Thoughts on Leadership

In getting warmed up this morning for my long-term writing project, I had some thoughts about leadership that seemed to warrant writing down for consideration. My Masters degree is in Educational Leadership, as opposed to Educational Administration, the name given to the degree that many of my colleagues have. It might be an interesting search to discover any differences in the coursework required at various institutions.

As an educational leader, we often discussed the differences between “administrator” and “leader.” Certainly administrative gifts are necessary for effective leadership, and leadership gifts vital for successful administration. The difference is the focus of the mind. An administrator is focused on the administration of duties and tasks, the management of responsibilities toward a given goal. A leader is focused on the achievement of group goals, the movement of a group of people in a shared direction.

I can liken it also to my change of roles between Assistant Principal and Principal. After being promoted, I spoke to my previous Principal, a mentor and dear friend. We laughed at how my desk went from orderly to order-less! I had moved from completing the “to do’s” she gave to me, to creating the “to do” list. At some level, this is illustrative of the differences in administrator and leader. An administrator is attentive to checking items off a given list, while a leader is intent upon defining shared purposes, goals, and plans to be accomplished jointly by her and others. A true leader has great vision and investment in the development of collective mission. An administrator tends to follow a given vision and plan. Both roles are necessary to the success of any organized body.

We all serve in both roles in different areas and seasons of life. It is said that everyone always reports to someone else. So in that way, we are all administrators at some level. But according to God’s timing and plan, we may be granted the privilege to be persons of greater influence, stepping beyond task-completion to group-development. It is when we shift our focus, even for a moment, from simple tasks to significant touches in the lives of others that we move from administrative thinking to leadership perception.

We have the opportunity and responsibility to be both administrators and leaders in the body of Christ as called by God. As administrators of God’s goals, we follow His vision, choose to be invested in His objectives and join Him in His activities. As leaders, we influence others to do the same. Leadership is about influence. A wise person once said, “If you think you are a leader, look behind you to see if anyone is following.” If there is, we should look back at our pathway and ensure we are leading her in the right direction.

The Path

I have been writing this past month, I promise! Just not for Prayerfully Penned. I felt much conviction when I realized I posted nothing in March to share with my readers. Please accept my apologies. God has no doubt blessed you with a choice of many other writings from which to read. This month, I will still be writing on a long-term project; so until I post again, I pray this longer-than-normal post will both engage you and encourage you to listen closely to the Lord, for He promises that "Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Is 30:21


The Path...

Paths are present in our lives whether we notice them or not. All of us have walked them and are walking on them now. There are paths to school, home, family, work, entertainment, hobbies, friends, successes and failures. I’ve ventured down many a path in my lifetime, some that were not headed in the right direction. Many times I didn’t realize it. Sometimes I did, but I went anyway.

God has revealed a few simple truths to me about paths. First and foremost, there is only one that leads to Him, and that is the path of Jesus Christ and the truth of His word. As of this writing, Oprah and others are teaching that there are many paths, and that Jesus is just one way. That is not what God’s word says. Jesus said, “I am THE way, and THE truth, and THE life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) So either Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. (And, by the way, there is only one right answer.) I pray everyone who reads this has found and accepted the one and only way, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Another truth God has shown me is that His path is best, and not only does He desire us to be on it, He does a lot to get us there and keep us there. The truth about walking on His path is simple, yet profound; I only wish I had learned it when I was a teenager. It’s worth writing down in case anyone has missed its simple truth.

God’s way is the right way and the only way; it is the path we are to be on. The Bible is the path to a joyous life. Its instructions, God’s commands, are the route to fulfillment in life. Often we haven’t studied His path enough to know it very well, so we veer off course. Or, we are stubborn and decide to take a detour. (Unfortunately, I was once very good at this.) God then provides correction, much like a bridled horse. The horse is still under control, and is able to respond to the reproof of its master. It easily hears and feels the redirection; and when it does, it quickly returns to the assigned path. But other times, the horse bucks the rider off, so that it has no master. It takes off on its own, running wildly toward who knows where. We are like this horse when we get so far of course that we quit responding to the gentle correction of God. We run wild, and regardless of His warnings, we run right into danger.

Proverbs 6:23 says, “For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life.” Proverbs 10:17 says, “He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who forsakes reproof goes astray.” God laid out the path we are to follow in His word. When we get off track, He corrects us, because He loves us and wants to keep us on the path. As long as we remain teachable and receptive to His correction, we stay on the path. But when we fight Him enough, He allows us to run wild and lead ourselves right into trouble. Romans 1:28 confirms it: “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.” At some point, when we choose to embrace the improper, we reap the negative consequences.

God allows us to learn in three, sequential ways. He graciously provides His word and teachers of the word so that we can know the path and follow it. He mercifully reminds us and corrects us even as we begin to stray, so that we can easily regain our footing. Finally, He reluctantly allows us to experience the consequences of our choices, when we are hard-headed and refuse to learn any other way.

I’ve been on the path, slightly off the path, and so far off the path I could not even see it. I’ve learned in all three ways, from easiest to hardest. And I’ve learned that, just as you might imagine, the easy way is the best way. Proverbs 4:25-26 says, “Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet.” The only way we can watch the path is to keep our eyes on Him and His precious word, with Jesus as our living example. Notice He didn’t say to watch your feet, but the path. It’s kind of like driving, you know? Keep your eyes on the road, not on the wheel, so you don’t drive off a bridge; and if you hear the street bumps knocking under your tires and cars honking all around, it would be wise to look out your front window and see where you are headed.