‘When you have a really talented team, the key is knowing how to stay out of their way.’ That quote was shared with me by a coach who trained the players who launched the Messiah University soccer dynasty. Messiah men’s soccer has won 11 national championships since 2000. The first three teams had All Americans that were coached by the aforementioned man in high school. He’s had 10 players win at least one national championship at Messiah.
The point - he knows the difference between being in the way and leading the way. John Maxwell has often said that leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. I often reflect on the fact that corporate excellence is only possible through individual excellence. In very real ways, we are each leading our groups towards excellence - or maybe we aren’t? How do we know if we are helping to lead the way or we are simply in the way?
Here are 5 ways to consider if you are helping to lead the way (LTW) and, if at times, you might be in the way (ITW).
#1
LTW: You are helping to lead the way when you follow through and finish things. The apostle Paul told his protege, Timothy, that he had finished the race (2 Timothy 4:7). The Beastie Boys, philosophical giants of my teen years, declared that they, ‘run the marathon to the very last mile.’ Character and excellence are often seen in how well things are finished.
ITW: You might be in the way if you often lack focus and regularly procrastinate. My son once told me, ‘Dad, I’m not an amateur crastinator, I’m a pro crastinator.’ *sigh* My son is a work in progress, but so am I. Let’s remain focused and timely on our tasks.
#2
LTW: You are helping to lead the way when you read a lot and stay up to date on trends in your area of expertise. Proverbs tells us, 'the intelligent heart acquires knowledge...' (Proverbs 18:15) Tom Nichols in, The Death of Expertise, calls true expertise, ‘the type of knowledge that others can rely on’. Are you acquiring the type of knowledge that others can rely on about life and your specific area of responsibility?
ITW: You might be in the way if you rarely read and downplay the validity of new trends. Steve Jobs once stated after being fired from Apple and returning, ‘I had to adapt or die.’ Noah Samuel Brinks bemoans the great scourge of learning institutions is when the adults stop being the lead learners. Don't become an ITW adult.
#3
LTW: You are helping to lead the way when you ask a lot of questions such as, ‘tell me more’ or ‘why do you think that?’ Proverbs also tells us, '...the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.' (Proverbs 18:15) Jay Strack, founder of Student Leadership University, believes that asking questions is the easiest personal growth plan to implement.
ITW: You might be in the way if you interrupt people with your answers. If you find yourself in a room feeling like you have all the answers, ask a few questions, or change rooms and start listening.
#4
LTW: You are helping to lead the way if you are making time to care for yourself. Sleep more, eat healthier, be more active. Our bodies are to be treated with the same care as a temple (I Corinthians 6:19). Daniel Grothe in ‘Chasing Wisdom’ designates an entire chapter to ‘the wisdom of movement’. The point is, you are the only person that can make yourself healthy. And a healthy team requires a healthy you.
ITW: You might be in the way if you have made yourself unhealthy. It is amazing to me how long my possessions will last and how well they will operate if I simply take care of them. Cars, gas grills, a/c units, etc. I’ll let you reflect on that analogy.
#5
LTW: You are helping to lead the way if you read your Bible and pray everyday; all the time. I recently spent time with my father in Florida. He never skipped his morning Bible reading and prayer time. He is the head of a small Christian school. It is thankless. He’s as likely to be emptying trash cans and driving buses as he is to be leading board meetings. He’s joyful and grateful. His school is thriving. He reads his Bible and prays every - single - morning. All of these things are related.
ITW: You are definitely in the way if you are too busy to slow down to read your Bible and pray every day. ‘You Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.’ - Psalm 119:105
There are days when I am inadvertently an ITW leader at my institution. Let’s use these five reflections to be part of the leading the way!
Keep on, keepin’ on, friends!
Bite Down and Don’t Let Go’ is a collection of writings on relentlessly leading yourself and others well. Read about it more here. You can listen to the Bite Down and Don't Let Go podcast here!
Dr. Chris Hobbs is an educational leader with more than two decades of experience. He’s earned a few degrees and won some awards. He’s happily married to his high school sweetheart and they have three children. Life is messy and complicated most of the time. You can follow him on Twitter for all sorts of inspirational thoughts and good laughs.
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