Introduction To The Leader's Journey预览

INTRODUCTION TO THE LEADER'S JOURNEY

Day FIVE: Lead ORGANIZATIONS

Devotion 

Why do some organizations flourish while others stay mired in mediocrity? The answer is often found in their leadership. Great organizations are led by strategic thinkers, while those with mediocre results are typically led by leaders who are fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants  buried in busyness. 

Consider chess, not checkers as a metaphor for your organization. Chess is more complex, demands strategic thinking, and requires an understanding that each piece is unique in its ability to move. Checkers, on the other hand, is highly reactionary, requires little thought, and typically is played with a frenetic pace. If you hope to build a high performance organization you need to play chess, not checkers. 

Leading an organization made up of multiple teams and departments is more complex than leading a single team. Developing the ability to manage the complexity of leading an organization takes time and effort. It stretches even the best of leaders to stay focused and disciplined. To lead an organization one must learn how to clarify and embody the values of the organization, prevent mission drift, create a strategy to accomplish the vision, architect a structure that serves the strategy, recruit (hire) and place the right staff, ensure healthy chains of communication, and oversee the finances and future direction. And that is just the beginning. 

Moses was a leader entrusted with leading a nation. That’s a big organization. While he grew into the position, along the way he made many mistakes. Thankfully, God provided a mentor to develop Moses in the form of his father-in-law — Jethro. As we read the story in Exodus 18 we see Moses approaching his role like a checker player. He was overwhelmed by the challenge, and the Bible indicates he was on the brink of burnout. Jethro warned Moses that the current plan was unsustainable. You might say he encouraged Moses to start playing chess and do things differently. Moses made the adjustment and took his leadership capacity to a higher level.

How about you? Would you characterize your leadership as busy and burdened? Are you on the brink of burnout? Is your organization stuck, or even declining? Do you wish you had more capacity,? Do you often wonder if you are the bottleneck to what God truly wants to do.

There is good news. You, like Moses, can make the choice to ‘play a different game.’ If you want something to change, as the leader, it will require you to make a change. Ask God to help you steward well the opportunity you have been given and then create a structure to unleash the potential of your organization. 

Prayer —

Father, bless me as I seek to steward the influence you have given me. Help my organization to be well led. Also support those who lead organizations and churches around the world. Bless each leader with the wisdom and ability they need today. Surround them with the right people to accomplish what you have called them to do.