My wife and I recently took up dancing. Among the laughter, new moves, and great fun that we have, we've learned that dancing--specifically, ballroom dancing-- is about leading from the core. Its not about the arms, or the legs, or the moves as much as it is leading from a stable center of gravity, around which everything else turns. My partner responds to what she feels as I move from my core . . . the center of my being . . . the foundation of my every move. When my core is solid, she can follow my lead so much easier.
Life-giving leadership is much the same. It's asking my followers to respond to my movements, so to speak. It's expecting the organization or group to follow my lead. When that core of my leadership is solid, we flow together like a well-oiled machine, most of the time. Even when we don't, it is easy to get back in sync and to recover. So, what does a solid core look like in leadership? It looks like knowing and doing the right thing, no matter the obstacles in the way. It's having a vision for the path ahead, and bringing the team to bear on that vision, as everyone works together as one. Life-giving leadership is working together out of a core of faith in the right thing. But when the core is sloppy?! It's bad! It's stepping on toes-getting in each other's way-losing the rhythm-looking like a a train wreck bad! It's working together out of a core of fear. When my vision for leadership revolves around making sure I'm not on the boss' radar, or making everyone jump through hoops because of what I think the boss wants, or acting in fear of the consequences of my decisions, or being afraid of tackling the issues ahead, I'm working out of fear. Faith that what I'm doing is the right thing is a stable core. Fear of how I will be perceived/viewed/rated/etc. is a mess.
Do you lead from a core of fear or a core of life?
