Jay Leno is back in the news this week throwing nightly hissy fits over his impending replacement on The Tonight Show by the popular Jimmy Fallon of NBC's Late Night.
For his part, Fallon is handling the trickle of news updates with self-depricating humor and grace, not taking pot shots at Leno. If anything, Jimmy is literally picking up the phone and reaching out to Jay. Very classy.
It's sad to see Jay Leno slowly self-implode. We've been down this road before with Conan O'Brien, who was also forced out of Tonight. Only now the tables have turned and public sentiment is for Fallon, not Leno.
I have always admired how O'Brien handled his forced resignation. There are many leadership lessons to glean from his approach and attitude. From the blog archives, here are my thoughts on what to do when you have been Leno'd.
Conan O'Brien was interviewed recently by David Letterman. I picked up a solid yet unlikely leadership lesson from him.
Don't throw the past under the bus, even when you have been Leno'd.
This was an awesome-sauce interview.
Here's the thing: Conan didn't throw the past under the bus. Sure, Letterman was publicly sniffing for dirty laundry to air (that's what gossips do), but Conan did not dishonor NBC.
Leaders don't throw the past under the bus, even when they're Leno'd.
There is no honor in tearing down people and organizations... especially in church-world.
Jesus purchased the church with His blood. That's HUGE! God loves the church, created the church, and declares the church to be Christ's bride! Have you ever talked smack about another man's wife? Imagine doing that to Jesus Christ!!
If a church has hurt you in the past, that does not give you the right to muddy its name. If a church leader has disappointed you in the past, they are not your enemy (see Ephesians 6:12!!). Forgive and let go.
Leaders understand that integrity is doing the right thing even when it hurts. Trust me, I've felt hurt a lot over the past year. But I've found that God is honored most when we talk smack the least.
If you're a leader who has walked through the fire, allow Isaac's experience in Genesis 26 to be your model. Isaac was misnderstood, dishonored, and shunned over and over again. But he doesn't fight back. He submits to the Lord's will. And verse 28 is a beautiful display of the gospel.
