If you’re a leader, you’re probably challenging your followers with some tough ideas. Hopefully you’re not just letting your tribe passively remain where they are, but you’re loving pushing them forward.
If you’re doing that, you’re going to run into opposition. Here are 3 ways you can react when people oppose your ideas.
1. Attack
You can go nuts. Puff up your chest. Yell.
You get offended that another person would challenge you. Ticked at their lack of thinking and passion, you start to assume that the one opposing your ideas has a few less brain cells than the average human.
2. Conform
You can shrink down. Back-pedal. Fill with fear. Massage the other’s ego.
You’re frustrated with their opposition, but you keep it all inside. While silently despising the opposer, you coddle to their words. You pull back without much challenge. You’re afraid that if you challenge them, you’ll lose them.
3. Stand
Don’t conform, but don’t attack. You’re not on the offensive, nor the defensive. Remain.
You’re secure and sure in this third approach. You’re opposition can lash out at you, but you don’t mind: their anger is their problem. Opposers can abandon the cause, that’s their choice. You’re simply going to hold the position that God has given you. You’re neither fearful, nor hostile. You’re content and steadfast.
How do you tend to react to opposition?
The “Stand” option is definitely the Biblical response, but my initial response is to conform. Conforming, for myself, tends to come out of my lack of confidence and belief in myself. If I do attack, it’s is usually after I have conformed and behind the back of the opposition. I like your point that to stand is be content and steadfast. I never looked at it from the point of contentment, but I think that has a lot of merit. To be content is to be firmly grounded in Christ and trusting that he has led you to make a good decision. To stand does not mean all will be well or that you will be liked or that you will even “win.” It simply means that you have trusted in Christ and are content with where he will lead you. Good thoughts, thanks.
I find myself too often falling in the “conform” category as well.