Be-Cause

I fish as often as I can – mostly on the scenic Harpeth River or Sycamore Creek – both near my home in Ashland City.  I sat recently and watched a covey of field birds move in unison…one bird taking the temporary lead…and then handing it off to another.  When one bird moved to a new direction, based upon some stimulus, all of the other birds followed.  I wondered what made the difference between those birds, just swapping leadership roles based upon outside stimulus, and us – people; responding to outside stimulus, moving when all of the other birds move, and happy to follow whoever decides to move in a new direction first.

I think the answer is — “Cause”.  Leadership studies talk a lot about vision; providing direction for people who otherwise don’t have a clue where to go.  I don’t believe that is what happens in true leadership.  I see leadership as a joining of likemindedness; a strand of purpose; joining a mutual cause.  One person’s gifts may be to articulate the vision with beautiful rhetoric, while another’s is to provide pragmatic service.  Both are part of the leadership strand.  The level of commitment to this vision, and the visibility of the risk associated with it, normally set aside a single person as “the leader”.  In reality, it is a continuum of agreement and a strand of purpose that creates the leadership opportunity.  By mutual agreement of all participants in the strand, the purpose is fulfilled.  When a break occurs, damage results of some form.

Most all people seek a “cause”; a meaning and a purpose that extends beyond themselves.  Only the downtrodden and suppressed in life don’t stare up at the stars at night every now and then and hope for better things.  More meaningful work.  Deeper relationships.  Broader opportunity.  Leaders take these dreams and move them into language…a language that attracts others and resonates with their own aspirations and hopes.  Be-Cause.

The Power of Listening

Make an effort to notice the behaviors of those individuals that you admire.  Without exception, their leadership strength is anchored in listening.  To listen to someone…you have to really care about what they are saying.  To listen…you have to be empathetic to their situation.  To listen…you have to be willing to burn some time.  To listen…you have to want to learn.  Listening is the pathway to understanding.  Leaders listen.

Strand Theory

If you think about leadership….it is really something REAL, or something made up for people to talk about so that they can justify their teaching  jobs and/or have a nice topic from which to write about to sell books.  Is there anything such as a ‘leader’?  Do they always lead or sometimes do they follow?  If they do indeed change roles, then when do we call them leader and when do we call them followers?

Do bees have leaders?  How do they make honey so abundantly if they are always waiting on a leader bee to show them what to do?  Is leadership always tied to power?  Is leadership always associated with authority or position?

Have you seen any situations where leadership made a difference?  Is leadership courage?  Is a hero a leader?  Is leadership void without faith?  Can leaders fail and still be effective?  Are leaders born, chosen,…or do they emerge?  Are leaders made?  Do leaders become leaders only as a result of a situation, or context?  Can you talk about leadership and understand leadership without being a leader?  Is guiding and leading the same thing?  Is a prophet a leader?  Is a writer a leader?  Do you have to have action to accompany leadership?  Is leadership effective when the followers don’t agree with the leader?  Does hierarchy imply leadership?

Do leaders seek out leadership opportunities or do they only emerge when such opportunities present themselves?  If one leader is out of town during a certain situation, will another leader take their place…meaning that leadership is always responsive to an event and the only question is how effective that leadership was?

Do leaders have specific traits or genes that are superior to the rest of us?  Are they more intelligent?  Are they more gifted or more talented?  Are good-looking people chosen to be leaders more than not-so-attractive people?  Do tall people make the best leaders? Do we expect our leaders to behave a certain way and look a certain way?

Is leadership a Biblical principle?  Does faith play a part in leadership?  How does Christ exemplify leadership?  Is followership a form of leadership?

Lots to talk about as we move forward together.