Leadership is essentially the stewarding of influence, and a leader must account for the use of the influence that their leadership position offers them. A leader must aim to build a relationship with their team that transcends performance metrics. They must aim to inspire, train, mentor and be a blessing to their team.
To illustrate that point, let’s use an analogy of two completely different mindsets: (1) a poultry breeder and (2) a dog breeder. Poultry is bred strictly for its ability to lay eggs or provide protein. Dogs, on the other hand, are bred for their friendship and help. While the dog is treated like a member of the family, chickens usually end up in a pot. Team leadership can be approached with similar mindsets. One leader may treat their team as cogs of production and another may view them as humans and friends.
Leaders who are humbly aware and acknowledge that they are temporary stewards of their influence, are like a nightlight in a dark room. Their light shines in the darkness, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant, as though the darkness cannot overpower it.
Reflect on that for a moment. The. Light. Shines. On.
In reality, none of us really own anything. Our life, our talent, our gifts, our leadership is on loan from God. We are merely lessees. God is the lessor. We are stewards of everything we have been given.
We can choose to be nightlights in a very dark world. Or we can choose to snuff the light out. Both options are available to us. It’s very similar to the choice we have to treat and lead people.
Chickens or dogs? Cogs or friends?
