Going First

My 6 year old daughter recently overheard me monologuing on the subject of leadership.  In typical fashion I was asking and then answering my own questions for the benefit of those around me.  As I was making my closing argument, "so, what is leadership?" (followed by a dramatic pause - of course) my daughter, coloring and only half paying attention, innocently offered, "going first."  The air went out of the room.

Why is it that my diatribe never included this obvious point?  What does that say about me? 

"Who wants to be like me?  Step right up!"  Sad to say, but for the most part that is my leadership style.  It comes down to, "learn to pretend (like me) and you can be a leader (like me)."  But going first?  First in confession, contrition, repentance?  First in sorrow, hunger, service?  First in dependence, humility and need?  That doesn't feel like leadership to me.  The truth is I expect the people I'm trying to lead to be more honest (more real) than I am.

Only half paying attention I should be able to see the obvious - Jesus was about demonstration, he went first. Thanks to a little girl, I'm realizing that most of the time I think I'm leading, I'm pushing.

Didymus

[email protected]

Comments

[Thomas More]

I recently passed on a fortune-cookie fortune to a friend that is in leadership. It said: "Top of ladder is a nice place to be; but it can be lonely there."

Didymusette was definitely onto something with "going first"--the one out front is alone. The one in the garden, leaving his friends behind, went on alone.

Out front, there's no one next to you, no one rely on. There's no one to say, "this is how I did it." Of course, more glory goes to the leader who leads well--but if done right, leadership is an underpopulated island.

TM

[Didymus]

GREAT! Thanks.

[Soren K.]

As I was reading the comments of Thomas, "Out front, there's no one next to you, no one rely on. There's no one to say, "this is how I did it." Of course, more glory goes to the leader who leads well--but if done right, leadership is an underpopulated island.", it struck me that this is the myth of leadership.
That you have to be "out front" alone, you are blazing a trail that has never before been blazed, that it relies on you and when others follow it is to your glory. I have seen this myth sink many leaders. You are not alone, the trail has been blazed, you are merely following it.
You may be the first one down the path but if we are leading in the right direction it has been blazed for us (a light to our feet). This does not imply that the road it easy. Even in the garden Jesus had his Father to plead with, wrestle with, bargain with, and finally obey.
I have noticed that when I truly "feel alone" in leadership I have lost sight of who I am following. And sometimes I like the lone-ranger approach. I dont have to rely on others and in the end, if all goes right, I do get the glory. I wont pretend that I dont like it, but I have the sense that it is not the direction I should be going.

Soren K.

[Didymus]

Thomas and Soren,
Good ideas all. Thanks.
I don't picture Jesus leading for the sake of leading...he was actually following, but he was the first to follow...and that is, well, leading.
He was out to glorify His Father yet he did feel alone in doing so... This thought brings both of your comments together for me.

Didy

[SpartanBoy]

Didymus;
My first boss spoke wisely to me of leadership when he advised me "no one is completely useless, they always can be the bad example..."

Or, one closer to your heart, "You're only as good as your guards..."

[Didymus]

SpartanBoy,
I've heard that somewhere before! Its hard to argue with...difficult to be better than those who (go first) are leading you.
Thanks,
Didymus
(5.3 turnovers/game)