Laser.

Why it’s not always best to give the answer

“Instead of telling him what to think, I taught him how to think.” - Clayton Christensen In reading an article from the Harvard Business Review, I came across this statement. I remembered time and time again wanting to look at an advisor/mentor/professor and say, “Just tell me what to do”. Reflecting back, I would be in a completely different place than I am now if they had. We exist in a world where answers are readily found via the web and services are purchased to figure out our problems for us. While some things are of course used to facilitate efficiency and guidance, I also believe some things need to be left for us to figure out. I commend now, the individuals in my life that pushed me to my own conclusions and plans. For in the end, it’s the product of our own thinking that can produce the most fulfillment in life - but only if we allow others to challenge and encourage us to think intentionally, while coming to our own conclusions in the end.

Requirements to Be a Leader? Good Read

You have to be adaptable – Things change fast these days. Real fast. You must lead a team that responds accordingly.

You have to be moldable – You must personally change fast too…or you’ll be left behind. (This doesn’t mean you have to change your values, beliefs or convictions. In fact, that will work against you these days. People would rather be on your team and disagree with you some…difference of opinion is more acceptable today…than for people to think you are whimsical in what you claim to believe. This is actually one culture change that can be a benefit for the Christian leader.)

You have to embrace a team approach – There are no Lone Rangers today. (By the way…he wasn’t alone either. If I had a helper like Tonto and a horse like Silver…I’d have myself a winning team.)

You have to consider social responsibility – People want their individual work to make a difference. They also want the place where they spend their time, whether paid or volunteer, to make a difference.

You have to think bigger than today – Tomorrow is coming quicker than ever before and people are looking for leaders who can provide competent direction and consistent encouragement.

You have to be willing to serve others- People will no longer follow an autocratic leader. They are less loyal than ever. If you want to remain their leader, you must prove you care for them personally. Trust is more important than having all the answers.

You have to allow others to receive credit and assume authority – It’s what attracts leaders to your team these days. They want to feel they are playing a part in the team’s success.

It’s what’s required in leadership today. I realize this brings some unique challenges for spiritual leaders. We have a message and faith that is unwavering…and needs to stay that way. I certainly don’t intend to change my message. As Christian leaders, though, we must understand the context of culture in which we find ourselves. The way we lead, motivate and recruit people has changed. If we don’t recognize that, we will be less successful in accomplishing our God-given assignments.

Thankfully, and I know I need this…where we are weak…He is strong.

-Ron Edmondson

(Source: ronedmondson.com)

Tr[us]t

“If you want to lead people you have to trust the people you lead and let them own decisions with you.” - Ron Edmondson

It’s interesting how when leading something, whatever that may look like, we feel the pressure to make decisions ourselves when they need to be made. That may be out of fear, worry, or even a sense of feeling overwhelmed. We fear that others will fail to get the job done, or we worry that it will not get done the “right” way. While every leader will have to make and own their own decisions, putting trust in the team to help with them is something I’ve struggled with myself. 

Ron’s quote rings true on a multitude of levels. I have found more and more that when I simply do not have an answer (or even a well-polished one) the best step to take is to say “I don’t know, what do you think?”. Scary stuff, I know. When I say that, I feel as though I just shouted out “I have no clue what I’m doing and you should have no faith in me anymore”. Leaders tend to feel they need to project this self that produces with minimal effort and always has the answer. The best leaders, in thinking to ones who have inspired me, are those that ask for help whether they need it or not. You are inviting others in - inviting them to offer their investment and insight.

It’s hard to trust and even harder to continually challenge those you trust to help them grow - but, leadership is messy, and it’s when we play in the mud that we invite others to get their hands dirty with us.

When I think back to moments of decision and change in my organization, the best forms of both didn’t come from one person.