Week One Leadership: An emotional component to leading

"The safest place for ships is in the harbor, but that's not why ships were built.

                                                                                     -Anonymous

       I'm a big believer in systems theory. We all live in systems. Your family, employment, church, boards, friend units, government, rotary club etc...are all systems. Every system organizes itself around those who exert influence into the system, and those who are along for the ride at best or sabotage influence at worst. Those who hold some sort of power in the system are least likely to see the weaknesses they exhibit. Those who follow those in power have great radar for the norms they see.(Think of the last time you participated in a group where you were the new one. How did that feel?) The weak notice the injustice that the strong can't see!

        Systems, like individuals, have the potential to go off track. January is a limited spending  month. Individually I just got used to spending a lot for the holidays. I can't keep that up, I have to pull back, control myself, get back on track. Systems get off track. Leadership is the act of  helping the system get back on track. But as we all know leadership that rightfully calls people to start doing something "different" is always met with a great big smile right!!! It's generally met with resistance (passively) or sabotage(actively).

        There are a lot of books and resources out there to try and inform you of several characteristics of great leaders. All of those things are true, I don't want to dispute that, but I've always felt there is something missing in those presentations. 

       There is an emotional toll in leadership that is not talked about and at the heart of becoming a healthy leader. The emotional toll of sabotage that comes from people you are trying to lead is important. Important to know where it's coming from, why people respond that way, what to do about it, but most important... who are we going to be in the midst of it. What does it look like in us, when our child or employee throws a temper tantrum in the midst of our decisions? 

       Whether you hold a position of high authority with many under you or you have a three year old, leadership is a priority. Those with high character and integrity need to infuse every system with healthy leadership. Healthy leadership starts with healthy people. Stay tuned next week as we see what that looks like.