What I Learned About Leadership
Introduction
Before taking this course, I was under the assumption that people were either born leaders or they weren’t. Through learning from authors like Robert Quinn, James Hunter, and many others, I have realized that developing into a leader is a process that anyone can submit themselves to, regardless of background. Looking at the examples of Jesus and other famous leaders has helped me realize what this process of becoming a leader looks like.
As I said before, people are not born as “leaders” or “not leaders”, but rather I have learned that most all of us exist in the normal state of leadership for most of our lives. As we grow and mature our goal as Christians is to transcend into the fundamental state of leadership in hopes of imitating Jesus. In this reflection I will seek to define these terms, explain how Christ led and leads, provide applications for the why it is important for us to do the same, and lastly I will address how this course has impacted the scope of my future years at Hope and beyond.
Transcending the Normal State
In order to transcend into the fundamental state of leadership we must first come to grips with where we spend most of our time: the normal state. In the normal state, we are comfort-centered, externally directed, self-focused, and externally closed. In essence, being in the normal state means resisting change for selfish reasons. From a Christ-centered point of view, we can see that as a result of the fall in Genesis chapter 3, we are all prone to remain in this state. Our natural human tendency is to worry about ourselves for the sake of success and survival. I find myself doing this often in regards to my schoolwork—my studies distract me from serving and transforming others and my focus shifts inward.
The irony is, however, we are not living life the way we were created to when we are in this state. True life and true success is found in the fundamental state, where we live out who we are in Christ. In the fundamental state, we become more purpose-centered, internally driven, others-focused, and externally open. As Quinn reminds us, this state is only temporary. While we are there, we become counter-cultural, transformative, and sacrificially serving like Jesus. When we enter into this state for a brief time we find ourselves taking risks and igniting change rather than remaining reserved and resistant.
Leaders in the fundamental state from a Christ-centered point of view seek to develop the gifts that God has given them in order to first transform themselves and then the people that they influence. Part of being able to do this requires being a resonant and emotionally intelligent leader. This type of leader is self-aware and socially aware and is able to self-manage and socially manage. I can’t expect to be a good steward of my gifts if I’m not fully aware of what those gifts are or what weaknesses could be hindering me from developing those gifts. In a similar way, I can’t expect to transform others with the love of Christ if I’m not aware of their gifts and passions. Having the ability to influence people in a transforming way requires high levels of awareness, patience, and care.
A Model of a Transformational Leader
As a Christian, the model that I look to for how to be a transformational leader is the life of Jesus. Jesus, being fully God and man, was able to transcend even the fundamental state of leadership. He exemplified the type of leadership that no model can encapsulate with a title or description. His type of leadership is both mysterious and methodological, and both profound and practical. It is important to note how Christ transcends the fundamental state so that we can learn and seek how to reflect the life that he lived.
There are many noticeable ways that Jesus transcended the fundamental state. One of them was his vision. Throughout his ministry Jesus never lost sight of his vision: the coming Kingdom of God. He not only expressed this vision to his followers, but he invited others to participate in that vision and gave them ownership of it. When Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead, he invited his disciples to unbind him from his bandages. This is also what Christ is doing in my life, bringing those around me to life and inviting me to work with him.
To reflect him also means that I myself am to extend the invitation to participate in the vision of the church. It is very clear that Jesus mentored, prayed with, and taught those who accepted his invitation. As we have learned in this class, mentoring is a crucial part of leadership. As it was in Jesus’ time, mentoring requires patience and time but results in a transformation of those within our sphere of influence.
Another major way that Christ transcended the fundamental state was by how he disturbed the system. During his ministry he did not adapt himself to the current system or resist trying to change things. He understood the urgency of the Kingdom of God and that urgency compelled him to shake things up. He wasn’t going to settle for half-hearted devotion or a lack of faith. This upset a lot of people—even to the point where they called for his crucifixion. But I have learned that this is what a true leader does. A true leader doesn’t fear change or upsetting people, but rather he or she is so devoted to the vision that they are committed to transformative, holistic, and deep change, no matter the cost. Jesus struck the perfect balance of utterly loving the people around him and constantly calling them to obedience to the vision. In these ways and many others, Christ transcended the fundamental state of leadership and demonstrated to us what being a loving, sacrificial, and transforming leader looks like.
Imitating the Model: Practice, Practice, Practice
As I’ve learned throughout the semester, it is not only important to think about how to be an effective leader, but to practice it. That is how you become the person you were created to be, practice. Before ever beginning to try and lead others it is crucially important to first lead yourself. For me, this has meant identifying my “real” self and my “ideal self” and constructing concrete ways to move from the real to the ideal. As I find myself being transformed into my ideal self by the grace of God I realize that I am much more capable of transforming others in a positive way. Jesus was always submitting himself to the Father’s will before asking others to do the same, and this is something that must be imitated.
Being in the fundamental state as the leader of a team is essential. Team leadership requires someone in the fundamental state who can lead in a transformational, participatory style in which the leader himself/herself brings the rest of the team into the fundamental state. Team leaders who are emotionally intelligent and others-focused are able to avoid the five dysfunctions of a team: focusing on results, avoiding accountability, lacking commitment, fearing conflict, lacking trust. Jesus is a clear witness to this. He had a team of 12 disciples and he led them in such a way where they didn’t even have to worry about these dysfunctions. Jesus in the first place wasn’t going to recruit a team member that wasn’t all-in. Personally, I have seen these dysfunctions creep in to our service-learning team and they are crippling to any vision. However, different people stepped up at different times (entered the fundamental state) and kept our team focused, unified, and fixed on the vision. This was gravely important in succeeding in what we had planned.
Lastly, entering the fundamental state of leadership is necessary for community development. As I have learned and witnessed all year long, the work of community development is hard and messy. It requires giving an ample amount of time, energy, and effort. What makes it especially hard part is that we are born takers. In Christ, however, we are born-again givers. Being in the fundamental state allows leaders to focus on developing the gifts of the community and enacting change rather than trying to serve only with their own gifts and simply reacting to change. This is the type of leadership necessary for holistic, Christ-centered development work. Walking through the highs and lows with a community is not something that can be done effectively in the normal state. That type of work requires picking up your cross daily and sacrificially serving others for the sake of the community and not your self-worth.
Making All Things New
The Bible says that Christ is making all things new. Even though we didn’t specifically look at this verse in the course, it will be what I take away most from the class. Just as Christ is making all things new, I too want to lead in such a way that transforms and makes things new. This includes reflecting on and refreshing my values and practices. This means living in a counter-cultural way. This means not being afraid of change but actually encouraging it. With my time left here at Hope I don’t want to just skate by on the surface and accept things the way that they are—I want to transform myself, others, and the institution with the love of Christ. This requires vision, purpose, and a sacrificial mindset. As Christ continues to make me new every day that I submit to him, I will in turn seek to praise God through the way that I influence people.