{"id":22659,"date":"2019-04-11T19:06:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-12T02:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=22659"},"modified":"2019-04-14T22:29:25","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T05:29:25","slug":"leading-wide-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/leading-wide-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading Wide Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.[1]<\/a>\u00a0Dare to lead wide opened!<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Leading wide open takes courage, wisdom, and heart. Courage to walk into uncharted territories that may not make sense but trusting in the outcome no matter how it unfolds. Wisdom to uncover one\u2019s real potential which begins with the discovery of limitations and having the courage to process through them. The heart is the most critical leadership tool to have for \u201cthe heart is a muscle, and you strengthen muscles by using them.\u201d[2]<\/a> The more leaders led with their heart, the stronger it becomes. With these three characteristics in hand, any leaders can confidently embrace their great adventure into the Leadership Expedition Unknown.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you think about your own path to daring leadership, remember Joseph Campbell\u2019s wisdom: \u2018The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.\u2019 Own the fear, find the cave, and write a new ending for yourself, for the people you\u2019re meant to serve and support, and for your culture. Choose courage over comfort. Choose whole hearts over armor. And choose the great adventure of being brave and afraid. At the exact same time.\u201d[3]<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Most look at leadership as a powerful tool to make people do things they want, like a dictatorship. Conversely, good leadership is and will always be relational. Leadership is the primary vehicle used to move people from one level to another, \u201cfinding the potential in people and process,\u201d and have the \u201ccourage to develop that potential.\u201d[4]<\/a> Effective leaders walk their leadership journey alongside others instead of leading from the front while waving for others to follow behind.<\/p>\n

Think of leadership more like a partnership. Partnerships there are levels of shared responsibility, ownership, experiences, and goals \"\"<\/a>between both parties. An exchange occurs in leadership roles. It also mandates a level of transparency. Nevertheless, to be transparent one must be vulnerable. In leadership, however, vulnerability is not often an attribute that many will not engage. Being vulnerable permits others to see our weaknesses, our fears, our disappointments, our hurts and usually time our shame. The tendency to even see vulnerability as a weakness is quite apparent in leadership, especially in ministry leadership roles. Consequently, Brene Brown suggested through her books on leadership that \u201cvulnerability is not a weakness; it\u2019s our greatest measure of courage.\u201d[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite this, leaders should not commit to systematic vulnerability just for the sake of vulnerability. A leaders vulnerability allows for connectivity to take place with those under them. The stories and experiences of leaders shared amongst their team provides opportunities to exemplify compassion, empathy, authenticity, and a culture of trust. \u00a0It grants leaders the ability to effectively articulate the vision of the future while challenging people to grow and change. It contributes to an atmosphere which allows broken relationships to mend and to confront problems.[6]<\/a> With this leadership tool, leaders can go entirely into hard places instead of just having conversations about hard places.<\/p>\n

Vulnerability in leadership is not a simple task; leaders have to commit to the following to effectively lead. (BRAVING: The Autonomy of Trust \u2013 Brene Brown)[7]<\/a><\/p>\n