Calling All Leaders

How do we recognize a leader? How do we become effective leaders? Why be a leader?

In the early years of my work life, questions like these -- and their answers -- were straightforward. Leading meant promotion, moving up the ladder, recognition, authority, pay raises. It was the world of command and control, structure and roles, tools and techniques, programs and rules. Do a good job and find yourself in a higher slot on the org chart where people HAVE to listen to you. HA! It takes just one run-in with a passive aggressive co-worker to demonstrate that it takes more than title and position to lead others.

Bob Stilger, Co-President of The Berkana Institute, sees a leader as anyone who gets into action to change something ... not someone who maintains order and protects the status quo, but an instigator and a change agent. It's not about where you sit in the organization, but how engaged -- spirited -- you are in the work.

In his June 2005 article Landmarks of Leaders, Stilger describes the common characteristics of leaders he's observed in his international leadership development work. It seems that these hallmarks also describe those who are on a faith journey ... after all, the call to discipleship asks that we get into action to work for change too.

• They work from a sense of true calling
• They journey in the company of others
• They live with a spiritual center
• They demand diversity
• Reflective learning guides their lives
• Their work is filled with ambiguity and uncertainty

Stilger's article asks us to think about how these landmarks are present in our life and work. I also wonder how we -- as leaders -- can create working (and worshiping) environments that encourage and support the presence of these landmarks in ourselves and in others ... how we can create life-giving, not life-sucking, workplaces.

Stop for a moment ... take one action to change one thing ... be a leader.

Comments

[Beth Hoffmann]

Thanks for these thoughts on leadership. I figure I can get a lot done if I don't care who gets the credit. I've provided materials and supplies to make my work more effective and used the cost as a non-cash charitable contribution tax deduction, and I've used non-paid time to accomplish required tasks. I hear non-monetary rewards for such behavior.

[Carol Gerrish]

Beth, thanks for sharing your real-life example of leadership ... and the reminder that responding to the call often means being willing to contribute something (time, energy, material goods). We have to be willing to step forward.

I'm wondering how your actions have influenced those around you. Perhaps your example has encouraged others to recognize their own leadership capacities.