Concept 9
“Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustees.”
“Leadership is not a dirty word in AA. It is a necessity. Without good leadership, the service structure cannot function.” — Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept 9
Concept 9 addresses the question of leadership directly — and insists that AA needs it, at every level.
What it means
“Good service leadership at all levels” — from the group secretary to the General Service Board, leadership matters. The quality of AA’s service depends on the quality of its leaders.
“The leader in AA is not a boss. He is a servant. But he is a servant who leads — who takes initiative, who makes decisions, who is accountable for results.” — Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept 9
“Primary world service leadership must be assumed by the trustees” — with the founders gone, the trustees carry the primary responsibility for AA’s world service leadership. That’s a serious responsibility.
“The trustees must be willing to lead. They cannot be passive. They must take initiative, make hard decisions, and be accountable to the Fellowship for the results.” — Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept 9
Why it matters
“AA has sometimes been suspicious of leadership — confusing it with government or control. Concept 9 corrects this. Leadership in service is not about power. It is about responsibility.” — Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept 9
The best AA leaders are those who lead by example, who serve without seeking recognition, and who hold themselves accountable to the principles of the program. That’s the kind of leadership Concept 9 calls for.
“Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.” — Tradition 2
Related tags
service · principles · concepts
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