Loyal Opposition

Mike Barnett was a mentor for me. Most people think that a mentor must be someone older than themselves. While I have had some of the very best mentors who were much older than I, it has been my privilege to have mentors who were my peers or who were younger than I.

One of those who was a peer, and also younger than I, was Mike Barnett. Mike’s early death was a blow to me and others in our circle of friendship. Mike had also been a mentor for both of our sons.

Mike taught me a lot about following Jesus, about leadership, and about dealing with people. Most of Mike’s friends would agree with my comments about following Jesus and leading people, but many would contest me suggesting that Mike knew how to deal with people. Mike was a no-holds-barred type of guy who expressed his feelings without concern for how others might interpret them. He loved people, but he did not mind disagreeing with them and then telling them why they were wrong.

Often in a discussion among team members, Mike would begin his comments with this: “I will be the ‘loyal opposition’ and share a different point of view.” Or, he would say, “As the loyal opposition, I feel this way about this challenge…”

Wise people have told me that the phrase “loyal opposition” was coined in 18th-century England to let the out-of-power party express its views without fear of being charged with treason. However, for me Mike B (as we affectionately call him) coined the words to help me understand that good leaders love having loyal opposition. The best leaders don’t want all the people around her or him to agree with her or him. Weak leaders surround themselves with people who always agree with their leader.

Mike B and I were colleagues overseas before I asked him to be part of a team that I led. Another Mike named Mike Edens (who we call Mike E) was also a member of this new team. Mike E had a habit of nodding his head whenever I was talking or making a comment. He would also frequently say these phrases: “That’s right” or “Yes.”

During one meeting early on in working together, Mike E said out loud in our meeting after I made some comments, “You are right.” I turned to Mike E and said, “Mike E, if you continue to agree with everything I say, then one of us is not needed, and I plan to stay.” From that point on, Mike E learned how to be the loyal opposition in our team meetings and strategic planning. We did not need a “yes” man. We needed all our team members to voice their opinions and concerns in order for us to be a high-performing team.

Mike B, you are still influencing people as I continue to share with young leaders about loyal opposition. Thank you!