I'm working on an idea. This idea is working on me as well. It's about a different approach to leadership than I've known in the past.
I started teaching on this last summer and it keeps growing inside of me. It's becoming a "big idea" for me.
Instead of viewing leadership as a "top down" management of people, projects, resources, vision and ideas - I'm seeing leadership as "solar systems".
A leader is the center of a solar system. There are still people, projects, resources, vision and ideas - but they are not managed from the top down. They more circulate in a solar system around the leader and his/her anointing, grace, gifting and call.
People are attracted to solar system leaders. They want to live in the atmosphere that flows out of their anointing. Great leaders create a world that their "followers" can live in.
Solar system leaders build a culture rather than organize a program. Which doesn't do away with organization or programs - just a realization that a culture is about the atmosphere of the place. A "square" program in a "round" culture will never work - unless it's constantly managed from the top down. This wears everybody out.
"Solar system" is about all of our relationships as well. So a thought on this - why not work on being attractive to your spouse, kids, friends, associates, etc? Don't push them away - draw them in with love, care, interest, keeping your soul well, etc.
How about our churches becoming more "attractive" and less "managed"?
3 comments
I want to hear the rest of the thought. The whole time I was reading this I kept thinking about how an iceburg has an obscure mass beneath it. I want to hear the rest. I want to get what your getting. I don't get it yet.
Posted on August 23, 2007 at 6:45 PM
can't wait to read more about it! you know, like in paperback...
Posted on August 23, 2007 at 8:43 PM
Yes... this solar system spin- it's very attractive. And it makes perfect sense.
Circles or roundness are symbolic of life and movement. When a team huddles to plan, when a herd stands together to protect it's young, when friends gather in conversation... all these things happen within a circle. The fun stuff you play with as a kid- a ball, a frisbee, a hoola-hoop. Some really important foods- pies, cakes, even oreos- all round. And can you name a square fruit or vegetable? Let's see... the wheel! All the planets, the rings we are married with, the perfect circle of an embrace-and the eyes with which we take it all in... God created so many amazing things in this one particular shape.
From within a circle, you have a 360 degree view- there are no claustraphobic corners to get stuck in. Squares- those are just the shape of those things we are supposed to be stepping out of.
A well rounded culture that doesn't put God in a box... that creates a very attractive atmosphere, don't ya think?
Posted on August 23, 2007 at 11:45 PM