Four lessons from the last five years on the leadership
Intents vs Impact
Probably this has been the most constant lesson during these last years. The conscious intent to do good, to undoubtedly help others, to adequately develop them does not necessarily reward you with the desired impact. I used to naturally think that if my motives were rational, then I am doing well.
Later I understood that wasn’t enough; I started to assess myself, how my help, my behavior, my words were affecting the ones I lead.
The challenge is that you can’t measure everything in leadership. It is hard to get helpful feedback on honor and shame cultures. Especially when feedback has the negative connotation of being caught or of doing something wrong. To carefully close the gap between intent and impact, building a culture of immediate feedback is needed. There are countless cases in a conversation with leaders when the reality described by their intent does not mirror the reality described by those led by them. Were they out of touch with reality? Probably so. I think they were judging the situation from the optics of intent. Good intentions are not enough. In order to properly judge the situation, you will have to look at it from the lens of impact.
Data vs Intuition
What is more important? What should weigh more in a decision?
Leaders naturally tend to weigh things in terms of importance. I tend to go with a gut feeling like my primary tendency but I have also come to appreciate the unique contribution of the data. Data provides a snapshot of the reality seen by tangible results. Things that we can measure. Data often tell a trend and it might miss the story behind the number. The intuition which looks for the story, context, and perspective, comes in handy. This is not a matter of either-or. You have a great chance to make a better decision when you employ both data and intuition. Wisdom consists of knowing the difference between the unique contribution each one of them bring to the decision-making process.
Loving critics
Criticism and leadership are almost symbiotic. Critique, at the right amount, is both gratifying and humbling.
A loving critic is one who demonstrates the most honorable intentions for you personally and the best intent for the greater good. At the same time maintaining a constructively critical eye on what you do and how you do it. He does not criticize for the sake of opposition but for the sake of accomplishing the mission.
This kind of critic challenges our thinking, our decision processes and holds us above the level of mediocrity. This kind of critic helps us refine and strengthen our convictions toward doing the mission better. This is very constructive and this is a rare kind of critic.
The other kind of critic, which is most common is selfish, painful, unjust, and even evil.
Author Lawrenz Witt in his book “Spiritual Influence” names five things why followers criticize: 1) They are looking for someone to trust; 2)They want to be superior.;3)They are seeking the truth; 4)They don’t have anything else to do.;5) Their expectations and needs haven’t been met.
Some of them are genuine quests for the leaders’ trustworthiness. Number one and three would qualify as a loving critic type of attitude.
Wise leaders are always aware that people’s reactions, in general, are usually based on their personal interests.
Leadership Anxiety
Leadership is among professions that bear a lot of stress and anxiety. In Christian ministry when we are called to serve others holistically it is easy to carry others’ burdens like yours more than you should.
So how do move forward in fulfilling the mission with people whose burdens are a mission in itself? When is the moment to lend a hand, to care, to stop and when is it time to move forward? And how can leaders manage this tension?
Pastor and leadership development author Steve Cuss in his highly rated book “Managing Leadership Anxiety” introduces us to the skill of differentiation.
He employs two effective expressions to generate the point.
The first differentiation most powerfully comes into play when you lead a group of people where they do not want to go, but must go.
In the second, he brings a balance between care and moving forward: Differentiation is the courage to lead people to a difficult place while still being deeply connected.
He illustrates the point from an example from Jesus dealing with his disciples.
Jesus was able to be connected to them in their grief without their anxiety infecting him. Thus, they had a spiritual experience that they may not have had if Jesus had rushed in and said, “Guys, it’s me! Jesus, the one you’re talking about.” Sometimes God has a growing opportunity for someone that an anxious leader shortchanges by trying to carry it for them. Jesus’ capacity to walk alongside rather than carrying, to listen rather than fix the folks on the way to Emmaus is stunning to me. Steve Cuss
Which lesson speaks to your leadership journey the most? What are some of your own leadership learnings that you benefited from?
Book of the year. 10/10. Dane Ortlund in 22 short chapters beautifully presents God`s heart for humankind. The very words used in the bible (Matthew 11:29) to describe God’s heart are; gentle and lowly. On one hand, we break his heart with our disobedience and the very rebellious nature of ours qualifies us to be a subject of his Gentle and Lowly heart. It is in His nature. Rarely have I read something that felt rebuked and encouraged at the same time. Inspired by Puritan’s writings and the bible Ortlund helped me see Jesus`s heart for me with a new set of eyes.
Most inspiring. 10/10Eric Metaxas brings in a masterful collection of short accounts on the lives of 14 extraordinary people. Among them George Washington, William Wilberforce, and Mother Teresa which the author fails to mention her origin as Albanian. All lived life under many hardships but persevered giving themself sacrificially to a greater cause. Read this book and discover the secret of their greatness.
Hits the point: 9/10 Classic Lencioni. Short to the point delivered by a fable. He says probably this is his most important book. Why you are in leadership after all? What is your motive will impact everything you do and how you do it.
Vulnerable 9/10 The author is open about her flaws, brings in research, personal anecdotes, and Scripture. All in a great balance. I read this with my wife. Reviews from readers are over ten thousand.
Classic: 10/10. You would not get wrong with anything with Cs Lewis. I hold him as my Intellectual.