LEARN TO LEAD

Learning to lead is a lifelong education. We never graduate from leadership school, but we do advance as we become wiser students through our own struggles, failures and successes. Leadership that enables individuals to play with wisdom, foresight and sound judgement can only be learnt through experience. Wise leaders are learners, but if they stop learning they cease to lead wisely. Leaders who learn ask the right questions, get the most accurate answers, and are able to make the wisest decisions. “How can I get out of the way as the leader, and support the team to be successful?” “How can our organization go from good to great by integrating and sustaining best practices?".

The implications are that emerging leaders need to be exposed to the play of leadership and to be mentored by experienced leaders who can share their wisdom. Wisdom is not a formula or process. Leaders know instinctively that it's the people stuff that matters most. But reading people is hard work. Where do we start? Wisdom nurtures attentiveness in us. We listen for the words that free people to give their best and those that rob them of the power to act. We look beyond assured explanations. We learn to give equal weight to unity and diversity, and to give up the illusion of balance. We learn not to panic at complexity and ambiguity. Nor to dumb things down. We begin to think and communicate by stories more than by abstract definitions. These are some of the ways wisdom helps me lead.

By becoming more effective in our own self-leadership not only do we gain greater insight and empathy for others, who also struggle to make good choices and improve themselves, but we also serve as a model, which is central to leadership. Submitting to authority, being a follower, is a mark of maturity. Those who can’t follow, or are unwilling to follow another leader, shouldn’t lead. You want to be a leader? Good. 

You want to be a great leader? You want to be the greatest? That’s good too. Be a servant. Be the greatest servant. Serve everyone you can. Everyone you meet. Be all about others; be in it for others. Wisdom comes from the God and He leads us.