On Leading Up
A few weeks ago at the Catalyst One Day event in Dallas, Craig was asked for advice to people who are not senior pastors/leaders about how they can lead up. Craig decided that it would be a great opportunity to put me on the spot and have me answer it from my perspective. We’ve talked about it on the blog before, but I figured it would be a good topic to revisit. So here are a few of my thoughts about leading up (but the real secret is that these leadership principals work for any level of leadership):
Lead up by serving up. Leaders love to empower those with a servant’s heart. It’s much easier to develop trust when you are not spending energy wondering about the motives of people around you. One of my primary job responsibilities is serving Craig…but that doesn’t stop with him, and in fact extends to my peers and team.
I’ve talked with several non-senior leaders who struggle to be an influence to their leader because they are more focused on trying to influence than they are on serving.
Have you observed people who are serving up effectively? How? Have they also been given opportunities to influence?
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Man Bobby you said a mouthful when you said, “It’s much easier…people around you.” Hidden motives are the bane of every leader. First, with myself asking “Why do I want this or want to do this?” but also wondering about the motives of those around me. “Are they using me?” “Am I a stepping stone?” Those are tough but probing questions and you raise an excellent point with your thoughts. I appreciate (even though I don’t have firsthand knowledge of seeing it) that you see yourself as a servant, not only to Craig but others. I believe that speaks well of your heart.
I think you nailed it Bobby. Well said.
When we serve it quenches the desire to be served and keeps our ego in check.
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Fathers and Husbands that are fully devoted followers are a good example of servant leaders. They have built in accountability on some things.
Good insight Bobby. I think it’s also important for staff to understand that serving their leader takes on multiple forms. We can serve our leaders by protecting their time, coming to meetings well-prepared, helping our leaders refine and improve their ideas, not hiding hard facts, and recognizing that one of the greatest ways to serve up is to do the job you were hired to do with excellence. When leaders have to wonder why we are dropping the ball on our own areas of responsibility, any other attempt to serve looks like a distraction to our senior leaders. Good stuff - thanks!
Byron I like your link to Father’s and husbands and servant leadership. I really believe that as husbands especially we are called to be the head servant. The more I read the gospels I am just blown away by Jesus’ servant leadership to people who just didn’t get it. Sometimes I get so frustrated with the people I’m leading, but I need to remember to serve.
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My husband had a man in the church say that he believed God wanted him there to stand with and assist him. That was awesome to hear–and of course gives him influence just by the fact that his agenda is not his own. Like Joshua to Moses, etc.
:: Jesus :: check out our man as he stooped to wash the disciples feet… imagine our greatest leaders today doing something like this… and how many are?
:: challenge ::
Great post Bobby. Pastor Jack
Excellent statement! A reminder for us to be like the centurion, who had authority because he was a man under authority and he impressed Jesus for both his faith and submission.