Leading From the Bottom

At one time or another you hear the invitation to "stand after your name is read" in sacrament meeting. This means you are getting a calling and that calling may be classified as "leadership".

However, that isn't where leadership is born. Leadership is born in the individual who realizes they can make a difference as a primary teacher, a deacon's quorum adviser, a home teacher, or even a door greeter. 

A few months back I was recommended the book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us. The recommendation was delivered to me in such a way I felt I needed to buy the book the same day--so I did. The author, Seth Godin would be described as a marketing genius in the business world but I would describe him as a leadership genies that talks about marketing. Quite frankly marketing has a lot to do with leadership. If you don't know how to transfer (or sell) your idea to those you lead you may not reach success.

Many subjects in this book I'll discuss at a later time but the idea that impacted me the most was Leading From the Bottom on page 19.

It reads:

The skeptical among us look at the idea of leadership and we hesitate.

We hesitate because it feels like something we need to be ordained to do. That without authority, we can't lead. That big organizations reserve leadership for the CEO, not for us.

Perhaps you work at a big organization. Perhaps you feel as though there's just too much resistance to change. Here's a question: Is your organization stiffer than the Pentagon? More bureaucratic or formalized?

Thomas Barnett changed the Pentagon. From the bottom. No, he wasn't on KP duty, but he was close. He had no status, no rank--he was just a researcher with a big idea.

Here's what the Wall Street Journal said:

Mr. Barnett overhauled the concept to address more directly the post-9/11 world. The result is a three-hour PowerPoint presentation that more resembles performance art than a Pentagon briefing. It's making Mr. Barnett, 41 years old, a key figure in the debate currently raging about what the modern military should look like. Senior military officials say his decidedly controversial ideas are influencing the way the Pentagon views its enemies, vulnerabilities and future structure.

It's simple, really. Barnett led a tribe that was passionate about change. He galvanized them, inspired them, and connected them, through his idea.

One man with no authority suddenly becomes a key figure. Tribes give each of us the very same opportunity. Skill and attitude are essential. Authority is not. In fact, authority can get in the way.

Leaders don't inspire masses, they inspire individuals. I would hope that nobody would wait for the title before they lead. Are you a key figure in your ward? Don't let authority get in the way.

A fear of mine is that those without the title of President, Bishop, or Relief Society President will feel they have nothing to learn from LeadingLDS until they are ordained to such a calling. Where ever you are found in the church, take it upon yourself to change the kingdom within the boundaries of your ward. You have the ability to do so--and if you are lucky enough, you don't have a title to get in the way.

 

 

Comments

[Angie]

Well said.