Flies are among the best pollinators in nature. Pollination is the process of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma. Without pollination, plants cannot reproduce, and human life would be threatened.
However, these same flies, essential for human life and existence, are not beneficial in another context. This scenario is illustrated in Ecclesiastes 10:1-3. Instead of aiding pollination, these flies land in your pot of oil and taint it with their waste, permanently contaminating your ointment.
A leader is likened to a perfume seller who showcases his ointment for people to buy. Most are drawn to his shop by the sweet fragrances, making their purchasing decisions based on that appeal. If the ointments emit a foul odour, no one will approach the shop, and certainly, no one will buy, regardless of the persuasion used.
One of the reasons a leader—or anyone who aspires to achieve and maintain greatness—should avoid dead flies is made evident in Ecclesiastes 10:1-3.
As you begin to grow as a leader, you’ll attract both people and opportunities. However, not all of them are positive. The things that come to you do so because they desire what you possess—your aura, the scent you exude. They long to experience that and will go to great lengths for it. Indeed, while some may come seeking assistance, it would be a mistake to assume everyone is there with good intentions. In fact, some may approach you under the guise of offering help, but they want to help you to fall.
Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 talks about how dead flies make the oil of the apothecary smell bad. So, a little folly would make a person in honour stink. A leadership lesson in this is to avoid reputation-ruining moments. These things may be gratifying to the body but hurt your integrity.
To continue to release a pleasant smell and attract people, you must never allow dead flies to come close to your perfume.
In this article, I shall highlight examples of dead flies that can spoil your perfume as a leader:
1. Uncontrolled Anger
Numerous reputation-ruining incidents arise from exhibiting uncontrolled anger. Although the world seems chaotic, there are still a few things that remain unpardoned by the general public. One of these is anger. An angry moment that goes viral can devastate the fame and charm of a nation’s darling. The Bible advises us not to befriend anger. Thus, do not allow uncontrolled anger to reside within you, and avoid keeping angry individuals as close friends. The wrath of man cannot achieve the righteousness of God.
2. Sycophants
The individuals who surround you, your confidants, and delegates, reveal more about you and your character than whatever you articulate. One common mistake among leaders is surrounding themselves with praise singers who are there to promote themselves rather than provide counsel to enhance the organisation and its people. Sycophants invariably harm leaders, so caution must be taken not to let these dead flies settle in your ointment. Proverbs 26:28 states that a flattering mouth brings ruin.
3. Lies
A small lie can utterly destroy your leadership. Once you acquire the label of a liar, a foul odour surrounds your presence whenever you appear, or even when your name is mentioned. Whenever the name Satan is invoked, it evokes memories of evil and deceit. Jesus refers to him as a liar and the father of lies. Avoid lying. Always speak and stand by the truth. Truth ultimately rewards those who pursue it. Lying reflects a lack of integrity.
4. Debauchery
This is a dead fly that stubbornly remains upon your ointment. It finds a way to emit its foul scent deep into your reputation, becoming indistinguishable from it. It defines who you are.
Solomon’s love for women ultimately ruined his life and reputation. You may possess unparalleled wisdom, but once you become ensnared in the web of lust, your wisdom evaporates or, rather, shifts towards finding new means to satisfy your carnal desires. As a leader, avoid an immoral lifestyle, alcoholism, and hard drugs. These have led many leaders—men and women—to ruin.
5. Envy
Envy is yet another dead fly that destroys a reputation. It often begins unnoticed from within, gradually consuming the envier until the stench is apparent for all to see. It will manifest in words and actions. Comparison and plotting schemes to harm others are often the fruits of envy. Envy leads to decay, and your bones cannot rot without emitting a foul scent. Envy stinks; do not allow it.
6. Pride and arrogance
Pride resembles a decaying corpse. When it infiltrates your ointment, your sweet fragrance vanishes. You may be the most skilled and visionary leader, possessing capacity and competence, but when pride enters the picture, people will lose respect for you. The Bible warns us that pride often precedes destruction, and a haughty spirit comes before a fall. Whenever you sense this dead fly approaching your ointment, cast it off.
7. Avarice
The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10) according to the Holy Scriptures. This excess and unfettered desire for wealth and material gain underpins corrupt practices, violence, and various evils present in today’s society. This mindset has led many in positions of authority to embezzle from their organisations, ultimately ruining their careers and lives. A leader must conquer avarice and find contentment in what he or she possesses.
8. Oppression
Some individuals consider themselves lords (owners) over others the moment they attain positions of authority. Despite over a century since the abolition of slavery, some leaders still perceive themselves as slave masters over their colleagues and fellow citizens. This mindset justifies the enactment of harmful laws, rules, and regulations by mortal men in leadership positions today. Such attitudes certainly constitute a dead fly that should never approach your ointment. It stinks, and the end for such leaders is invariably pitiable.
9. Unbridled tongue
Recently, a prominent public official in Italy was dismissed from office due to remarks he made during a conversation with an individual arrested for a crime. What he expressed was an opinion that ordinary citizens might have articulated, but someone in a position of authority cannot say such things because they are judged differently. Leadership roles are not imposed upon individuals. While there may be benefits that accompany your position, there are also responsibilities. Those who voice all their thoughts or assumptions rarely last in leadership positions.
10. Blame game/not taking responsibility
A leader who continually blames others when things go awry is unfit to lead. One of the foundations of leadership is accountability. When your colleagues observe that you never accept blame for mistakes, you diminish your value in their eyes, and without coercion, they would seldom heed your directives. They lose respect for you, viewing you as unreliable and negligent.
What other things constitute dead flies in leadership? Kindly share in the comment section.
God bless and keep you.
