Leadership 1, 2, 3…

Here’s a really simple message about leadership.  Throughout the history of time, we’ve followed men and women for a wide variety of reasons.

By the way, most of the reasons and most of the followers aren’t worth worrying about.  Most of your reasons and your followers fit in this bucket.  Most of mine too.  They, just like you and me, are following mindlessly or half-heartedly.  They aren’t sure why they’re following anyway.  Sad, but true.  That’s for another time…

Here’s a real simple leadership 1,2, 3.  This one packs a punch.  Transforming followers ask these questions of those they choose to give their committed best.  These are the followers worth your time and attention.  Check it out and let me know what you think…

1.  Are you modeling the way?  Committed followers demand that you are a student more than a teacher, that you only ask them to follow your lead, that you take on the toughest tasks, and that your actions match your mouth.

2.  What is the ongoing source of your moral authority?  Do you ask the team to suffer while, like Xerxes, you watch from on high?  Or, do you call them to your side like Leonidas, to fight the good fight.  When the economy causes you to make some cuts, does your moral authority grow by how you slash yourself and your wages?  Huh…

3.  Do you LOVE the team enough to tell them the unvarnished truth?  Do you trust them with the truth, or find yourself sounding like a “cheerleader” asking the team to stand up and yell when we’re down by 40 in the 4th quarter?  Do you tell the team about all the bad news as soon as you can, or when you feel that you’ve got no other choice?

Model the way, draw power from your moral authority – not your position, and LOVE your followers enough to trust them with the truth.  REAL.  HARD. WORK.

Thanks, Rich Nathan, for another Sunday teaching worth remembering…