Once upon a time, I wrote a sort of prologue to this blog about team leading. It’s here, if you’re interested…. The Other Team Leading Blog
Now, before we get into this, you deserve a little back story. Or I guess if you’re really not that interested, just scroll on down a little bit. Your choice.
I came in asking the Lord two things:
1. Don’t make me lead.
2. Don’t put me on an all-girls team.
Well, the joke’s on me, because here I sit, just days away from ending the Race and do you want to know the two things that the Lord consistently gave me, month in and month out?
1. Leadership
2. All-girls teams.
So there’s that. I hope you get as many laughs about that one as I have this year.
I didn’t want to lead because I was tired of it. I was leaving for the Race just weeks after leaving a job in ministry that had exhausted me. I couldn’t remember the last time I wasn’t in some sort of leadership role. I thought the Race would be a nice break from that for me.
Truth is though, I started the Race with some pretty unhealthy ideas about leadership.
I had been trying to lead a ministry while forgetting to let the Lord lead me. I held so tightly to the ministry and my role in it that I forgot what dependence, sacrifice and surrender looked like. Holding so tightly to things and trying to carry people and burdens in your own strength is exhausting.
And I didn’t want my Race to be like that.
That’s why I didn’t want to lead.
When I was invited to team lead at Training Camp, my initial response was fear. I also think I rolled my eyes at God. I didn’t want this. What about all those other people on my squad who could lead way better? What about all those other people on my squad who actually want to do this? God met those questions with a simple idea: I want this. Trust Me.
And so every day, I chose to say yes to trusting God’s ideas. It hasn’t been anywhere close to perfect. It’s been really messy. I’ve been stressed out, I’ve been angry, and I’ve been hurt. But you know what else it has been?
Beautifully redemptive.
Freeing.
New.
And dare I say, refreshing?
The Lord has been so gracious this year as He has patiently chipped away at my old ideas of leadership and replaced them with His truths. And now, like I said at the end of part one, I find freedom in leadership where I used to see a cage. I can’t be the only one who thinks that’s freakin’ beautiful.
All of that being said, here are some things I’ve learned, things that I hope you already know and are walking in.
1. Say yes, but not for fear of saying “no.”
No may be one of the more powerful words I’ve learned this year. Pre-Race, I would have never admitted it, but my actions showed that I thought leadership meant taking on everything yourself. Nothing could be further from the truth. You don’t have to do everything. You don’t have to lead Bible study. You don’t have to lead prayer meetings. You don’t have to make a chore chart. You don’t have to facilitate feedback and team time every single night. Delegate and empower your teammates.
2. Rest for your work.
This is something that my college pastor talked about a lot, something that I sort of practiced pre-Race. Living in 24/7 community is an experience like none other, one where I’ve seen just how important rest is. So – figure out what resting looks like for you. Obviously getting enough sleep is important, but what are other things that are restful for you? For me, it’s journaling. It’s sitting down and listening to music. It’s just being with people- not having to do anything. Those are restful things to me. When I’m not well-rested, when I’m at risk of running on empty – the first thing I notice is my journal sitting untouched. And then I pull away from people and can’t stand the thought of living in a room with anyone other than myself. What I’m saying is: know how you rest, and do those things. Know the signs that you’re not resting so that you don’t have to run on empty. That’s no bueno.
3. It’s not all up to you.
This is where I still try to go backwards. It’s all about boundaries, y’all. All about them. The most freeing (yet terrifying) thing I learned to do this year was to look at my teammates’ and tell them “Your Race is not up to me.” I’m a fixer and a people-pleaser, which has caused me to overstep the boundaries of healthy responsibility many, many times in my life. You’re a team leader, not a team fixer. Obviously if there’s conflict, you have a role to play, but you aren’t called to fix everyone’s ish for them. And that’s a really beautiful thing. Give your team to the Lord, and then give your team to the team. Own it by giving it away (responsibly) because that is how you’ll inspire growth, change, health, and all those other positive things you want for your teammates.
4. Always, always, always examine your roots.
Where is your security? Where is your identity? One thing that the Lord has consistently reminded me of this year is that my identity does not change with the roles that I play. My identity is not “Chelsey, the team leader.” “Chelsey, the team captain,” “Chelsey, the youth intern,” or even “Chelsey, the World Racer.” My identity is (and will always be) that of a daughter. No role I’m given, no work I’m doing, nothing will ever change that or be more powerful and more fulfilling than that. Your worth is not in your role. Your security is not in your job. Your identity is secure in the One who named you.
There’s a lot more I could just keep listing off. There’s a lot of lessons learned, a lot of lessons still being learned, and even more to be learned still. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. See you soon, America.
