Two months ago my race changed pretty drastically. I can remember the conversation vividly. I was in Nepal. It was Manistry for our squad, which is a time where all the men on our squad come together for a month to do ministry. We just made it back from a trek through the Himalayan Mountains a few days prior.
Several of us had just gotten back home after dinner one night. Once back, I would begin the nightly routine: grab my shampoo and loofah, take a cold bucket shower followed by immediate regret, brush my teeth, set up my sleep system in our room, crawl in my sleeping bag as fast as I can, read, journal, pray, and be out by 10 pm.
Before I could start, my squad leader, Myles, pulled me aside and said that he wanted to talk to me. We walked into the room where all of our valuables were stored for safety. My gears were turning wondering what he would say and why we had to walk into the closet to talk. After a long pause, he simply said, “We want you to squad lead.” My response reflected my surprise. “Wait, what? Are you serious?” I remember asking myself in my head, “Is this real?” I was pumped.
That night I didn’t get much sleep. I was journaling, praying, processing and trying to calm my excitement so that I could fall asleep. Over the next few days, my mind was flooded with thoughts about what it would look like to squad lead, how different my role would look from doing logistics, and honestly, how the squad would receive me.
Since then, I’ve gone through a month of squad leader training in India and this month I’m in Malaysia on an island with an all girls team for my first month serving as a squad leader. Ever heard of Daniel and the lion’s den?… They haven’t devoured me… yet. Just kidding. They told me I could write that.
Through this short time of finding my footing and transitioning into a new role, I’m learning a ton about what leadership is. Here are three leadership tips that the Lord has been revealing to me.
Be Courageous– there may not be a more essential leadership trait than courage. It reveals a lot about a person. First, it shows that you’re confident. It says that you’re not afraid to step into the uncomfortable to grow or succeed. It says that you’re willing to put yourself in a risky spot because you understand that the good that might come from it outweighs the bad. Second, it says you’re actively rejecting a fear of failure. G. K. Chesterton says, “Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live, taking the form of readiness to die.” Fear has stopped many people from doing great things. Or simply, just being obedient. By being courageous, by stepping out and taking a risk, we learn to trust God more with what he’s called us to do. Don’t be afraid to stumble. Failing is a necessary part of your development as a leader and as a Christian. How many times has God allowed you to walk through failure only to come through the other side thankful for what He taught you?
Be others-focused– there’s just something that attracts you to people who are selfless. Whenever you’re around them they defer to others. They fight for others. They show interest rather than try to be interesting. Brad Lomenick says, “The best leaders are reflectors of praise, not absorbers.” Good leaders know how to make much of others, and less about themselves. Although this isn’t a natural tendency, fighting to be more selfless and others-focused will develop your leadership, build trust amongst those closest to you, and ultimately empower others, which leads me into my final tip.
Empower those around you– if you want to gain trust and respect you have to empower others. This is crucial to the success of your leadership, as well as, the health of those around you. Empowering others to take ownership and contribute not only develops them, it reveals to them that leadership isn’t ownership. It’s stewardship. Good leaders give up their leadership to others because their worth isn’t attached to a specific title and they don’t need to always be in control. Within the idea of empowering others, is the understanding that you wont always be in the position you’re in. Reproducing leaders to take your place and contribute to building a generation that leads well is one of the greatest acts of worship that we can live out in glorifying God and fulfilling his purpose for our lives
Leadership isn’t so much about positions as it is about other people. Don’t wait until you have a leadership role to start leading. Believe it or not, you’re a major influencer in someone else’s life right now regardless of if you’re on the World Race or not. Regardless of if you’re in a so-called “leadership” role or not. The world needs us to step up. We can’t wait. We’re a generation who can’t wait to lead. We can’t wait 10 years for our predecessor to retire to step into a role of influence. We have to start now no matter what position we’re in. We have to start leading well, now.
