{"id":40460,"date":"2025-02-06T12:27:43","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T20:27:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=40460"},"modified":"2025-02-06T12:27:43","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T20:27:43","slug":"leading-beyond-what-we-can-imagine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/leading-beyond-what-we-can-imagine\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading Beyond What We Can Imagine…"},"content":{"rendered":"

My friend told me about the church plant where she and her husband were getting involved. The growing church had gotten to the point where it needed someone to take on a pastoral role and responsibilities. Because she is a retired pastor, the group of leaders all looked at her and said, \u201cYou’re the pastor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Later on, my friend told me that although she could influence people through what she called \u201cbackdoor\u201d conversations, she actually had almost no authority. The authority of the church still rested in the small group of leaders, with very little left for her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In her book, <\/span>Rethinking Leadership<\/span><\/i>, Annabel Beerel explains that there is a difference between leadership and authority. She says that, among other things, <\/span>authority figures <\/b>are expected to provide direction, protection, and boundaries. They also are expected to solve problems and alleviate distress. [1]<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership,<\/b> on the other hand, \u201cis about the challenge and process of movement\u2014of change.\u201d [2]<\/span><\/p>\n

The Leader\u2019s Role<\/b><\/h3>\n

Many definitions of leadership focus on authority, structure, and decision-making. But true leadership is about inspiring movement and guiding people through change. Leadership is dynamic, always calling people forward into something new.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beerel explains that it’s very difficult to have a single definition of leadership. She points out that many definitions don’t include something about the <\/span>goal <\/span><\/i>of leadership. So, she gives a couple of goals for the reader to consider. She writes that in many leadership theories, it\u2019s about well-being: \u201cThe leader’s prime role is seen as creating a caring organization while at the same time ensuring effective performance.\u201d [3]<\/span><\/p>\n

I agree that a leader has a responsibility to make sure that their followers are taken care of so they can perform well.\u00a0<\/span>But there are many people who can take care of the followers in a group.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I believe the role of effective leadership goes <\/span>beyond well-being<\/b> to something that only a few people are capable of doing:<\/span> inspiring movement.<\/b> Beerel writes that leadership \u201cis about transitioning people or groups from one state to another. To lead means to guide or direct a course of action towards some objective or goal. Leading equals movement, which implies change.\u201d [4]<\/span><\/p>\n

(Caveat: With the right training, mentoring, mindset, and intentionality, anyone can learn this type of leadership.)<\/p>\n

Many people bemoan that they have to lead \u201cin the midst of change.\u201d I posit that we are always<\/em> leading in the midst of\u00a0change because when something stops moving, it stagnates and dies. Therefore, much like a moving river, while there may be \u201cpools\u201d or periods of rest, the waters of change are flowing constantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Adventure of Leadership: Skipping B and Going Right to B1<\/b><\/h3>\n

Too often, we aim for predictable, incremental progress. But what if true leadership requires us to aim beyond what we can imagine? That kind of movement requires embracing uncertainty, inspiring transformation, and leading people into the unknown with faith.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am in the middle of a coaching certification course being taught by Yaseen Dadabhay, PhD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During one of our classes, Yaseen explained about goals and movement in relation to leadership:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s say that where you are now is A. What you want to create is B.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost of us start at A and then move toward B. Instead, <\/span>start from B<\/span><\/i>. It\u2019s a much better place to start because <\/span>it\u2019s not limited by where I am<\/span><\/i>. Think of your goal like this: A becomes your B.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s our behaviors and mindsets that keep us stuck where we are. You want to create your future <\/span>from the future<\/span><\/i>, not from where you are now, nor from your past.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, when it comes to money, most of us create our future from our past. You are limited in what that financial goal can be when your only reference is how your family thought about money when you were growing up. You unconsciously allow what others have said to limit what you\u2019re capable of.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s only once you know where you want to be that it is helpful to know where you are right now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNotice: If you\u2019re on a path to get from A to B, you need a pathfinder, a project manager. You see, in management, everything is familiar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I suggest that you don\u2019t want to be on a tour; you want to be <\/span>on an adventure.<\/span><\/i> You say you\u2019re trying to get from A to B, but who even told you that <\/span>B<\/span><\/i> is where you need to go?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet rid of B\u2014put it out of your head!\u2014and choose to go to <\/span>B1<\/span><\/i> instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEmbrace uncertainty; the situation is full of possibilities! You\u2019re on a quest. When you can guide people through the unknown to something <\/span>better<\/span><\/i> than they can imagine, that\u2019s called <\/span>leadership<\/span><\/i>.\u201d [5]<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Leading toward B1 instead of just B<\/p><\/div>\n

If leadership is fundamentally about movement, then the most impactful leaders are those who help others move toward a future beyond what they can imagine. In coaching, Yaseen Dadabhay\u2019s concept of B1\u2014an outcome that is bigger, bolder, and beyond mere incremental progress\u2014captures this beautifully. Rather than just managing external change, true leadership invites people into internal transformation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Flipping Failure into Success<\/b><\/h3>\n

John Kotter\u2019s book, <\/span>Leading Change,<\/span><\/i> identifies the biggest reasons organizations fail to shift successfully. His eight-stage change process flips those failures upside down. Among other ideas, his model includes creating urgency, communicating vision, and anchoring new approaches into culture. [6]<\/span><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just businesses that need these principles\u2014Christian leaders, whether in ministry, lay leadership, or coaching\u2014must embrace them to help their people move into God\u2019s bigger future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christian Leadership Insists on Christlike Character<\/b><\/h3>\n

In Ephesians 3:20, Paul reminds us that God \u201cis able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.\u201d Too often, we limit our vision to human-scale goals\u2014getting from A to B.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But what if God is calling us to B1, a future where we don\u2019t just achieve something expected, but step into a transformation we can\u2019t yet see? How do we embody and model the trust required of that kind of movement and transformation?<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where Christian leadership departs from secular models. Beerel and Kotter emphasize strategy, planning, and execution. But Christian leadership, as outlined in <\/span>Leadership as an Identity<\/span><\/i>, insists that character and faith matter just as much. Crawford Loritts, Jr. writes,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s assignments involve changing your life as a leader just as much as they involve changing the people you want to reach. God is constantly at work in building your character\u2014making you more like Christ. He wants to build your faith as He works through you and as you encounter Him. [7]<\/span><\/p>\n

The best leaders don\u2019t just manage people through external change; they surrender to the refining work of God in their own lives, allowing Him to shape their hearts as they guide others.<\/span><\/p>\n

Transformational Leadership: The Jesuit Model<\/b><\/h3>\n

In\u00a0Heroic Leadership,<\/em> we discover that the Jesuits embody leadership not just through skill but through deep formation.\u00a0They build leaders who live out four core values:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Self-awareness<\/b> \u2013 Understanding strengths, weaknesses, and worldview.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Ingenuity<\/b> \u2013 Adapting creatively to change.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Love<\/b> \u2013 Leading with care and concern for people.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Heroism<\/b> \u2013 Inspiring bold action in others. [8]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Applying these values to the concept of B1 leadership means going beyond what is simply necessary. It means helping people see their own God-given potential and leading with courage.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Leadership as a Trust-Building Journey<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Influence, the foundation of leadership, cannot exist without trust. I know I’ve cited this before, but it’s relevant here, too. In \u201cLeadership and the Power of Influence,\u201d Karise Hutchinson highlights four pillars of trust in leadership:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Ability<\/b> (the knowledge, skills, and professionalism of a leader).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Benevolence<\/b> (leaders who are approachable, genuinely show interest, and recognize individual needs).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Integrity<\/b> (leaders who are ethical in their decisions and believe, as well as live out, their values across their whole life).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Predictability<\/b> (the consistency of a leader\u2019s behaviors or walking the walk). [9]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      When a leader fosters trust, people are willing to take the risk of moving beyond A to B1. They step into the unknown, not just because of logic, but <\/span>because they believe in the leader guiding them<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

      A Call to Courageous Leadership<\/b><\/h3>\n

      Christian leadership, then, is not just about guiding a group through external change; it is about calling people into internal transformation. The journey from A to B1 is full of uncertainty, but that is where faith thrives. Leaders must be both pathfinders and pioneers,<\/strong> urging others toward a vision they may not fully understand\u2014because they, too, have been transformed.<\/span><\/p>\n

      At the heart of it all, leadership is about movement, yes, <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> it\u2019s also about trust, faith, and a willingness to step forward into the greater story God is writing.<\/span><\/p>\n

      ===========<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      1 – Annabel Beerel, <\/span>Rethinking Leadership; A Critique of Contemporary Theories<\/span><\/i> (New York: Routledge, 2021), 90.<\/span><\/p>\n

      2 – Beerel, 91.<\/span><\/p>\n

      3 – Beerel, 84.<\/span><\/p>\n

      4 – Beerel, 82.<\/span><\/p>\n

      5 – Yaseen Dadabhay, \u201cClass lecture,\u201d Awakened Man Coaching Certification (class lecture, online, March 13, 2024).<\/span><\/p>\n

      6 – John P. Kotter, <\/span>Leading Change<\/span><\/i> (Boston, Harvard Business Review Press, 2012), 23.<\/span><\/p>\n

      7 – Crawford Loritts, Jr., <\/span>Leadership As an Identity; The Four Traits of Those Who Wield Lasting Influence<\/span><\/i> (Chicago, Moody Publishers, 2009), 7.<\/span><\/p>\n

      8 – Chris Lowney, <\/span>Heroic Leadership; Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company That Changed the World<\/span><\/i> (Chicago, Loyola Press, 2003), 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

      9 – <\/span>Karise Hutchinson, \u201cLeadership and the power of influence. The problem with power\u201d, <\/span>Illuminaire<\/span><\/i>, Vol. 1 (2024), <\/span>20.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      My friend told me about the church plant where she and her husband were getting involved. The growing church had gotten to the point where it needed someone to take on a pastoral role and responsibilities. Because she is a retired pastor, the group of leaders all looked at her and said, \u201cYou’re the pastor.\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3415,2967],"class_list":["post-40460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bereel","tag-dlgp03","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/197"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40460"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40466,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40460\/revisions\/40466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}