{"id":40757,"date":"2025-02-20T12:19:09","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T20:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=40757"},"modified":"2025-02-20T12:19:09","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T20:19:09","slug":"overwhelming-seasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/overwhelming-seasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Overwhelming Seasons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Completely overwhelming. As I turned the last page of Leader-smithing<\/em>, I was overwhelmed. The idea of 52 action items, one for each week of the year, felt daunting.[1]<\/a> Are leaders really supposed to adopt a new practice for 52 weeks straight? The sheer magnitude of such a task feels insurmountable in my current season.<\/p>\n

Much of my response to this week\u2019s reading is strongly influenced by my current reality: single motherhood. This season demands my attention in so many areas \u2013 parenting, working, maintaining a home, managing finances, cooking meals, and completing assignments. The idea of adding another structured leadership task each week of the year triggers a flight response in my body that Poole described.[2]<\/a> My body aches to leave the situation immediately to bring me to a place of safety. Are these practices for becoming a solid leader harmful? Of course not. However, in my current situation, my body can\u2019t tell the difference between the never-ending practices Poole suggests and being chased by a knife-wielding tiger. While these practices are undoubtedly valuable, they feel like an additional burden rather than a pathway to growth at this time.<\/p>\n

Finding Faithfulness in the Overwhelm<\/strong><\/p>\n

This tension raises crucial questions: What does faithfulness look like in this season? \u00a0How do I prioritize my weeks accordingly?<\/em> Each night, as I walk through the house, ensuring doors are locked and chores are complete, or when I read an extra chapter to avoid falling behind, I feel the weight of responsibility pressing upon me. Adding more to my already full plate seems impossible.<\/p>\n

Yet, when I pause to reflect on these questions, I find grace. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds me that God\u2019s mercies are new every morning. I wake each day not to face an endless list of leadership exercises but to be met by His kindness and provision. In this season, faithfulness might look different from the structured approach Poole outlines\u2014it might look like leaning into God\u2019s grace rather than striving to do more.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharacter is not about doing but about being.\u201d[3]<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

In this season, rather than focusing on the exhaustive task of implementing weekly leadership habits, I choose to cultivate character. Poole asserts, \u201cLeaders, therefore, need to develop character in general, as well as muscle memory for more specific leadership tasks. This is because strengthening your character will future-proof your craft for the time when something new and unexpected occurs, for which you have no template.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

This resonates deeply. Life, particularly in the context of single parenthood, is filled with unexpected challenges. I may not have the capacity to implement a new leadership strategy every week, but I can commit to being the kind of person who is growing in wisdom, resilience, and integrity. When difficult leadership moments arise, they will not be met with a void but rather with a deeply rooted character that has been cultivated through the trials of this season.<\/p>\n

Poole also states, \u201cVirtuous leaders do not wait for an ethical dilemma to present itself for resolution; they bake in daily ethical practice so that such events become humdrum and reflexive, rather than case studies for a future MBA class.\u201d[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

This principle shifts my perspective. Instead of seeing leadership development as a rigid checklist, I recognize that true growth is embedded in the everyday moments\u2014the way I handle conflict with my child, the integrity with which I complete my work, and the consistency with which I turn to God for strength. Leadership is not about stacking achievements; it is about embodying virtue so deeply that ethical and wise decision-making becomes second nature.<\/p>\n

Focus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Poole outlines seventeen \u2018Critical Incidents\u2019 that teach leaders essential lessons.[6]<\/a> By developing templates for these moments, leaders can instinctively navigate complex situations. This approach is both insightful and reassuring. Rather than overwhelming myself with 52 separate tasks, I can focus on recognizing and responding to these critical moments as they arise.<\/p>\n

In my current season, this means identifying the most pressing leadership challenges I face\u2014perhaps managing emotional resilience, setting healthy boundaries, or maintaining consistency in my commitments. By focusing on a few foundational areas, I can build strength where it is needed most. Growth does not have to be a relentless pursuit; it can be a steady, intentional process.<\/p>\n

Embracing Grace-Filled Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leadership development, while valuable, should not come at the expense of well-being. Seasons of life vary, and faithfulness looks different in each one. Right now, faithfulness for me is not about checking off every leadership task but about cultivating a heart that is present, discerning, and receptive to God\u2019s grace.<\/p>\n

As I navigate this overwhelming season, I am learning that leadership is less about doing and more about becoming. If I can be faithful in the small moments\u2014responding to stress with grace, leading my home with love, and seeking wisdom in difficult decisions\u2014I am growing as a leader in ways that matter most. And that is enough for now.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Eve Poole,\u00a0Leadersmithing: An Apprenticeship Approach to Making Great Leaders<\/em>\u00a0(New York: Bloomsbury Business, 2017), 73.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Poole, 38.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Poole, 49.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Poole, 55.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Poole,\u00a052.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Poole,\u00a010-11.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Completely overwhelming. As I turned the last page of Leader-smithing, I was overwhelmed. The idea of 52 action items, one for each week of the year, felt daunting.[1] Are leaders really supposed to adopt a new practice for 52 weeks straight? The sheer magnitude of such a task feels insurmountable in my current season. Much […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":223,"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":[3434],"class_list":["post-40757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-dlp04-poole-leadership","cohort-dlgp04"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40757","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\/223"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40757"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40757\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40758,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40757\/revisions\/40758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}