I recently read a short story about leadership that intrigued me. It was thought-provoking and powerful in many ways because it helps put our role as \u2018leaders\u2019 into perspective.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Judas Iscariot had\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The best pastor<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The best leader<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The best advisor<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The best counselor<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Yet\u2026he failed<\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n The problem is often not the leadership or the church someone goes to. It is within them<\/em> ~ the follower. If one\u2019s heart doesn\u2019t transform and their attitude or character doesn\u2019t change, they will always be the same \u2013 even if they serve under the best leader ever!<\/p>\n I found Collin\u2019s analysis of what does not<\/strong> make a good company become great to be more fascinating than looking at what does<\/strong> make a good company become great. Compensation, strategy, motivation and\/or name recognition did not create \u201cgreatness.\u201d The author noted that greatness was found to be not a function of circumstances, but instead largely a matter of conscious choice.[1]<\/a> I think a \u201cGod-touch\u201d also helps!<\/p>\n Leadership holds a different meaning for me today than it did a number of years ago as I was serving as Director of the American Red Cross and the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission over a 20-year span. Back then, leader<\/em> <\/strong>to me meant \u201cexpert of everything, designer and implementer of ALL projects, powerful fund development director, and highly recognized face in the community.\u201d I felt that I had to be it all! My internal vision put so much pressure and expectation upon myself. I thought I needed to know it all and make it all happen, because the \u201cball stops here\u201d and I needed that ball to keep rolling \u2013 which I thought was my responsibility. At the time, it was my Type A personality that led me; not my faith in a loving Father who was there to guide me down this roadway called \u201clife.\u201d<\/p>\n Being a leader<\/em> has a new meaning to me as I\u2019ve moved away from the \u201cneeding to get ahead\u201d phase of my life and settled into my \u201cjourney with Christ\u201d leadership role. As a Chaplain, I don\u2019t see myself as a leader, but instead as a humbled servant. But I believe there is influence in that as well. In Leadership Theory<\/em>, Northouse describes leadership as \u201ca process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal\u201d.[2]<\/a> I love the author\u2019s use of the word \u201cprocess<\/em>\u201d versus more common terms of leadership (as defined in Oxford Dictionary as \u201cboss, supervisor, and\/or commander.\u201d) Because leadership is not one person, but truly a process towards a means \u2013 it takes working together with others for the goal to be reached.<\/p>\n I have not viewed myself so much as a leader over the past few years \u2013 as I have moved from a highly visible community presence position into the role of a humbled servant as a Chaplain. Yet, I\u2019ve never felt more fulfilled and I am in awe as I see my patients learning and emulating the gifts I bring to them through the Word. There is no competition, no having to prove myself, no fa\u00e7ade. I am just serving others to help them find peace and contentment at the end of their life. Missing from this picture are the administrative duties, the company politics, and the weight that leadership generally brings with it.<\/p>\n As a servant leader, I love that it is not about my<\/em><\/strong> agenda, but about theirs<\/em><\/strong>! There is no \u201cme\u201d in Chaplaincy; it is all about THEM! My role is to hear my patient\u2019s heart and to help them find peace on their final journey on earth. Leading them to eternal life is my leadership goal, but sometimes a hardened heart can block that opportunity. Just like it was with Judas ~ the final choice is theirs! And even with leaders utilizing best leadership practices, followers still make choices that cause them to fail.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n