I sat with this for over a week. Language is always a limiting factor when speaking about the indescribable. It is one of the reasons that Jesus taught in parables.
Last week’s morning Band call was SACRED.
Why? Because connection happened – – – true connection – – – and when that happens, something inside a human being comes alive that cannot be manufactured in ANY other way.
I love feeling deeply connected with others.
Leaders are believers. Leaders are connectors.
Leaders often think they lead through direction. They don’t. They lead through belief. And belief spreads ONLY through connection.
Leaders are believers. Leaders are connectors.
You cannot transfer courage through instruction. You cannot transfer identity through a checklist. You cannot transfer purpose through goals. But you can transfer ALL of it through relationship.
Nothing – – – NO THING – – – meaningful happens outside of deep connection…
and everything – – – EVERY THING – – – meaningful happens inside it.
Leaders are believers. Leaders are connectors.
In the BUILT TO LEAD framework, the CORE is NOT discovered alone. It is revealed in relationship. You don’t fully know what you believe until another person trusts you with what they believe. Connection exposes everything you believe and only in that place and space can you truly discover what someone else believes.
A leader, then, is first a believer.
She believes in truth before she demands behavior. She believes in people before they perform. She believes growth is possible before evidence exists. Because belief precedes transformation. But belief by itself is invisible unless it is carried through connection. That is why leaders are connectors.
A leader, then, is a deep connector.
Leaders are believers. Leaders are connectors.
In those moments of deep connection – – – performance improves almost instantly – – – not because the leader pushed harder but because a human heart finally had somewhere safe to stand.
We often try to scale leadership through systems…fail! Leadership only scales through belonging.
Leaders are believers. Leaders are connectors.
Last week’s band practice reminded me: Presence and connection. Presence and connection. Presence and connection.
So the work is simple, not easy. Believe in them. Connect with them. Stay with them.
Leaders are believers. Leaders are connectors.
Together We Transform – – – always, ALWAYS TOGETHER.
PS Leaders are repeaters. Leaders are repeaters. Leaders are repeaters.
Connecting…because our lives depended on it…Kunar Valley, Afghanistan 2003. ODA 316
BUILT TO LEAD 