My Epic Journey

Being a great leader means more than just having people follow you. Kouzes and Posner (2008) point out 5 things that leaders can do that will put them above the rest, model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart.  

Model the way

The practice of modeling the way is states that exemplary leaders lead by example. “Leaders’ deeds are far more important than their words when determining how serious they really are about what they do” (Kouzes, et al., 2008, p. 27). If a leader desires for others to follow, he must be willing to not only lead the way, but to do some of the dirty work that gets them the team there. A leader is always being watched. Therefore, an exemplary leader will not only recognize that but make sure that, on all levels, they are acting with integrity, excellence and honor (Skovira, 2006).

Inspire a shared vision

Inspiring a shared vision means that leaders not only know the big picture of what their organization seeks to accomplish but knows how to pull everyone into that vision so that they can own the vision as well. Strait (2006) notes that vision helps “define a scope, that provides specific goals, objectives, assumptions, and constraints that will enable this vision to be realized” (p.42). Scripture points out that “where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18, King James Version). Having a vision is important but unless the leader can transfer that vision to his followers, the vision will be lost.

Challenge the process

Exemplary leaders know the importance of thinking outside the box. To challenge the process means a leader is always looking for “opportunities to innovate, grow, and improve” (Kouzes, et al., 2008, p. 29). They are not satisfied with the status quo but are willing be innovative in their approach and practice. Bossink (2007) notes that “a manager who wants to guide and steer the sustainable innovation processes has to be, or become, an innovation manager with substantial leadership competence” (p. 135).

Enable others to act

Leaders must not act alone. They must be willing to surround themselves with a team of people who can get the job done. Kouzes, et al. (2008), point out that “leaders enable others to act not by hoarding the power they have but by giving it away” (p. 31). Exemplary leaders are able to inspire others without acting like dictators to do so (Hickman & Murphy, 2006).

Encourage the heart

“It’s part of the leader’s job to show appreciation for people’s contributions and to create a culture of celebration” (Kouzes, et al., 2008, p. 32). People we are leading not only want to know they are contributing but need to know they are valuable pieces to the puzzle. Research has shown that those in military leadership gain the trust of their subordinates by showing concern for who they are and by acknowledging the skills they possess (Sweeney, Thomson, & Blanton, 2009).

References:

Bossink, B. A. G., (2007). Leadership for sustainable innovation. International Journal of

Technology Management and Sustainable Development, 6, 135-149.

Hickman, J. L., and Murphy, B., (2006). Strategies for developing leadership for new

supervisors. American Jails, 19, 9-13.

Kouzes, J. M. & Posner, B. Z. (2008). The five practices of exemplary leadership. In J. V.

Gallos (Ed.), Business leadership (2^nd ed.) (pp. 26-34). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Skovira, R. J., (2006). An ethical ecology of a corporate leader: Modeling the ethical frame of

corporate leadership. Interdisciplinary Journal of Information, Knowledge, and

Management, 1, 159-170.

Strait, C. L. (2006). It’s all in the technique. Information Management Journal, 40, 41-46.

Sweeney, P. J., Thompson, V., and Blanton, H., (2009). Trust and influence in combat: an

interdependence model. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 39, 235-264.

Wordsearch 7.0 (2007) [Computer Software]. Austin, TX: Wordsearch Corp.

Tom Houser (Pastor of Discipleship and Administration) recently entered the blog world and I am LOVING his posts.  Go to Run In Such A Way to see what is going on.  Below is his most recent post which I am going to be passing along to our EPIC Small Group Leaders.

Know and Be Known

Life Groups are not just meetings or Bible studies.  Meetings focus on an agenda and Bible studies can be done alone.  Life Groups are meant to be places for people to grow closer to God via authentic fellowship with one another.  It is the fellowship which lays the foundation for everything else that our Life Groups try to do.  This excerpt from a post on smallgroups.com speaks to this topic quite well:

Fellowship is the glue that keeps us in relationship with one another.  Ephesians 2:19, [a] key verse about fellowship, talks about how we are members of God’s family. It says, “You are no longer foreigners or outsiders, but citizens together with God’s people and members of God’s family.” Godly fellowship enables us to experience true family.

Genuine fellowship helps us move from just sharing coffee and cookies to being a safe community where we can be transparent with one another. Here are some simple but effective steps a small group in your church can take to build this kind of fellowship and encourage genuine community:

• Offer new people a history of the group. Have everyone-including the first-timers-share a little bit about their family and a few of the activities they enjoy doing in their free time.
• Provide ice-breakers. Sometimes the silliest questions or activities are best. These help people get to know one another in a safe way.
• Celebrate milestones. Help foster community by celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, long-awaited adoptions, and other special events in people’s lives.

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