{"id":40275,"date":"2025-01-29T04:11:24","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T12:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=40275"},"modified":"2025-01-29T04:11:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T12:11:24","slug":"close-to-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/close-to-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Close to Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

A book feels like I have an old friend in my hands. I like the texture, the ability to turn a corner of a page to mark my spot and writing some notes in the margins. Yes, Dr. Jason, I still like to write in my books.<\/em> Consequently, I was not excited about reading this week knowing that it was going to be on my iPad. However, I was surprised when I was immediately drawn into the quiet and almost peaceful experience of reading Illuminaire: Bringing life & light to leaders across the world<\/em>, compiled and co-authored by Dr. Karise Hutchinson a professor of leadership in Northern Ireland. The actual articles were insightful, and the mapping clear. Her purpose for this book was to give leaders a resource using research data, applying the wisdom of proven leaders, and listening to stories to build a solid foundation for leadership[1]<\/a>. Even before reading more deeply, my inspectional read highlighted that this book modeled something that I think is an important quality in leadership: seeking different voices to get the most well-rounded, knowledgeable input on the different aspects of leadership.<\/p>\n

In this post I will touch on some of the qualities that were addresses in the book. However, I also will explore the connection that this selection has with my current leadership context. One of the first treasures was the discussion on the Power of Influence. \u00a0According to Hutchinson, people in leadership\u00a0 need to pay attention to three realities:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Leadership is physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. I would also add spiritually demanding. Throughout any leadership tenure, the leader must have strength of character to make tough decisions and still remain true to personal core values.<\/li>\n
  2. A leader must continue to grow as a person and a leader. If and how a leader grows may impact if the person experiences positive or negative growth. Essentially, leaders need to develop healthy practices along the way.<\/li>\n
  3. Leaders can be defined by the fruit of their life and those around them[2]<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Leaders have a choice. They can lead by coercion, requiring everyone to carry out their directives or by empowering their employees. The first breeds fear, discontent and high turnover. It also diminishes the value of expertise that team members can bring to the organization. Empowering employees gives them a stake in the outcome, so they are vested, tend to be more enthusiastic, and content with their positions[3]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    This book seemed as though the authors were speaking directly to me in the season of my life and career. Last week I spoke to my board President and Vice President to share with them my intent to retire by the end of December 2025. I have known for a while that this decision was coming like a freight train steaming down the tracks, yet to actually vocalize it made it real. The chapter on transition read as a confirmation of the work that has begun and needs to happen over the next eleven months. Already, I am seeing the need to be intentional about the process of transition. I particularly like the steps of transition that Hutchinson describes. These include:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Saying goodbye. Just telling my leadership team that I will retire has them worried. Will the next leader care for the people in our programs? What will this look like for my position? Will the next leader care about the senior staff team? Do I want this position? All of these questions and more start percolating among them. What is going on is that people are starting to realize that it is highly possible that the next CEO will do things differently. It will be a change and change always is joined by loss[4]<\/a>. I am recognizing how important it is for me to listen carefully to my current team, assure them their fears are natural and that we have time to plan to transition well. There is another piece of this first step. Transition carries loss that will be experienced by both the leader making the move and those impacted by it within the organization. This too must be addressed with grace for all involved.<\/li>\n
    2. The neutral zone. This is the in-between time which the author called the seedbed for new beginnings[5]<\/a>. It gives everyone time to imagine what a new future could look like.<\/li>\n
    3. Moving forward and reaching the new beginnings. Navigating change well will allow an organization transition well.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A question I am asking each person within a few days of sharing this news is, what do you need to prepare for this change? Is there anything I can do for you or put in place for you. I think acknowledging their concerns and even fears, gives them confidence to experience them and process what they need to move forward as well.<\/p>\n

      As I look at retirement I also recognize the lost that I will experience after working for this organization for 25 years. For years I have whimsically said, I started at Angelwood on Valentine\u2019s Day and it stole my heart. It is so true. Just as with my employees, the future is uncertain yet for me it is different. As I read John Chapter 16, there is a section where Jesus is talking to his disciples about his departure. He acknowledges that they will be sad but also encourages them that in leaving, it opens the door for the Holy Spirit to enter. I like to think that beyond the truth of Jesus\u2019 death, resurrection and ascension, \u00a0Jesus was again living out an example of transition. To tell his close followers what is going to happen, acknowledge that it will be sad but then give hope for what is still ahead. I pray I will follow Jesus\u2019 lead with compassion, transparency and hope.<\/p>\n

      [1]<\/a> Karise Hutchinson, Illuminaire: Bringing Life & Light to Leaders across the World<\/em> (Northern Ireland, Illuminaire Press, 2023), p 14.<\/p>\n

      Hutchinson, “Unlearning Leadership by Karise Hutchinson”, TEDxStormont 10:06\u00a0 March 2023, Accessed 1\/28\/2025. Youtube.com\/watch?v=H9zQbO8yU-Q<\/p>\n

      [2]<\/a> Hutchinson, p 11.<\/p>\n

      [3]<\/a> Hutchinson, p 15.<\/p>\n

      [4]<\/a> Illuminaire Press p. 87<\/p>\n

      [5]<\/a> Hutchinson, p.88.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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