Love.
It really is that simple.
Leadership is Love.
You might be thinking, it really isn’t that simple Jonathan. Leadership is much more than that.
Nope. It isn’t.
Let me show you.
Have you been to a wedding recently? Ever? If you have, then you might recognize the following verse that is constantly used. 1 Corinthians 13: 4, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always preservers.” What would happen if we replaced Love, with Leadership?
1. Leadership is Patient – Creating positive change in a person, team or organization is not something that happens overnight. Taking the time to learn about the individuals, what motivates them and how you can help them improve is a process. This trust is not just given immediately. It is earned.
2. Leadership is Kind – Have you ever heard the phrase, you get more bees with honey? Well, in leadership, your effectiveness of your leadership is a direct reflection of your relationships. People don’t want to follow leaders who are cruel and don’t care about them. People want to follow those who have a heart.
3. Leadership is not about the individual – A leader’s focus should never be on self-promotion. Leadership is never about the one, but about the many. The power that comes with leadership should always be held with respect to those being led. It is not a place for throwing others under the bus, holding grudges or a position to berate others for mistakes.
4. Leadership rejoices with the Truth - Leadership is about transparency. It is open and honest communication about the goals and the challenges. Leadership is about creating an environment of open communication so that your team feels listened to. It is also, when needed, about being able to openly communicate with a poor performing individual about the need to move them into a position that better fits them, or potentially another company. A leader should never hide the truth from their team.
5. Leadership always Protects – It is a leader’s job to ensure that his team is safe to operate free from distraction and in the most efficient way possible. It is the leader’s job to step out in front of any potential challenges that may arise, internal or external, that could derail the success of their team.
6. Leadership is Trust – Leaders should always trust those around them and empower them with that trust. It is not a leader’s job to solve every problem, but to develop their teams to be the best they can. This comes from giving trust, even before it is earned. When people know you trust them, they will be willing to go above and beyond to prove you right.
7. Leadership always Hopes – It is the job of leadership to create the direction and vision for the team. The current state matters, but not as much as much as the future. Things are not always going to be sunshine and rainbows. Hard times come. It is the leader’s job to navigate those hard times, keeping spirits high and focusing on the end goal.
8. Leadership always Perseveres – Truly healthy, effective leadership will always create success. Always. It might not happen immediately, but it will happen. It will outlast any downturn, any challenge and any situation. It will create teams that are willing to sacrifice for one another and their leaders. It will create a culture of trust, ownership and most importantly, of family. When you work in that type of environment, you will always make it through to the other side.
So, you see, Leadership really is that simple. Leadership is Love. It is about truly caring for those around you and wanting them to be the best person they can be. It’s about realizing that your effectiveness as a leader is a direct reflection of your relationship with those you lead. Love those you lead, or they will follow someone else.