The Challenges And Rewards of Leadership
Ian Revie
‘I have called him. I have brought him here. He will be successful.’
Isaiah 48:15 MSG
We have a new CEO at work (joined us in January) who has a very different vision than our previous one. In fact, it maybe yet we don't know what his vision is. It's very interesting: we know so far that he wants to make more sales and, in that, he wants to make higher profits. However, this itself does not create the vision that each of his senior team need - for them to fulfill their part of the business relationship or management structure to get stuff done.
Visions need to be set by those among us that are leaders, but a vision can only become a reality when others follow the leader, start to own their part of the vision, and start to drive delivery.
I am sure we have all heard the phrase ‘leaders are only leaders when they have others who follow’ - I like and use this version from one of my leadership gurus, John C. Maxwell:
"He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk."
Great leaders know their blind spots and surround themselves with people who complement their strengths. Yes, you're still the decision-maker, but your team is what makes the vision happen. Central to all we do is the basic question, what is your vision and where is God in that vision? Whether you’re leading a company, a family, a community project, a church or a small group, it’s rarely smooth going.
Pushback, conflict, and naysayers come with the territory. The key? Don’t let the critics derail your progress - keep to your God given vision. Not everyone is going to be your cheerleader, and that’s just a fact of life. Stay locked in on your goals, build a solid circle, and trust that your purpose and path to success are already secured:
‘I have called (you). I have brought (you) here. (You) will be successful.’
Isaiah 48:15 MSG
At work my team is very committed to our team vision, which I believe is a God-given vision which started over 40 years ago. All have different strengths to complement mine. It is very challenging when there are clashes like this, where our overall business vision is unclear. It creates uncertainty, conflict and often emotional conflicts.
Jesus is a great example of a great leader - although possibly not initially to the disciples. His vision was and is very clear and compelling - I will be with you always (Matthew 8:20) - This is one of the most comforting promises in the Bible. It serves as a beautiful reminder that you are never walking through life alone.
However Jesus had to work a bit more on His Vision to get others engaged, starting from a clear vision from the Sermon on the mount, and working through each of us in our day to day lives, using language that was close to them, with a promise that was exciting:
Poor in spirit, Mourning, Meek, Righteousness-seekers – Promised divine blessings including the kingdom of heaven, comfort, and inheritance.
Merciful, Pure in heart, Peacemakers, Persecuted – Promised mercy, divine vision, and recognition as children of God.
Jesus had already recruited his management team before he taught the sermon on the mount - He had selected those that He would train up on his life on earth to take His vision forward.
To summarise, you need to know what you are good at, but you also need to know when you're out of your depth.
Your strengths and blind spots don’t make you right or wrong, they just make you you. No one ever built anything great entirely by themselves. We all need people in our corner to make things happen.
However Proverbs 29:18 sums up my current work state: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” and for us day to day, if we don’t have or understand our vision, ask God for it or ask our leaders to give a clearer view of what their vision is.
