June 2008 Archives
As part of the MLS course it's been suggested that I write a short letter summary of the key lessons I've learned throughout the last 12 months of the course. So here goes...
1. Leadership isn't about status.
Being a good leader is about having the ability to inspire and motivate people, to spot and release potential in individuals and to do all that you can to ensure that your "workforce" are well supported and fully equipped to carry out the work that has been set for them to achieve for the greater good of an organisation. Jim Collins, in his book "Good to Great" refers to this as "the window and the mirror paradigm" - A good leader looks at himself when faced with failure, but looks to others to apportion credit for successes.
2. Leadership isn't primarily about quantifiable results.
Being a leader involves putting emphasis on "people" rather than "results". Results are obviously an important part of leadership, but long term results rely on the "health" of an organisation. Recruiting, Investing in and releasing "team" seems to be the key to the long term effectiveness of most leaders. "Every leadership decision you will ever face will be about people and relationships" - Roy Crowne (so it must be true!!)
3. Leadership isn't always about being at the front.
I loved the suggestion in the book "Lead like Jesus" that leadership requires work at both ends of the spectrum - spearheading vision and direction for an organisation, then empowering team to achieve that vision by getting "behind" them and supporting them in any way you can - giving them the authority to lead and make decisions.
I guess the biggest lesson I've learned on the MLS course though, is that there's no such thing as the "perfect leader". Leadership is a personal thing with no clearly defined goalposts or personal specification. And that leadership style will look different for everyone. Obviously there will be similarities in leadership styles, but I think the biggest danger is that as a leader one sees others who show some similar facets of leadership style and therefore tries to replicate everything that that leader does, rather than recognising that the similarity is only one small part of a possibly very different personal leadership portfolio.
In short, the MLS course has challenged me to not put this whole area of leadership in a specific "box", but to constantly challenge my ideas (and those of others) about leadership style and effectiveness. I've also had a complete 180 degree experience regarding the "leaders are readers" debate. I always thought that if that we're true I would never be a great leader, but I now agree 100% and am really excited to get into any book I can find on the whole area of leadership. And finally, I've realised the importance of not just looking at leaders in awe, but grabbing every opportunity to talk with them, ask good (and hard) questions, and be prepared to have a mashed brain for days afterwards.
I'm really excited about my future in leadership, finally accepting that maybe God HAS placed a leadership calling on my life and slowly developing the confidence to get out there and lead!! I can honestly say that this course will go down as one of the key defining moments in my ministry.
Thanks to everyone for their input throughout the year. I've really
appreciated having people around me to bounce ideas off and challenge my
concepts on this whole area of leadership. It's been an amazing
ride.
And that's just the beginning...
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