From the Office of the Right Worshipful Grand Lecturer
LEADERSHIP & RESPONSIBILITY
Leadership – the process of influencing others to accomplish a job/task by providing purpose, direction, and motivation.
There are 4 factors and 4 principles that influence leadership decisions:
Factors
• The led – These are the people we are responsible for leading, they all are different and we must create a climate where they want to participate in our programs.
• The leader – You must know your strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, and limitations so that you can lead effectively and get thing accomplished.
• The situation – All situations are different, to determine the best action to take you should consider the following:
*Time & available resources
*The individual level of competence, motivation, and commitment to
perform the task
*Listen to new ideas
*Direct and encourage the individual that he can accomplish the task
• Communication – The exchange of information and ideas from one person to another or to a group. Effective communications occurs when others understand exactly what you are trying to tell them and when you understand precisely what they are trying to tell you.
Principles
• Pathfinding - is the ability to link what you are passionate about delivering with what the Brethren are passionate about getting.
• What matter most to them?
• What is our purpose, and how will we act toward one another?
• Where are we going, and how will we get there?
• Aligning – Creating a system that works!
• How does the whole system work together?
• What are the parts of the system?
• How do we align the parts to accomplish our goal
• Empowering – Releasing the talent, energy, and contribution of people so they can travel the path.
• How do we cultivate an environment where people can do their best and are committed?
• What is the nature of the work being done?
• Who does what? How? With what resources and accountability? For what reason?
• Modeling – Building trust with others, living and leading by principles.
• Who would follow me?
• Do I take responsibility?
• Do I “walk my talk”?
• Am I trustworthy?
Responsibility – The quality, state, or fact of being responsible. Having to account for one's actions; having a duty or obligation, dependable and being a source or cause.
As a Mason, we have some general responsibilities. First, we must be a good role model. You took an obligation to perform the duties of your position/station to the best of your ability. Additionally, as Mason's, we are obligated to be a good role model both in and out of the lodge. All of us took the obligation on the Bible, it is imperative that we model the behavior we obligated to for all those who we meet and know us in and out of the Lodge.
Second, we must develop those who are following behind us. We should perform our duties in a manner which will teach those aspiring to hold your position, how to execute the duties of the position in the best possible manner that will make a positive influence on the Lodge and all those who come during the time you are holding that seat. We must be ever mindful that the values and principles that are key to good leadership, honesty and integrity, are key to developing and promoting a spirit of harmony within the Lodge.
Finally, we must not put our brothers in ethical dilemmas by becoming part of “cliques” within the Lodge and making it hard for them to decide who to follow, creating situations where mistakes are covered up, and you are in the mode of telling people what they want to hear. Again, honesty will always be the best policy, and bring brothers into a state of togetherness rather than oneness, for the good of the Lodge.
Worshipful Master (as stated in the Code of Law Statue 9, Section 309) :
The four basic duties of the WM are:
*To preside over the Lodge meetings
*To confer degrees
*To superintend the official acts of all officers and see that their respective duties are properly performed.
*Guard against any infraction by members of his Lodge of its own Bylaws, or the Constitution, Regulations, and the Code of Law of the MWPHGL of Colorado.
Worshipful Master ( as stated in the Code of Law Statue 9, Section 309.01 ):
The WM shall appoint all committees and they shall serve at his pleasure. The WM shall be ex-officio member of each Lodge committee he may deem necessary.
Wardens :
Shall perform such duties agreeable to the ancient traditions and customs of the Order and appertaining to their respective offices and in conformity with the By-Laws of the Lodge as directed by the Worshipful Master.
TERENCE JACKSON
RW Grand Lecturer