March 22
A Clear Recommendation
Being asked to lead can make us cautious in an unhelpful way. We know the dangers of ego, so we offer no clear view, soften every suggestion, and wait for somebody else to decide. The group has asked for our judgment, but we treat having any judgment as a suspicious ambition. People are left guessing what we know and why we agreed to serve in the first place.
Humility can accompany a definite recommendation. We can explain our reasons, listen when others question them, and change our minds when better information appears. None of that requires pretending we have nothing to contribute. Responsibility sometimes means risking disagreement by speaking clearly. The difference becomes visible in what happens afterward: whether we stay curious, whether we can share credit, and whether the group's decision matters more to us than having our proposal adopted exactly as presented.
Where might my reluctance to take a position leave others carrying my responsibility?
Others deserve to know what I actually recommend.
For the A.A. nerds: As Bill Sees It, No. 271, “A.A. in Two Words.”