Polls, Popularity, and Principle
It’s 6a and the news crawl is already barking fresh approval numbers: “Sixty-two percent disapprove… Consumer confidence dips… Employee engagement tumbles…”
If you’re not careful, those constantly shifting digits can feel like a recalibrating GPS for every choice you’ll make today.
They’re everywhere.
And when they tend to the bias of the source’s messaging, they are presented as if they are sacrosanct.
Let’s keep them in perspective. They are nothing but a contributing data point.
Polls and surveys are helpful snapshots. They tell us what people feel right now.
But leadership – whether you sit in Congress, a corner office, a pulpit, or your own kitchen – depends on something sturdier than sentiment.
Edwin Friedman referred to it as being a “well-differentiated leader” – a person who can stay calm and connected while refusing to hand the steering wheel to every gust of opinion.
The apostle Paul considered it a mark of spiritual maturity, particularly in relationship to our growing in Christlikeness.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. – Ephesians 4:14
Think about Chick-fil-A. Consumer surveys scream that Sunday is prime time for fast food. Close your doors and you’ll lose millions.
Yet the company’s conviction about Sabbath rest has become part of its identity (and its profitability).
Or Apple in the late ’90s: focus groups begged for cheaper beige boxes. But Steve Jobs doubled down on sleek design and a slogan that dared customers to “Think Different.”
Pollsters shrugged. Customers eventually cheered.
So how do you keep polls and surveys in their place without ignoring the people they represent?
I’ve learned to run every shiny datapoint through three quiet filters:
Does this align with my non-negotiable values? If the answer is no, the decision is made. Data can’t veto conviction.
What’s the long-term story we’re writing? Today’s numbers rarely capture tomorrow’s impact. Ask any parent who limits screen time against the popular opinion of their kids; the fruit shows up years later.
Am I responding out of anxiety or purpose? A quick pulse check – literally, sometimes – helps me move from reactivity to creativity.
Notice what those filters do. They invite wise counsel, truth, and prayer into the room, and they refuse to let fear host the meeting.
The result is a steadiness people can trust, even when they disagree.
“Data informs. Conviction decides.” It’s good to collect customer feedback. But consider using it as a part of the conversation, not a dictator of urgent action.
You’ll see lower churn and higher morale in your employee base because they know the mission won’t change every time a survey spike turns south.
People appreciate consistent action based on sound conviction.
Where does this land for you?
Maybe it’s a policy you’re tempted to water down, a sermon you’re tempted to soften, or a family boundary you’re ready to scrap because you read something on social media that doesn’t agree.
Before you pivot, ask yourself some key questions and base your decision in wisdom, values, and conviction.
Then breathe deep, plant your flag, and lead on.
Blessings to you, my friends!
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This Week’s Resource Recommendation:
"Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory
- Tod Bolsinger
From Amazon: Explorers Lewis and Clark had to adapt to the unexpected. They set out prepared to chart a waterway to the Pacific Ocean, only to find themselves face-to-face with the Rocky Mountains. In many ways, leadership today feels much the same. You may find yourself navigating an unfamiliar cultural landscape, leading in contexts you never anticipated. Perhaps the skills and training you once relied on feel inadequate for the journey ahead, holding you back more often than propelling you forward.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a pastor and consultant, Tod Bolsinger brings decades of expertise in guiding churches and organizations through uncharted territory. In Canoeing the Mountains, Bolsinger provides a thoughtful and practical guide for leaders facing the unprecedented challenges of a rapidly changing world.
Canoeing the Mountains offers:
Fresh perspectives on the adaptive leadership needed to face today’s challenges
Practical strategies to help you rethink your approach to leading in unfamiliar and shifting environments
An expanded study guide to help you reflect, apply, and implement these lessons in your own leadership journey
If you’re ready to move beyond the tools that no longer serve you and embrace a new way of leading, Canoeing the Mountains will inspire and equip you to rise to the challenge. To scale the mountains of modern ministry, it’s time to set aside your canoes and new navigational tools to give you confidence and courage to lead in places you never expected to find yourself.
MMS 25-28
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