WHO'S WITH ME?

Every leader has a pace.  A unique stride and rhythm. 

Team members run together interpreting the rhythm for the common goal.

The leader’s responsibility is to set the pace and the direction.  They serve the team best when they are focused and continually moving forward – in their lane, in their stride and with eyes set on the goal.

Dear Leader, can you see the scores of willing hearts wanting to run with you?  

It’s an important question. 

I often speak to leaders who are overwhelmingly concerned with the opinions of nay-sayers.  They are keenly aware of all the people who are not “running” with them.  So aware in fact they have become blind to the ones who are.

I’ve felt it too.  Careful planning and execution all culminate to that moment when the gun is fired and the charge is called.  Only to be met with a sudden fall out from team members.  Each decline and absence packs a punch that can take the wind out of any leader.  I hear your faint laugh in the distance; perhaps you’re familiar with the scenario.

This is when that question is vitally important. 

Who is with you?

I have learned the discipline of seizing these scenarios to look around at who is left with me.  In my younger years I was so focused on who wasn’t there that I missed the gold medal runners coming in close in those moments. 

Nowadays, it’s the challenging moments I love the best, because I’ve learned that voids highlight champions. 

Voids highlight champions

It is an intentional leadership discipline to run with the right runners.  To be encouraged by them, to be pushed by them, to identify them and draw them close. 

It is a discipline because our human nature will always divert attention and energy by default to the ones who aren’t.   Beware of the old adage, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”

If you are not disciplined, your attention will be given away the complainers, the resistance, and the fall out. Your sight will be deterred from vision to need.  You will feel a burning desire to pander to dysfunction.  You’ll want to explain yourself, and coach, and explain again.

All the while, you will be overlooking the ones who are positive, optimistic and low-maintenance!  They’re ready to run. 

You’ve got to ask the question, “Who’s with me?”

When you’ve answered that, spend your time sowing there.  Rally that sort of team.  And when I say rally, I mean invite them, ask them to get on board and challenge them to inconvenience themselves for the cause.

Hand-pick and entrust the ones with a “Can Do” spirit. 

I’ll tell you that nine times out of ten, they were just waiting for you to ask.

You must know, without a doubt, that what you’re doing is worth every bit of energy required. 

When you are convinced, then you will have no trouble surrounding yourself with others who are willing to believe the same.

When a leader hones this discipline they have no shortage of team.  People are passionate to be included in the cause, and the passion is contagious.  It is energising to be around and feels like a winning team all the time.  Victories are celebrated.  New positive thinkers are welcomed.  The perpetually increasing calibre is the result of a culture that is willing to go the extra mile.

Dear Leader, who are they in your world? 

Have your eyes been diverted? 

If yes, can I encourage you to make a list of the smiling faces and the encouraging voices that you have taken for granted or brushed off in the midst of your blinding discouragement?  They’re there.  Who are they?

There may however, come a time when you honestly feel as though you’re at it alone.  David knew how that felt.  He’d just brought his troops home from a most taxing crusade.  Upon return they found the enemy had pillaged their city and taken all their wives and children away as captives.

These exhausted and devastated warriors decided to pin the blame solely on their leader David and conspired to kill him. 

Leadership crisis?  Yes!

Many leaders I speak with today would address those angry men.  I’ve seen it happen.  They meet with disgruntled people and engage at a level so emotionally-charged that there is simply no win possible. 

A leader with emotional intelligence knows when to engage and when not to.  

They know when a situation is too far-gone for any common sense to prevail.

What did David do?  When he realised that in fact no one was with him he did what every Christian leader should do as a first port of call:

He went to the One who had always been with him.

"Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God".  
1 Samuel 30:6 (NKJV)

What a wise response in the face of crisis.  When intimidation, exhaustion and discouragement loom, the only place to run is into the One who never leaves, never betrays, never wanes and never looses heart.  David put on ceremonial garments and spent time strategizing with the Lord. 

I often ask discouraged leaders, “What has God said about this?” only to hear a long vacant pause.  They don’t know.  Their vision has been beaten down and they only know what every other person says.

In contrast, David’s wise investment of time and energy given in humble submission to God’s voice, proved his leadership grit.  He was re-energised and re-inspired.

When he emerged and engaged his men again it was not at the emotionally-charged level they were anticipating. 

They were met not by a defeated fearful man but a leader with a solution

They were inspired and united again.  They picked up David’s pace and ran into the victory he predicted for them.

Leader, who is with you?