Page 26 - MFM Jan Feb 2024

Leadership Is The Key To Success

Michael D. Johnson, II, Grand Master of Kansas 2022-2023

There are several discussions as to why For too long, leadership has presided in
membership in Freemasonry has continually their positions and not give the Craft proper
declined for the last several decades. They range instruction. In response, the Craft waits….
from societal shifts away from fraternal orders and grows complacent….sluggish in ideas and
to simply membership correcting itself from a thoughts….and creativity slowly wisps away.
quasi-high after the world wars. The relevance of
such topics cannot be ignored because each does That is the problem that is the foremost
possess some level of truth and adds context to adversary in Freemasonry and the immediate
any discourse; however, many of these topics are, challenge that needs to be addressed today. The
honestly, outside the control of any individual or path forward requires leadership to implement a
group and cannot be changed. What then, is to few prevailing themes in a Lodge; be humble, be
be deemed from such a revelation? truthful, be an example, and set goals. This list
is by no means exhaustive, but it is a great start.
The primary concept gained from such an
epiphany is that discussion is worthwhile, but To be humble.
the effort should be directed towards something A person’s ego creates situations where
that can be controlled. Any plan to implement selfishness reigns supreme and is never a positive
such an idea requires leadership, perhaps the experience, especially in the servant leadership
primary skill lacking in Freemasonry today. Now, environment that Freemasonry is supposed
that is not to say there are not great leaders, to be. The ego must be left at home and any
but there are not great leaders at every level fraternal or societal interaction occurs on a
and geographical area that Freemasonry has a foundation of humility. This opens the door for
presence. This is an unequivocal truth that has challenging personal insight and consideration
been ignored, but fortunately, leadership is a of other thoughts and ideas on any subject.
skill that can be taught and learned. Like any Learning starts at this point.
skill, it takes practice, discussion, learning, and a
formal acknowledgment of its necessity.

Montana Freemason Page 26 Jan/Feb 2024 Volume 100 No.1