Volume I - Issue V
Am I Investing In Others?
By: Lance Secretan
When we talk about leadership we are really talking about investing into someone else.
Putting someone else first must be part of this equation. If not, we are not actually "leading" but "using" someone else for our personal gain.
There are monumental differences between the two. We see this dichotomy with our kids, schools, work place and even our highest evel officials. Leadership is more servanthood than anything else. The master is no greater than his servant. Even Lordship follows service.
Our attitudes must be teachable. Leaders are never immune from making mistakes; how else do you learn if you don't make them? No one "always" learns from someone else. In fact, if there were ever a person more vulnerable to making mistakes, a leader would be that person. We are, by nature, subject to fallible living and consequences are part of this. We compound the situation when we are tasked with a leadership role and we ourselves are subjected to aspects of needing to be lead... if you're honest, you know this is true. Even Jesus did only what he saw his ather doing?
I have read things like... leaders don't make decisions, but influence others. Or ... leaders sell the tickets and managers drive the bus. Or, how about... leaders promote new direction and managers get things done. My friends, leaders are simply mentors and examples. Poor leadership comes from poor mentoring and being a lousy example... pretty simple. A person who desires to be a great leader, i.e. a true desire to mentor and come along side someone, must be willing (themselves) to be mentored and serve as well. There is no way of getting around this. So the question is... if your leadership is in questions, how deep is your well of service?
There is always a comfort zone that will contend for our significance and desired outcome. This self imposed limitation will either serve us well and keep us on the straight an narrow, or keep us from gaining important ground in the battle for bettering another person (we have elected to come along side with). If we expect to encourage others to "do well" and exceed expectations (in other words, be stretched), then we (as a leader) must be willing to take chances and risk mistakes. The cool thing about this aspect of leadership is humility... if we exemplify humility to others, there is freedom to "screw up" because mercy will typically be given back (normally in the measure it was given originally). An amazing concept; there is freedom in accountability and responsibility. However, bondage is found when we are always trying to be "right".
Passion... you have heard me talk about this before, the glue that holds dreams together. A true leader must have passion! Not necessarily in the "area of oversight", but in the ultimate goal of what is being pursued. In other words, a leader must a have an intended goal, outlined, and willing to pursue this to whatever degree necessary. This goal must be bigger than the task and should be encouraging to others (enough to motivate them). You know when someone looks you in the eye and says, "follow me"... your heart begins to pound and you know you must.
Finally, people can say what they want, but books and tapes are no substitute for learning and giving assistance in life through real life experiences. The worst leader is the one just coming out a seminar or school with "new knowledge" and no life skills to blend them into. They are a train wreck waiting to happen. Life and taking risks has a funny way of changing people's perspectives. In the desire to serve, leaders will take their stand because they are asked to do so.
Personally, I have possibly made more mistakes than most friends or businessmen I know, but I can honestly say, there is very little I would do to change it. My goal is to live simply and simply live according to the talents and desires God has given me. I may not be the smartest man in the world, but I have invested what has been given me with as much integrity, character and wisdom as possible. Sure, I have missed the mark more times than not, but in the end, my goal is to serve the One God who served me with life abundantly and if I can do that in all I do, then, I am good with that. I want to hear, "well done, good a faithful servant, you may enter into My rest".
Now that is leadership!
