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My oldest son is 14 right now. Watching him grow has been fascinating, reminding me we genuinely are each a miracle. I have often wanted to protect him from many things in the world. I’m continually faced with the question of, “What should I protect him from, and what should I let him experience?” When he does experience difficult things, how do I walk with him through it? And how does this balance change over time as he matures?
In the role of protection, everyone can cultivate an environment for a leader to grow in by:
- Understanding your role as a protector
- Protecting against the right things
- Allowing the right things
- Individualizing protection
Understanding our role as protector
Let's be honest. We are not in control. We are not ultimately able to protect against all danger. And yet, as a leader, we have the role to protect.
My faith provides hope and guidance because my role as a protector is an opportunity to display part of God’s character to others. To protect from danger is a calling to be a shepherd-leader. This calling will require courage and commitment.
Protecting against the right things
From what do I protect?
It's natural to think of protection from danger and threats. When we see someone making a decision that will hurt them or others, we should step in to protect them. But there is another kind of protection that is needed, protection from being misled.
God often uses failure to refine us or direct us somewhere we would otherwise not willfully go.
We live in a world continually clamoring for our attention and our devotion. Approval, success, health, and possessions on their own are not dangerous, but they become so when they take the central place in our life. When we seek them for life, we are being misled. We are seeking life where there is no life.
To cultivate leaders, both ourselves and others, we must help them see not only where they can find life but where they can't. They must replace their old pursuit with the pursuit of something pure, right and satisfying. If we fail to do this, then those we seek to protect will often return to that earlier substitute because the need remains, and no other option is given. Our role of protection as a leader is to point them to a better provision.
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Allowing the right things
If I’m primarily protecting against danger and false pursuits, then that leaves many things from which I’m not protecting.
One example is failure. People need to experience failure; it is a part of learning.
I'm not talking about a failure that puts anymore in significant danger. Think about when someone didn't want your help but then what they're trying to do fails. They tend to be more open to others helping them in the future. Even when you don’t protect someone from failure, you can still play a critical role in protecting them from wasting this learning experience.
Three common mistakes when responding to failure are:
- Dismissing
- Forgetting
- Consuming
Dismissing failure or blaming it solely on external circumstances shirks one's responsibility as a leader and misses a massive opportunity for growth. A leader needs to take ownership of their part, and only their part.
How often do we make the same mistake twice? As a leader, help others remember what happen in the past and learn from it. Help them identify concrete areas they can change.
To cultivate leaders, both ourselves and others, we must help them see not only where they can find life but where they can't.
The danger of taking responsibility for our failures and remembering them is that they can consume and eventually enslave us. People need reminding of where their security, self-worth, approval, and love originate. Only from this place of security can they be free to engage openly and learn from their failures.
Another helpful question to ask here is, "Is there a redeeming gift hidden in this failure?" Maybe I needed to let something go but wouldn't have been willing outside of failure. God often uses failure to refine us or direct us somewhere we would otherwise not willfully go. The book Leading with a Limp has significantly helped me see how failure helps me grow as a leader.
A 5-day journey to living from your priorities
It’s easy to spend our day reacting to what comes at us. What if you could be proactive, intentionally making decisions based on your priorities? It is possible!
Our five-day short course guides you through the process of identifying your life priorities and scaling them day to everyday decisions. You’ll learn how to establish a rhythm to build good habits and grow a team that will be with you in the journey.
Individualizing protection
We are all different. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, have different life stories, and are at different stages in the process of maturing. This diversity is why one-size-fits-all approaches should be avoided.
Some questions to consider for individualizing protection:
- Will this person grow more from exposure than from protection?
- Are they at a critical stage where more protection is needed? Sometimes a greenhouse (protected and controlled) environment is what’s best for the time.
- Is there a wound from the past that needs to be exposed (not protected) so it can be dealt with and healed?
- Are they at a place where protection is no longer needed? Perhaps they more require processing than protection.
To answer these questions will take much reflection and discernment to answer. Protection is a challenging role because it lacks a formula for success. You may feel like you are constantly trying to navigate a tension between over-protection and neglect.
Protection is also tricky because you often stand between someone and danger. This posture puts you at risk. Protection is lived out not solely in a moment but in journeys with others, and it will be lived out at a cost. This cost, however, is worth it.
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Action Plan
You can learn the other roles of servant leader such as providing, pruning, waiting, resting and restarting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Team Leadership
What is team leadership?
Team leadership is a management approach focused on leading and guiding a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. A team leader is responsible for providing direction, support, and guidance to the team members, while fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Team leadership involves setting clear goals and expectations for the team, communicating effectively, and building trust and relationships with team members. It also involves empowering team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their unique skills and perspectives to the team's success.
Some key characteristics of effective team leadership include:
- Communication: Team leaders communicate clearly and effectively with their team members, keeping them informed about goals, expectations, and progress.
- Vision and strategy: Effective team leaders have a clear vision for what they want to achieve and a strategy for how to get there, while also being flexible and adaptable when necessary.
- Empowerment: Good team leaders empower their team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work, while also providing support and guidance as needed.
- Trust-building: Team leaders build trust and strong relationships with their team members, creating a positive and productive work environment.
- Results-oriented: Finally, effective team leaders are results-oriented, focusing on achieving goals and driving performance while also valuing the well-being and development of their team members.
Overall, team leadership is a collaborative and empowering approach to management that values communication, trust-building, and results-driven performance.
What are the different styles of team leadership?
There are several different styles of team leadership, including:
- Democratic leadership: In this style, the leader encourages open communication and participation from all team members in decision-making processes.
- Autocratic leadership: This style involves the leader making decisions and taking control over the team's direction, often with little input from team members.
- Transformational leadership: This style focuses on inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their full potential, often by setting a clear vision and communicating goals effectively.
- Servant leadership: A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their team members, focusing on serving and empowering them to achieve their goals.
- Laissez-faire leadership: In this style, the leader provides minimal guidance or direction, allowing team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions independently.
- Transactional leadership: This style involves setting clear goals and expectations for team members and providing rewards or discipline based on performance.
- Situational leadership: This approach involves adapting one's leadership style to fit the specific situation or needs of the team at any given time.
Overall, each style of team leadership has its own strengths and weaknesses, and effective leaders may use a combination of different styles depending on the situation and the needs of their team.
What are the different skills required for team leadership?
There are several key skills required for effective team leadership, including:
- Clear: Team leaders must be to communicate effectively with their team members, setting clear expectations and goals, providing feedback, and keeping everyone informed about progress and changes.
- Active listening: Leaders need to be able to listen actively to their team members, hear their concerns, ideas, and suggestions, and work collaboratively to find solutions.
- Empathy: Good team leaders value empathy, recognizing and understanding the perspectives of their team members, and working to build trust and strong relationships
- Decision-making: Leaders must be able to make informed decisions based on available information and input from team members, while also being decisive when necessary.
- Problem-solving: Effective team leaders must be able to identify and solve problems that arise within the team, working collaboratively to find creative and effective solutions.
- Motivation and empowerment: Leaders must be able to motivate and empower their team members to take ownership of their work, overcome challenges, and achieve their full potential.
- Delegation and management: Team leaders must be able to delegate tasks effectively, manage resources and timelines, and oversee the work of the team to ensure quality and efficiency.
Overall, effective team leadership requires a combination of interpersonal, decision-making, and management skills, as well as the ability to inspire and empower team members to work collaboratively towards shared goals.
What is servant leadership?
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.
A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:
- Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
- Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
- Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
- Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
- Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.
Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
Servant Leadership
What is servant leadership?
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.
A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:
- Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
- Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
- Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
- Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
- Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.
Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
How can servant leadership be beneficial in the workplace?
Servant leadership can be beneficial in the workplace in a number of ways, including:
- Improved employee engagement and job satisfaction: When employees feel supported, valued, and empowered by their leaders, they tend to be more engaged and satisfied with their work.
- Increased collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize communication, collaboration, and trust-building, which can lead to stronger relationships and more effective teamwork.
- Higher levels of productivity and innovation: When leaders empower their team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their ideas, it can lead to higher levels of productivity and innovation.
- Reduced turnover and absenteeism: Employees who feel supported and valued are less likely to leave their jobs or call in sick, leading to reduced turnover and absenteeism rates.
- Improved organizational culture: Servant leadership can create a positive organizational culture that values growth, development, and well-being for all stakeholders, which can lead to improved morale and outcomes.
Overall, servant leadership can lead to a more positive, productive, and fulfilling workplace environment, benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
How does servant leadership differ from other leadership styles?
Servant leadership differs from many other leadership styles in several key ways:
- Focus on serving others: Servant leaders prioritize the needs and well-being of their followers over their own interests, while many other leadership styles focus more on achieving organizational goals.
- Empathy and listening skills: Servant leaders value empathy and active listening skills to better understand the needs and perspectives of their followers, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on asserting authority or making decisions without input from others.
- Collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize collaboration and teamwork, seeking to empower and develop their followers to achieve their full potential, while other leadership styles may be more focused on competition or individual achievement.
- Humility and accountability: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, prioritizing the well-being of all stakeholders and taking responsibility for their decisions, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on personal ambition or avoiding blame.
Overall, servant leadership is characterized by a focus on serving others, prioritizing empathy and collaboration, and taking a humble and accountable approach to leadership. While other leadership styles may be effective in different contexts, servant leadership can be a powerful tool for creating positive change and empowering others to reach their full potential.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
