Pleasant Surprise
After the selection of Argentinian Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio as pope in March 2013, his humility, caring and willingness to be vulnerable captured the fancy of Catholics and non-Catholics around the world. Pope Francis, who labels himself a “sinner,” famously asked, “Who am I to judge?” An inspirational, authentic and visionary leader, the pontiff, age 77, advocates change and innovation.In his nearly 40 years as a priest in South America, Bergoglio was as an unpretentious man who took public transportation to visit Catholics and non-Catholics in Argentinian neighborhoods. Fifteen months after he turned 75 – and submitted his mandatory resignation to Pope Benedict XVI – Bergoglio was elected to lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, stepping in to head a church plagued by controversy. His tenure as pope exemplifies 12 important leadership lessons:“Pope Francis does not want to change the Catholic Church’s core values; he simply wants to update its operating system to be compatible with the world’s ever-evolving networks.”
1. “Lead with Humility”
Pope Francis believes that humility is the single most important leadership characteristic and that everyone should learn to be more humble. For his first public appearance as pope, Francis chose not to stand on a platform that would raise him higher than other cardinals. Before addressing the crowd, he requested a prayer for himself, a decidedly untraditional gesture. Few corporate leaders demonstrate that kind of humility. Examples include former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, Travelocity’s former CEO Michelle Peluso and Tony Hsieh of Zappos, who all chose to work out of cubicles among their employees.“Pope Francis shows himself to be a leader who understands that leaders lead people, not institutions.Pope Francis considers himself a servant. Humble leaders understand the distinction between issuing orders to employees and helping them succeed. Leaders who serve others acknowledge that productive dialogue requires mutual respect. Pope Francis believes that lowering your defenses and withholding judgment helps you overcome obstacles to good communication.
2. “Smell like Your Flock”
Pope Francis forged his commitment to helping the less fortunate when he was an assistant bishop in Buenos Aires. Determined to increase the Roman Catholic Church’s involvement in the city’s hazardous slums, Bergoglio targeted drug use – in particular, the use of paco, a form of cocaine paste. The church created a rehab center and set up two farms that hired former addicts. Another program helped young people gain apprenticeships to learn a profession. When Padre Pepe, a veteran priest, received death threats about his crusade against drugs, Bergoglio fearlessly held an outdoor Mass and condemned drug dealers. The future pope spent time in the slums with his parishioners, walking the streets and even washing the feet of young addicts.“Being a humble leader does not prevent Francis from exercising authority and power when needed.”The leaders of Tesco PLC, England’s largest grocery retailer, also work to understand their “flock.” For one week a year, its executives and managers work as checkout clerks, customer service reps, warehouse clerks, and the like. The “Tesco Week in Store Together” (TWIST) program increases profits and helps leaders relate authentically to their employees and customers.“In his first month as pope, Francis expounded on the necessity of service and how that imperative included him as well.”
3. “Who Am I to Judge?”
Pope Francis’s statement in 2013 that the church should not condemn homosexuals illustrates his belief that “judging” and “assessment” are not the same. Pope Francis leaves judging to a higher power, but doesn’t hesitate to make appropriate assessments or decisions. Leaders’ critical responsibilities include assessing their employees. Sound assessment requires dialogue and interaction, not just yearly performance reviews. Pope Francis advocates, “respectful and compassionate listening.” Academic research strongly supports his philosophy of focusing on employees’ positive qualities and finding ways to strengthen them. Don’t dwell on the negative; invest in and support the positive to gain better employees who are more loyal.
4. “Don’t Change – Reinvent”
Pope Francis’s speech at the 2013 conclave indicated that he was a forward thinker who favored change. He said that the church should practice greater outreach. This resonated with Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, who whispered, “That’s what we need.” By becoming the first pope to take the name Francis, Bergoglio suggested the power of personal reinvention and redemption. Pope Francis has called on the church to reassess its views about gay marriage, contraception and divorce. He wants it to question whether it is clinging to a potentially outdated ideology. To parallel this kind of leadership thinking, examine whether your business practices remain relevant or reflect a status quo that your company has always protected. Consider whether you should retain employees who resist change and protect their own careers rather than your organization.“Giving all of your people a greater understanding of what their colleagues contribute to the organization is your best chance of eliminating inward-focused insularity.”
5. “Make Inclusion a Top Priority”
Bergoglio’s experiences as the “Bishop of the Slums” changed him. The future pope established a precedent of interacting with people on the periphery of society. Outreach begins with clergy recognizing that they must not “act like bureaucrats or government officials.” Pope Francis even told an archbishop that he should go out at night to help feed and clothe the poor. To the pope, outreach includes approaching nonreligious Catholics who have left the church. Inclusion means seeking input on decision making. Pope Francis assembled a team of eight cardinals to advise him on world issues. In your firm, establish a panel to help you determine policy. Appoint diverse representatives, including people who aren’t afraid to challenge you.“It is not only in Francis’s world that people come first; if you lead people, then they are your top priority, as well.”
6. “Avoid Insularity”
The Catholic Church has been accused of being “stuck in motion” and unwilling to entertain meaningful change. Some companies also refuse to accept outside help or to acknowledge that problems exist, but no organization or individual has all the answers. Pope Francis believes that too much self-sufficiency indicates a lack of trust in God’s presence. You can be a strong leader while filled with self-doubt and vulnerability. Humility contributes to personal growth and makes you more likely to seek help. Don’t let insularity infect your organization, as can happen if you set up departments to compete with each other. Arrange informal meetings and lunches so people from different areas can get to know each other.
7. “Choose Pragmatism over Ideology”
Pope Francis’s belief that the church must acknowledge reality and make appropriate, proactive adjustments applies to every organization. Clinging to a particular ideology or set of procedures while denying the actuality of change only holds an organization back, regardless of its size.“If your employee comes to you looking for an opportunity to grow and you feel that the person is able to handle the job, allow him or her to take on the responsibility.”Past performance is no guarantee of future success. Just ask BlackBerry, which once dominated the mobile-device market. Pragmatists face reality. Pope Francis recognizes that to succeed he must understand politics. He encourages people to explore the culture of their organization.“You can identify the self-interested people in your organization, because they often cling to the silos or cliques they have created…to insulate themselves from organizational change.”
8. “Employ the Optics of Decision Making”
Pope Francis deliberately conveys his humility. For instance, by taking public transportation as a bishop, he became more accessible – and more human – to his followers.Pope Francis incarnates the spiritual consciousness of the Catholic Church, but knows that he also must be a “political animal.” He recognizes that leaders must make decisions that have serious consequences, and he believes that impetuousness is harmful. He says a rash decision he made years ago stemmed from immaturity and created the misperception that he is “ultraconservative.”“Francis goes to great lengths to put people on an equal and even footing when engaging others in conversation.”The need to make smart, deliberate decisions applies to how leaders hire top people. Michael Eisner became CEO of Disney in 1984 following Walt Disney’s death. Eisner’s hiring of Frank Wells to be second in command sent a message that the future of the entire company wasn’t only in Eisner’s hands. Wells was so competent that, after he died in an accident in 1994, Disney struggled and Eisner eventually lost his job. People decisions are always a leader’s top priority.“Spend all your time talking and you will do nothing but confirm your own biases and prejudices.”
9. “Run Your Organization like a Field Hospital”
Pope Francis compares the church to a hospital that treats the spiritually wounded just as a mobile medical unit tends to the physically wounded on the front lines in a war. He wants the clergy to help those in financial or relationship difficulties and those who must deal with the death of a loved one. He believes a worthy servant of the people acts with a sense of urgency.As technology reduces opportunities for personal contact, have your employees spend time in the field with customers. Trust your people to make sound, independent decisions. Micromanaging hurts performance and shows your mistrust in those you lead. As with a field hospital, you cannot make every critical decision. You must trust subordinates with authority over serious matters.“Francis does not see the world as a static place but as an ever-changing landscape that we all need to be attuned to.”
10. “Live on the Frontier”
Pope Francis uses the word “frontier” to suggest people who live on “the periphery.” He means this literally – as with a particular nun who lived for years among the poor – and figuratively – as with nonconformist people who make counterintuitive decisions or flaunt conventional wisdom. People with experience on the frontier – either literally or figuratively – trust their ability to make decisions. They know when hesitation is not an option.“The frontier is not a place; it is more of a positive and broad-minded attitude coupled with courage and audacity.”Effective leaders such as Pope Francis know how to make unorthodox decisions. They have the confidence and experience to act in the best interests of their organizations. Life on the frontier means putting your needs and desires aside to serve others.
11. “Confront Adversity Head-On”
In March 2014, Pope Francis knelt and confessed publicly. He thus defined himself as a sinner – who could be redeemed through the Catholic rite of confession – and as someone who deserves forgiveness because “by extension, everyone is a sinner.” The leader of the Catholic Church demonstrated that he doesn’t put himself above anyone else. Francis uses a similar strategy to deal with adversity.“Francis lives on the frontier while still exercising power and living by a self-imposed code of radical humility.”Pope Francis lost a lung as a teenager. Yet, he worked in a stocking factory daily after school. He learned from an early age to “turn…setbacks into opportunities to grow.”He has worked to deal evenhandedly with the sexual abuse scandal that plagued the church. He created an eight-person commission that notably included four women to help the Church face sexual-abuse issues. Leaders can’t waste time when they face a divisive crisis; they must be prompt and attentive. Delaying action raises suspicion and invites criticism.The pope’s rapid response illustrates the principle that “serious matters require serious and timely action.” Never hesitate when faced with a difficult decision or circumstances. Listen to your advisers, trust your “frontier” instincts and take action.
12. “Pay Attention to Noncustomers”
Under Pope Francis, the church has reached out to nonmembers and to lapsed Catholics. He uses the Internet and social media to raise the Church’s profile. Business author Peter Drucker holds that “90% of the information” that organizations assemble comes from “inside the organization.” Such unintentional navel-gazing holds firms and other organizations back; how can you see where you need to make progress if all your descriptions are self-descriptions?To build communication, invite several of your biggest customers to address your managers about their most pressing concerns. That’s only the first step in looking at your organization from the outside in. To gain a more accurate self-portrait, use whatever method you prefer to learn what noncustomers think of your organization. Raise your profile outside your immediate market. Pope Francis draws non-Catholics’ positive attention to the church with his humility, his outreach and his example of compassionate leadership.
