“The absolute ever-changing given in any management system system is how tricky it is to guide any complex human activity within the even more complex systems of the planet with imperfect understanding, lack of foresight & high momentum.”
A leader is a crestrider, a hope-giver & a story nudger ! A leader helps people tell their story, creating safe places which allow for the creative and frank sharing of ideas. A leader inspires & creates energy – always striving to empower those who he leads. A leader’s integrity is born from self-awareness that is immersed in humility & coated with the reality of an imperfect world. Her constancy comes from a center that is comfortable with divergence & diversity. A leader is uncompromising yet ultimately flexible because he discerns he can only control himself & unleash those who follow him. A good leader is straining to hear from the past, those she works alongside in the now – so she can intuit what might be in the future. A leader is led by his deep spirituality & relationship with his Lord.
I first penned these words in March 2001. I was working in Africa at the time and the team to which I belonged was contemplating the appointment of a new team leader. I wrote in response to the quote I extacted from something I was reading. It seemed to capture for me something of the reality that is just below the surface of leadership. Looking back at it with some space in between, some of these things I wrote still connect, particularly in missional contexts while others leave me wondering...
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