Over the last few weeks we’ve been discussing the process leaders go through each time they need to get something done. They dream, plan, and start, but then the longest part of the process (and often the least popular by non-leaders) begins and they work! Leaders roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty doing the work which must be done. It could be something which only the leader can do, something which the leader does alongside their team members, or something that anyone could do, but few want to, so the leader, being a true leader, gets it done because it needs to be done. Leaders don’t shy away from hard work. They don’t look for every opportunity to delegate. They don’t pretend work doesn’t need to be done or put it off until it’s too late. Leaders, the best leaders, the most motivational leaders, servant leaders, are always the hardest workers on the team. Because of this, team members are likely to be more committed to the shared mission of the organization and to each other than if their leader was one who leads from a distance or from behind. The best leaders work!
A long time ago I began working with a group of people and the time came for us to do some clean up after an event was over. I jumped right in and began to lead the effort by getting my hands dirty and doing whatever was needed to get the huge task done. A little later I found out that some of the team members were delightfully shocked that their new leader was willing to do the grunt work. When I asked them why they were surprised they told me that their previous leader had always delegated these kinds of tasks and justified it by saying (real quote) “I’d help, but I don’t want to rob you of the blessing.” I was aghast, as you can imagine, that someone would first feel that they were above helping with clean up and then be so arrogant as to make that kind of statement.
Fast forward many years to another group which I was leading for the first time. Once again it was in the context of a large project which required a lot of grunt work in order to make the event come off as well as possible. My method of leading is by working alongside the team members. If they lift, I lift. If they sweat, I sweat. If they lose sleep, so do I. I find that leading by example pays off in loyalty to both our mission and to me. It’s amazing how hard my team will work to get the job done excellently, but not really, for they are just doing what they see modeled by their leader. Even before this project was finished I was told by a colleague that I had been labeled (in esteem) “the blue-collar pastor,” all because I was willing to do whatever task was needed to be done. I wear that title as a badge of honor. I sincerely hope that part of my legacy will be other leaders who have learned how to serve and work, never unwilling to do the entire task, not just the fun stuff.
Leaders are willing to work hard, and they are willing to work as long as it takes to get things done. Leaders, and I hope you are one…WORK.
Lead well.