How Leader's Think

In my previous post on applying the simplicity principle to a leadership orientation process, I mentioned how I've been trying to simplify, for our new leaders, what a godly leader looks like.  The metaphor my executive pastor and I decided on (before someone informed us that some other people are using the same image) was that of the Head, Heart and Hands of a Godly Leader.  In this post, I'd like to share with you how I've distilled down the list of statements of how godly leaders think into a list of seven statements.  In other words, even though, as a teacher, I'd prefer to come up with a long list of principles and statements that comprehensively cover how leaders think, the reality is that most people don't want a long list, they prefer a short list.  So, here's my short list.  Godly leaders ...

1.  Think, "What does God have to say about this?
2.  Think, "Simplicity over Complexity."
3.  Think, "Action over Deliberation."
4.  Think, "Future over Past."
5.  Think, "Results over Activity"
6.  Think, "What's the wise thing to do?"
7.  Think, "This is bigger than me."

1.  Think, "What does God have to say about this?" This should not be a given.  However, not all leaders ask this question.  Yet, it ought to be the starting place for any godly leader.

2.  Think, "Simplicity over Complexity".  As my previous posts have argued, this is one of the primary differences between teachers who lead vs. leaders who teach.  Leaders continually ask the question, "What's the simplest way for me to say this?"

3.  Think, "Action over Deliberation."  Leaders have a bias toward action.  Whereas, teachers and others often have a bias for discussion, debate, deliberation and delay.  Leaders ask, "What can I do?"

4.  Think, "Future over Past." In other words, leaders ask, "Where are we going?", not "Where have we been?"  They immensely dislike the thought, "We've never done it that way before," because they don't look back, they look forward.

5.  Think, "Results over Activity."  Non-leaders have a tendency to say, "Hey, I put in my hours," or "I worked as hard as I could," as if activity were enough.  But leaders don't focus on activity, they focus on results.  They ask, "Did I get it done or not?"  And if they didn't get it done, they ask, "What do I need to do to get it done."  Time is almost irrelevant. 

6.  Think, "What's the wise thing to do?" In other words, leaders don't ask, "What's the easiest or safest or most pragmatic thing to do?"  They ask, "What's the wise thing to do?"  And part of wisdom is asking, "What have others, who've gone before me, learned about this?" Or, "What do my peers think about this?"  Or, "What have I learned from similar experiences in the past?"

7.  Think, "This is bigger than me."  In other words, leaders aren't driven by holding on to ministry, but rather by giving it away.  Leaders see a big vision and can't wait to involve others in the pursuit of it.  Non-leaders have a hard time giving ministry away because, for them, it's all about them and what they can do. Whereas for leaders, the task in front of them is so big, they can't help but involve others in it.

So, there you have it, my first run at how leaders think.  What do you think?  Do you have some other ideas that are more important than these seven.  I'd like your feedback.

Comments

[Dr. Andy Jackson]

This post was featured on SmartChristian Blog. Andy

[Steven Dilla]

I really like your thoughts here. One thought hit me as I was reading through the list. It is easy to apply the term "Biblical" in place of "good" when it comes to leadership.

Erwin McManus says "God cares more about the texture of a person than the results of a vision." A good leader becomes a Biblical leader when they realize that. It’s great to use good leadership principles – but I’m not sure that makes them “Biblical.” In other words, it is only when good leadership is leveraged for Biblical purposes that it becomes Biblical leadership.

Not sure if that makes any sense... just a thought.