On Leading Well

Year: 2008

  • Leading Change: A Second Look at 2T2.2

    Quick, what’s the imperative in 2 Timothy 2:2? If you said multiply, go to the back of the class. The imperative is ENTRUST. To entrust means to take something of value and commit it to another’s charge.

    Big problems surface when the leadership culture of an organization begins to shift from entrusting to protecting. Fear slowly seeps in. People quit growing, striving, and sacrificing toward a compelling vision. Good leaders, people with an apostolic or entrepreneurial spirit, naturally look for other space to create and innovate. Prophets who have important things to speak into the organization begin to be silenced. Shepherds quit guiding people toward a noble goal – the motto becomes “keep everyone from harm.” Alignment morphs into compliance.

    Entrusting entails risk. When I entrust money to a broker, I might lose some or all of it. When I entrust my car keys to someone, it might get scratched, wrecked or stolen. When I entrust myself to others, I might get hurt. Someday I may have the great privilege of entrusting my daughter to another man. The process of genuinely entrusting anything of value to someone else means that I lose a great deal of control over the future outcome of that item.

    That’s why biblical Christianity is such a risky endeavor. Jesus entrusted 11 young men on a hillside with the entire future of the family business. It wasn’t capricious. He invested time inculcating values, vision, heart and strategy. Then he gave them the keys and let them drive. He showed them the Way. His way included Modeling, Assisting, Watching, then Leaving.

    For the past 12 years my wife and I lived overseas. Year after year we watched 19-23 year old students from a dozen different countries launch spiritual movements on campuses throughout Asia. We never had enough people – enough leaders. So, we were forced into a wonderful situation. We could choose to entrust these young go-getters with an entire campus (or city, or sometimes a regional role such as finance manager where they were in charge of lots of money), or we could play it safe (“Sir, please lower your voice, step away from the leadership role and no one gets hurt.”) We could maintain the illusion of control, but the mission wouldn’t move forward.

    The role of senior leadership always entails creating S P A C E for the next generation. By senior leadership, I am not just referring to old people over 45:-) The next generation needs to lead something risky today, or they will never be ready to lead a larger effort tomorrow. If left uncorrected, this lack of perceived readiness introduces a high level of doubt into the institution. Doubt is the opposite of trust. No trust, no entrusting.

    Ask: Can I name five specific times that I’ve risked entrusting something of value to someone else in recent weeks?

  • Speaking Change: Over/Under to Among

    Yesterday’s post on Initiation generated some excellent discussion among the comments. Thanks. Here’s an insight from Dave G: Well, who we are seems to be dealing with character. Is humble, servant leadership dealing with character? If so, I am ashamed to say that I so often see circles of leaders as “good ole’ boy” clubs where one is entitled to certain perks and levels of respect. I’m sure most people would not say that directly, but it seems to be how we live leadership out in our organization. I would love to hear some thoughts on this.

    OK, here you go. New Testament leadership language contrasts greatly with most every culture’s normal perspective. Think about the words we use: I’ve always appreciated being under your leadership. He’s over me. She’s under the HR director. He’s over everyone in this four-state region.
    When Jesus was challenged by James and John (and their mom!), two of his closest men, to place them in positions of authority over the other 10, sparks flew. Jesus basically said no.
    And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:41-45, ESV)
    Note that Jesus addresses two types of leaders who rule or exercise authority over: those who are considered leaders, and even their great ones. Christ then turns the org chart upside down and strongly states in contrast: But it shall not be so among you.
    I confess I didn’t expect such teaching from the ruler of the universe. Did his words stick? Did the disciples get it?
    Fast forward 25 years later. Peter, arguably the most forceful personality among the disciples, whose name showed up first on most of the leadership rosters in the gospels and throughout the New Testament, wrote some great advice to church leaders. Let’s see what Peter said:
    So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:1-4, ESV)
    Yep, I think it stuck.
    Lesson for change agents: Take the next 7 days to listen for the leadership language of over/under or among. What do you hear others saying? What do you hear yourself saying?

  • The Leadership Edge: Initiating

    She left Ireland to serve Christ in Japan at 26 years old. After 15 months she sailed for Sri Lanka, ultimately ending up in India. While there, Amy became deeply burdened by what she saw.

    It was 1901 and Amy had just returned from a year of ministry to the villages when she was greeted by a sweet, seven-year-old girl, Preena (or “Pearl Eyes”). She had escaped from the temple and looked to Amy for help. Displeased temple people came screaming and yelling–but slowly their anger subsided and the crowd dispersed. Amy was left with Preena. And so began the work of what would later be known as Dohnavur Fellowship.

    When asked by one of her young women, “Amma, what does it mean to be a leader?” Amy Carmichael was heard to reply: “Be the first wherever there is a sacrifice to be made, a self-denial to be practiced, or an impetus to be given.”

    OK, call me old-fashioned, but that smells like Christ-centered change-the-world servant leadership to me. The funny thing is, I can’t name many missions organizations or churches that would knowingly allow someone to be sent halfway around the world, to a dangerous place, to start a ministry or a movement, by themselves, today. Can you? Did I mention that Amy remained in India for 55 years, until her death at 83, without a single furlough? The work at Dohnavur continues to this day, over a century later. Check their site.

    Have we lost the leadership edge?

    What is the edge? INITIATION. Change leadership is all about being the first wherever there is a sacrifice to be made, a self-denial to be practiced, or an impetus to be given.

    Question for change agents: Do I see any place to initiate?

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