Leading From the Inside Out
I grew up in a town where it is almost expected that those in leadership have their own agenda and have their hand in the proverbial cookie jar. It seemed that the only reason to be a leader was for the “perks” and the ability and positioning to take advantage of those who were not smart enough or connected enough or savvy enough to get to the top.
I never liked this view of leadership but didn’t know of another. All I wanted to do was help people and be a servant. In my mind at that time and in the culture in which I lived, serving and leading were opposing values.
As I became an adult, I found myself doing what I had always hoped to do – helping people by serving them. I was leading, but in the context of a local church and in the church it was expected that a leader was first of all, a servant. I could not, however, reconcile in my mind that leaders in the community or in the business world could function as servants and leaders at the same time. And frankly, even some leaders in the church saw leading as position or power.
Then I read, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John Maxwell. As I read, I got excited! Someone who has been successful as a leader was writing about how leadership is an inside job; how it all starts with who you are on the inside! He talked about integrity, honesty, character and respect. This is what I had wanted to believe, but had not seen in action.
The Law that I believe addresses this better than any other is Law #6, The Law of Solid Ground. This law says, “Trust is the Foundation of Leadership.” You see, you cannot trust someone who seems to have their own agenda and their own best interests at heart. You cannot trust someone who appears to be taking advantage of people at every turn. And if you cannot trust them, then you won’t respect them. If you cannot respect them, you won’t follow them. If they have no followers, then they really are not leading.
In the book, John writes that, “To build trust, a leader must exhibit competence, connection, and character.” He goes on to say that, “Character makes trust possible. And trust makes leadership possible.”
Your character communicates three important things to others and John gives these as follows:
1. Character Communicates Consistency: People need leaders they can count on. They want to follow someone from whom they know what to expect.
2. Character Communicates Potential: People with great character have great potential. People who lack character will falter.
3. Character Communicates respect: A person of integrity, loyalty, honesty, and transparency, will be respected. When a person is respected, others will follow.
Someone said, “Character is who you are when no one is watching.” A person with character will do the right thing even if no one else is around to see it.
I am very grateful to have the opportunity to lead others. I’m also grateful to have learned that it is not necessary to dominate and overpower others in order to lead them. In fact, it’s counterproductive to do so because leadership doesn’t come from the outside but from the inside.
About the Author
David Jochum is a Founding Partner of The John Maxwell Team.
He has been a leader in church and non-profit organizations for over 25 years and enjoys coaching and training other leaders to increase their leadership capacity.
Contact David at : http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/davejochum/