{"id":39141,"date":"2024-11-14T08:00:53","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T16:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=39141"},"modified":"2024-11-12T12:43:23","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T20:43:23","slug":"growing-leadership-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/growing-leadership-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"Staying And Growing Can Be Heroic"},"content":{"rendered":"

“You can do anything you want”, is a mantra that I’ve heard parents often say to their kids, with the desire to see them maximize their potential. The concept of reaching one\u2019s full potential has been a focal point in various fields of thought for centuries. Philosophers, psychologists, and theologians have extensively explored methods to maximize latent human potential. In The Hero with A Thousand Faces<\/em>, Joseph Campbell, outlines an ancient, universal pattern of adventure and transformation that many heroes in myths and stories undergo. This journey can be seen as a metaphor for personal growth and self-actualization. Campbell\u2019s monomyth suggests that everyone has the potential to embark on their own hero\u2019s journey, facing challenges, growing from experiences, and ultimately transforming themselves and their communities.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

Developing human potential has also made its way into the modern evangelical church. A cursory search on the internet reveals that even contemporary Western preachers have engaged with this theme, delivering sermons with titles such as \u201cHow to Unlock Your Potential,\u201d \u201cLiving Up to Your Potential,\u201d and \u201cReleasing Your Potential.\u201d Leaders and followers have even conscripted Jesus to help us do all of the things our little Evangelical hearts might desire by misquoting the apostle Paul (Philippians 4.10-13). He was talking about learning to be content in all circumstances while sitting in a Roman jail, not attempting fame, fortune or pursuing a big vision.<\/p>\n

Through her research, Angela Duckworth demystifies how human potential can be developed in her important work,\u00a0Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance<\/em>. All things being equal, such as talent and IQ, grit is the determining factor in maximizing human potential. Duckworth\u2019s research uncovers two primary elements. After examining high achievers, she wrote:<\/p>\n

In sum, no matter the domain, the highly successful had a kind of ferocious determination that played out in two ways. First, these exemplars were unusually resilient and hardworking. Second, they knew in a very, very deep way what it was they wanted. They not only had determination, they had direction. It was this combination of passion and perseverance that made high achievers special. In a word, they had grit.[2]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Not to be confused with enthusiasm, passion is defined by Duckworth as caring about an overarching purpose in a sustained, loyal and abiding way.[3]<\/a> This grand purpose is so compelling, she notes, \u201c\u2026that it organizes a great deal of your waking activity.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Perseverance, on the other hand, is the ability to continue to pursue the overarching goal in the face of setbacks and failure. Using an exercise metaphor, she writes, \u201cMany of us, it seems, quit what we start far too early and far too often. Even more than the effort a gritty person puts in on a single day, what matters is that they wake up the next day, and the next, ready to get on that treadmill and keep going.\u201d[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

Two of the pivotal concepts presented in this book are that grit is both measurable and developable. This implies that people who are invested in their personal development, or in the development of others, have the capacity to monitor, and enhance their level of grit. Grit is not an exclusive trait possessed by a select few; rather, it is an attribute that can be nurtured by anyone. The concluding sections of the book explain that grit can be fostered internally by the individual. Additionally, grit can be cultivated within familial settings and other environments. In the subsequent discussion, I will delve into strategies that leaders can employ to develop grit.<\/p>\n

Gritty Leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n

Duckworth points to four factors that help people develop internal grit. I will use these four to reflect on strategies leaders can use to develop their grit. They are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. INTEREST<\/strong>: It is essential to discover, develop and deepen the passion of your life. Engaging in what one loves over a sustained period is crucial.[6]<\/a> By aligning work to passion leaders can begin to increase their grit factor. If most of a leader\u2019s job responsibilities lie predominantly outside of their passions, their grit will diminish. Leader\u2019s must work hard then, to align passions with the work they are doing. If alignment is not feasible, it might signal the need to explore a different role or workplace.<\/li>\n
  2. PRACTICE:<\/strong> Deliberate practice over a sustained period is required to make progress toward the goal.[7]<\/a> Leaders need intentional practice in the skills that are required for them to succeed. In her book, Leadersmithing<\/em>, Eve Poole suggests intentionally practicing core leadership skills using the metaphor of a card deck. Each suit represents a category: Diamonds for sharpness, Clubs for impact, Spades for practical tools, and Hearts for relational skills. Each card corresponds with a specific skill, with one skill to develop for each week of the year.[8]<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. PURPOSE:<\/strong> People with grit eventually discover a life purpose that contributes to the well-being of other people. What we do matters to the larger community in which we are in.[9]<\/a> In Start with Why<\/em>, Simon Sinek notes that most leaders are aware of what they do and how they do it, but they have a hard time understanding and articulating the \u2018Why\u2019. Why you get out of bed every morning and why anyone should care is the only thing that sustains lasting success.[10]<\/a> Helping leaders discover and articulate a clear sense of calling will be important in the development of grit.<\/li>\n
  4. HOPE:<\/strong> Hope is not wishful thinking, but a firm belief that our actions will improve the future even if we have had setbacks.[11]<\/a> Duckworth links despair and hope to pessimism and optimism. A pessimist ties failure to their identity, whereas an optimist identifies problems that need to be corrected. In church leader development, helping leaders develop a secure identity rooted in Christ can develop greater grit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    While grit is not the only predictor of success, it is certainly something to develop intentionally. Reflecting on numerous professions, Duckworth noted, \u201cRegardless of specific attributes and advantages that help someone succeed in each of these diverse domains of challenge, grit matters in all of them.\u201d[12]<\/a> Grit underscores the importance of sustained effort and resilience in the face of challenges in every profession.<\/p>\n

    Why does it matter so much to me? For many good reasons but, as I reflect on leadership for this program, I recall a story that I heard when I was a younger leader. I heard this narrative from Pastor Michael Slaughter of Ginghamsburg Church in Ohio which serves as a poignant illustration of grit. Over his 25-plus years of service, Slaughter helped transform a struggling church into a thriving community with multiple services. During his 20th anniversary celebration, a long-time member remarked that Slaughter had not achieved any singularly great feat in any one year but had simply \u201cstayed.\u201d After this comment the room went silent. However, Slaughter humbly commented that what the man said was true. This man\u2019s comment and Slaughter\u2019s response highlights the essence of grit: the ability to persist with passion and remain committed over the long haul, even when immediate results are not apparent.<\/p>\n

    Slaughter\u2019s story emphasizes that true leadership is not simply about talent or sporadic, monumental achievements but about consistent, dedicated effort. At the closing of his story he advised those in the room, \u201cstay when things get hard, stay when you fail, stay when others leave\u201d. This advice encapsulates the core of grit. This mindset is crucial for leaders who aim to not only develop their own potential but also to develop the latent potential of their ministries. Staying and persevering in the face of massive challenges, discouragement, and mundane seasons may be one of the most heroic things a leader can do with the help of Jesus.<\/p>\n

    [1]<\/a> Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces<\/em>, 3. ed., with rev, The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell 17 (Novato, Calif: New World Library, 2008).<\/p>\n

    [2]<\/a> Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance<\/em>, Kindle (Toronto: Harper Collins, 2016), 8.<\/p>\n

    [3]<\/a> Duckworth, 64.<\/p>\n

    [4]<\/a> Duckworth, 64.<\/p>\n

    [5]<\/a> Duckworth, 50.<\/p>\n

    [6]<\/a> Duckworth, 103.<\/p>\n

    [7]<\/a> Duckworth, 123.<\/p>\n

    [8]<\/a> Eve Poole, Leadersmithing: An Apprenticeship Approach to Making Great Leaders<\/em> (London\u202f; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Business, 2017), 74.<\/p>\n

    [9]<\/a> Duckworth, Grit, <\/em>143.<\/p>\n

    [10]<\/a> Simon Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action<\/em> (London: Portfolio Penguin, 2011), 50.<\/p>\n

    [11]<\/a> Duckworth, Grit<\/em>, 169.<\/p>\n

    [12]<\/a> Duckworth, 12.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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