeal so I am going with the majority on POP for two reasons:
Since POP received the majority vote this indicates it will have the most solid appeal.
As I whole I think it is the best acronym and I’ll tell you why. While I like AID better than POP I think “Power of the People” is a catchier phrase than “Americans Initiating Democracy.”
As we have went through this process I think the average participant felt that he or she was a part of the process because their opinion had an influence on the outcome.
Now I believe a concern is that the Molecular leader will just start dictating things and setting himself up as a little bureaucrat. If he does this he will not be able to draw people to him to begin with or keep them. Members are always free to move to another molecule or withdraw and attempt to create one of their own if they are repelled by leadership.
After the first molecule is initiated, the rest will be created and sustained from the bottom up, and the power of election will prevent leaders from getting too pushy.
On the other hand, the tremendous advantage of molecular leadership is you have the best leaders gravitate to the top and their autonomy allows them to make quick decisions (when necessary) and move the group forward.
A reader thought we should have the leader’s powers and/or limits specifically lined out in some kind of founding document that everyone agrees to abide by up front.”
One thing that should bring further clarification would be understanding the difference in molecular leadership as it applies to a spiritual molecule and molecular leadership as it may be applied to governing orthodox projects.
Jesus had a spiritual molecule and in it there was no need to draw up a document to define his role or limitations of power. I lead a spiritual discussion group here and the number of rules needed are very few.
The reason?
A true spiritual teacher exerts no power to limit anyone’s freedom or control the student’s life. The apostles could follow Jesus or they could leave anytime and just live normal lives.
On the other hand, if Jesus had garnered control of the Roman Empire, then it would have been necessary to draw up documents describing the powers and limitations of various leaders.
Several here are creating a community so they should draw up articles and covenants that are necessary to ensure that the purpose they have in mind will be possible. Then room should be allowed for additional and/or other amendments to be added in the future.
Reader comment: “Personally, I do not like being dictated to even by the home-owners association and no longer live in towns if I can avoid it. I want to at least feel like I can freely do whatever I want in my own house on my own property without having to ask for permission as long as no one else is directly damaged. Do I specifically want to do anything weird, strange, untoward or illegal? Not necessarily, but (other than the illegal) I want to have the freedom to if I should so decide!”
JJ: You sound like my friend Wayne; except he did some strange things such as building odd structures in his back yard that offended the neighbors. He spent time in jail and suffered numerous fines from City Hall because he would not cooperate. As much as I loved the guy, I don’t think he could have ever lived in any planned community with any significant rules.
In reality I think you are more like me than Wayne. We don’t like unnecessary rules but are willing to live with those that are essential to maintain order.
“Every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add … artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges … the humble members of society have a right to complain of the injustice of their government.” – President Andrew Jackson, July 10, 1832
Aug 22, 2009
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