Unique Leadership

Every person is unique.  Even though this statement is obvious to us, leaders often overlook its function when serving their teams.  Think about it.  We have all heard that a leader’s pace dictates a team’s pace.  While this is true, and frankly a great challenge to leaders on many sides, it can sometimes get into the head of a leader.  Here’s what I mean…

Years ago, I was serving on the Senior Leadership team of a large, multi-site church in the greater Phoenix area.  The stakes were high in the production area of our weekend services, and I was on edge every Sunday.  As the Campus Pastor, I was responsible for everything that happened on our campus.  Although we had staff to cover all ministry areas, the final coverage of the weekend rested on my shoulders.  I remember a weekend when we had a lot of production issues.  I was livid.  Not because there were issues – there are always issues – but because some members of the team did not possess the same level of intensity and drive that I had.  This resulted in conversations that did not yield the results I wanted.

I came home and vented to my wife about my frustrations with our team.  I told her how I felt our team should be keeping up with me and have the same drive as I do.  She asked if I was doing anything other than modeling this drive to them?  I did not know what she was getting at, so she drilled down further (she’s never been hesitant to challenge me when I need it).  She asked if I still believed that a leader should serve his or her team.  I naturally responded with a big YES, and then she asked if I was serving them by talking with them on their playing field. 

She nailed it.  I was expecting everyone on our team to meet me where I was in our conversations, but as the leader, I was supposed to be meeting them where they were, in order to lead them where I wanted them to go.  Frankly, it is lazy to expect our teams to automatically be where we are.  Why would they need us to lead them if they are already there? 

Leaders understand the importance of helping their teams catch a vision, get consumed by a vision and contribute to a vision.  But this takes work and wisdom.  Wisdom to know how people are different and understand how to connect with them in coaching conversations.  And work to know them better and help them become better.

A simple lesson for all of us, but one that has since proven helpful.