I was struck by this leader of a multi-billion dollar organization and his opening comments. His life goal has been to lead from a value-centered core. And that value center comes from his calling first to be a disciple of Christ.
Bill reminded us that every Christ-follower has the power of God within. When we shrink back, when we behave in a small way, it doesn't honor God. It doesn't honor who he's made us to be.
Paul put it this way in 2 Corinthians 6.11:
"Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!"
Speaking from his own history of disappointment and deep pain, Bill's challenge was to step out of the victim role. Refuse to allow people or circumstances from the past to imprison you in shame, regret, or blame. Take responsibility for your life!
To summarize he focused on these primary traits of the effective leader:
- align people around what matters most to your church or organization: mission, vision, values
- empower people to lead, not merely to follow
- leadership is about serving, not being served.
- collaborate with others - even those outside of your organization or church
I continue to be amazed at the affirmation of story in our lives and leadership. Bill cited powerful leaders in our time whose passion to lead originated first from their sense of calling and desire to make the world better, to impact people's lives out of the brokenness of their own storyline, their own life.
It's how God wired up the universe. Story. When we accept that our truest self is found in Christ (Colossians 3.1-4) we're on our way to finding our voice, our place, our role to lead in our relationships and in the world.
Bill wrapped up his talk with this stark and sobering observation:
People who've failed as leaders didn't fail other people.. they failed themselves. They weren't grounded. They weren't centered out of their unique self, their God-created voice and calling as an individual and leader.
I've had seasons of tremendous challenge in finding my voice, my leadership style, my sense of calling. Overcoming life circumstance, making God-honoring decisions, understanding the impact and relationship of the context in which I lead have all been important elements of finding that center.
Ultimately, that center is in Christ, through the Scriptures, spiritual practices, relationships with others, identifying God's work and agenda in me and the world. Here's that passage I linked to from Colossians 3 in the event you didn't follow it:
So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you.
