Leaders Know When To Follow
As leaders, our eyes search for leadership opportunities when entering new environments. It is to be expected because actions typically follow identity. However context, experience, and relationships influence our effectiveness.
The exemplary leader is secure enough in their own identity to help other leaders succeed.
My opportunity to follow
A few Summers ago my family expressed our commitment to servant leadership in a special way. We travelled with a group of 15 friends to Mexico just across the California border to fund and build a small home for a family.
When others should lead
Leadership talent can be situational. In Mexico, I could have tried to lead the effort, but construciton is not my strength. Quite opposite. We woud have struggled. Had I insisted on leading, our team would have introduced safety issues and likely we would not have finished in time. Does that mean I'm not a leader? Not at all. It meant in this adventure my role became a champion for those in charge and supportive of their direction.
Leaders are also followers
We can lead through demonstrating good followership. Our team accomplished the mission because we followed our building leaders and were able to achieve a good result. We trusted each other and the process.
The joy of service benefits both the giver and the receiver.
A home provides stability, improves health, and gives opportunity to spend scarce funds on other things the family needs. For a struggling family in that area, we learned the home we built requires around 10 years of family savings. Our team was deeply touched that in two days our efforts could make lasting positive impact on a family.
Serving must be modeled
Serving others in another country, a local soup kitchen, or in the corporate world softens the heart.
Want permission to lead?
Be willing to go do the thing tugging at your heart today. Others will pay attention. Some may follow what you do. Most are not impressed by only words.
Service must be modeled and personal to have the most impact on the giver and receiver.
In going to Mexico, we were able to model for our young daughter the importance of service. She was able to be part of a team serving others in a way meaningful to the family. This experience will help her frame her thoughts about her responsibility to serve.
Want to learn more about Servant Leadership? Try the book “Servant Leadership in Action”. It might be what you are looking for to help increase your leadership effectiveness.
Want to join me?
Dear Servant Leader,
I am considering assembling a group of 15 to work with Homes of Hope to build another house someday. 2 days of work and 2 days to travel San Diego and back. Prior to departure, our group would be responsible for securing all the money needed to build the home and furnishings to be given to the recipient family. This would be an experience you won't soon forget as we would set out to do something meaningful together. The founder, Sean Lambert wrote a book describing the history of the organization called, “The Homes of Hope Story: It Matters to This One”.
Interested in taking a leap like this? Let me know by sending me a note to eric@shepherdingheart.com and I will be in touch if there is enough interest.
Respectfully,
Eric