Torch, Fall 1988

'\ \ \ \ An~~r~ew~~ Dennis Shere. Mr. Shere's career in journa.lism. has included several leadership positions including , most recently , publisher of The Dayton Daily News in DaY_ton '. Ohio . ()• We assume that hi almost any organization, leaders ~e more money than foilowers. What are other rewards of leadership? A. One is the opportunity to select highl; competent people who are dedicated to doing the best possible job for the organi– zation, giving them the tools and the responsibility of carrying out that job, and then seeirig them d<,:> it well, often even better than I anticipated. Another reward of leadership for me is seeing those good people get further opportunities and greater advancements and respon– sibilities, so they ultimately achieve in some cases the same level or greater level of leadership than I have achieved. They came through the shop and I had some level of influence on them. That's inspiring and wl;iat'inakes it all worthwhile. Q • How do you relate what you do to.what Christ did as a leader? · A. Christ had His 12 disciples~· When we look primarily at their conduct while He was on earth, we see how weak they were. Then we look at the values He instilled in them and how they became the major force to spread Christianity into the world. They became dynamic leaders in some cases and very strong uncompromising spokesmen. That is the way of leader– ship - taking people and molding them. They get better and do more. Then they move on. · () • Isn't one of the rewards of leadership directing people ~ are vastly different? A. It is very easy to surround oneself with people of similar backgrounds, like persuasion, and similar abilities. But there are great rewards in diversity. In my own top management team we have had people who vary in age , background, and race. Each person brings a special perspective and particular skills. This blend of people produces fine results which please me, their supervisor. Q• What costs accompany these rewards? A. A leader stands and falls on the people under him. As Harry Truman said, 'The buck stops here." If a decision is made and it is wrong, the leader must take responsibility for it. The more authority he gives people, the more he has to be prepared to accept their mistakes. A leader also has to accept the work of others without stepping in and doing it himself. Christ did this with His disciples. He corrected them and chided them for their lack of faith, but He didn 't do for them the tasks He assigned. And they came through in the end. When a leader reaches the top of an organization, he works at the pleasure of the people who have employed him. Unless he owns the place, they have the right to remove him for whatever reason they deem appropriate. He is responsible for doing the best he can. The leader gathers the best information, analyzes it, and makes the decision. The result may not please everyone. But he is in charge. And sometimes he dies on his own sword. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods." Matthew 24:45-47 11