Leadership is...Getting Out of the Way

I recently realized that at some point in my life - and I'm not exactly sure when - but a major shift happened in the way I approach ministry, leadership and maybe life in general. 

I used to be obsessed with trying to learn to be a good leader.

Since I am not a "natural" leader, I knew I had to somehow obtain those elusive leadership skills. So, I read leadership books. I took seminary classes. I studies church, political and business leaders. I sought mentors. All of this helped, I think. But it seems like I still had to learn most of my lasting leadership lessons the hard way - by taking a risk, falling flat on my face, getting up and trying again.   

As time went on, leadership books and seminary classes gradually started to bore me. I was no longer pumped about being a better leader. I am not sure whether that is good or bad, but that is the truth.

I got bored with Kouzes & Posner, Noel Tichy, Jim Collins, Robert Clinton, Aubry Malphurs, Patrick Lencioni, Hanz Finzel, John Maxwell and all the other leadership gurus and their books. I just couldn't take another paragraph about leadership.

Again, I don't know when or why it happened, but my new obsession became, not how to be a better leader, but how to help those around me become better leaders.

Once I got bored with leadership books and my obsession changed, it didn't take long for me to realize that in order to help others become better leaders, I would sometimes have to get out of their way so they could actually lead - so they could take a risk, so they could fall flat on their faces, so they could start over and try again, and again, and again.

To become better leaders people need the freedom to succeed and fail without our interference or intervention. With all due respect to the leadership books and seminary classes, I think I really learned leadership through trial and error and trying again.

I remember a t-shirt I had back when No Fear was a cool new brand. It said something like this: "Lead, Follow, or Get the #&$%@* Out of the Way!"

I think those No Fear people were on to something with that "get out of the way" line. For several years I have been trying the "stay out of the way" leadership development strategy, in order to help those around me become the best leaders they can be.

That seemed to be what Jesus was hinting at when He told his disciples that it was better for them that He go away. They had a hard time with that plan, but it worked out OK, their countless leadership mistakes notwithstanding.

All that to say, Leadership is...Getting Out of the Way.

 

 

Comments

[Daniel Smart]

Hey there, great blog! I guess the challenge sometimes is discerning what is necessary to lead/model vs what is best to let go of. I'm always encouraged by your philosophy of ministry though. I ultimately I believe that's the way it should be if we REALLY believe in things like the church, God's plan for individuals, and the leading and empowering of His Holy Spirit.

Added to that, if it's all about me getting the job done I personally find I start well but then run out of steam. If it's about helping others to be great at what God has called them to do, then I can do that forever!

[Mike Watkins]

Steve, thanks for taking time out today to hear my plans and for giving us young missionaries the chance to take the wheel. Taking the risk to empower young leaders is one of the biggest lessons I have learned here in Manila. We have two more weeks before we leave for the US and then Ukraine in August, but the compass of our hearts will always point to the Philippines.

[Ardy Abello]

i agree with you 100% steve! it confirms zig ziglar's philosophy in life, "you can get anything you want in life if you would just help other's get what they want in life" allowing people to grow and discover their potentials is the best gift a mentor can do for his apprentice.

[Major]

"...in order to help others become better leaders, I would sometimes have to get out of their way so they could actually lead - so they could take a risk, so they could fall flat on their faces, so they could start over and try again, and again, and again.

To become better leaders people need the freedom to succeed and fail without our interference or intervention."

I think this also applies with teaching those depending on you how to fish for themselves. And to my case, being the breadwinner of the family, this speaks.

Thank you.