Just a clarification.  My experience is that most leaders in most organizations are truly trying their best to further the goals of their organization.  However, when the goals themselves are out-of-congruence with the reality of their situations, it leads to paranoid defensiveness: especially in some religious organizations---where  "Why are we not succeeding?" is answered by: 1) we're great and evil out there is destroying our effectivness; 2) we're great and the people out there don't want our message, since they are evil; or 3) you (in the organization) aren't really committed, don't really love God, and are bad!

Little or not thought to: 1) are our goals realistic and if not, can they be adjusted to be more reasonable? 2) are our means the best to try to meet the goals? and 3) what changes can be done in our required framework to make us even better than we are now?

Of course, once again, that's an admision that we are not perfect.

For many religious groups, that's heresy.

To be an enlightened leader in that environment invites being fired, rejected, excommunicated, and labeled as a trouble-maker if not worse (an agent of Satan!)

The power of religion is tradition, doctrines, and rituals.

Taken too far, though, those strengths become deadening drawbacks.

Dan

Why so few enlightened leaders?  Religious leaders often view their job as: "Defenders of the Truth" rather than "Advancers of Understanding."  Religious members often seek religion out of defensive motivation, looking for a secure and safe retreat---rather than a means to continually move closer to God.  Tradition soothes fear while promoting backwards and forwards "tunnel" vision.  Leaders are often those that value being respectfully listened-to rather than true servants of those they lead.  Questioners are viewed as troublemakers at best and heritics at worst.  So, what do you get?---Unenlightened leaders that take pride in their ignorance.  Sad, but true.

Dan