11-21-21 Zip it up
Quote: “A true leader doesn’t create separation. A true leader brings people together.”
Take a walk on memory lane with me. Think about all the leaders you’ve had or known in your life. In your home, your extended family, your school years, all your places of employment, your child’s life, your government, your church, and your current place in life. I’m sure many people’s faces and names are coming to mind.
We are the people we are today because people in our lives stepped up and led. To name a few for me – a youth leader, an uncle, a college professor, a boss, a pastor, a counselor. All of these people had one thing in common – I trusted their leadership… or I definitely wouldn’t have followed them. They taught me how to pursue things I’m passionate about. To love deep if that’s how I’m wired. To know what I stand for. And then they each directed me toward people who were like me so I felt supported. Comradery.
The greatest leaders I’ve ever followed really cared about the people they were leading. They understood that they were only as great as the people behind them. They took into consideration our weakness and strengths – and then figured out how we could all work together – rather than leave us all stranded on our own island. I am currently reading a book called, “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown. It’s fascinating all the research that has been done on the area of leadership. But reading books about leadership mean nothing if you turn around and suddenly find out no one’s following.
The Bible does not mince words when it comes to leadership. The highest appointed position at that time was the teachers of the law because people didn’t own a copy of the Bible in their homes yet. People went to the temple faithfully each week to hear the words of Moses and the stories of Jesus read aloud to them. The Bible makes it very clear how important this leadership position is. It says in James 3:1, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” This is why there aren’t many pastors! That is a hard act to follow. Very frightening!
But I think this verse applies to all areas of leadership – in the home, at the office, on the basketball court, and in state capitols. Leaders should shoot for the moon with their ideas but then never forget that the stars – all the beautiful people in the world – are just as brilliant and important, each twinkling with their own distinct brightness.
I also love the visual of a zipper that goes along with this quote.
How often do we have zippers that malfunction? As a former kindergarten teacher, I feel I am an expert in this area! I have watched quite a few frustrated little humans attempt trying to zip up a winter coat for the first time. It is so hard to get it perfectly lined up when your hands are so tiny! And then you have to pull it at just the right time for the teeth to perfectly come together. And if you don’t get it right, it becomes such a mess and then frustration and tears soon follow.
This is so true when you are leading. Not every person on your team is going to fit together perfectly. That would be way too easy! To work together, you have to model for them how to compromise, creating an atmosphere with a delicate balance of knowing when to speak your mind but also when to sit back and simply listen. A great leader takes into account everyone’s differences in the small things and figures out a way to bring them together in solidarity on the big issues. To promote standing on your own two feet but also coming together in unity when it counts.
Great leaders multiply people’s effectiveness rather than divide the people because of it.
