As LELA House’s coach and mentor, I am humbled by my calling to lead LELA House community members toward becoming who God created them to be, and I take the responsibility seriously. I thought I’d share with you some of my leadership philosophy, so you can understand who I am as we partner together.
Leaders are learners. Effective leaders seek ways to expand their knowledge and improve themselves. They recognize both what they know and what they don’t; then they stretch themselves to find new levels of mastery and productive methods to fill the gaps. Leaders recognize everyone has something to teach, including the people they serve; and everyone has something to learn, including themselves. They see every situation as an opportunity to learn.
Leaders are servants. Effective leaders listen, learn, and encourage. They learn who their community members are as individuals and a collective, how they operate, what they want in all areas of life; and then they strive to empower people to become all they want to become. Leaders accept people for who they are but work to help them become who they have the potential to be. Leaders build up, rather than tear down.
Leaders are visionaries. Effective leaders see beyond what is in front of them to potential and possibility. They recognize strengths and weaknesses, starting with their own, and create opportunities for people to operate in their strengths, pairing up people with varying strengths, so that the whole can be stronger than the individuals. Leaders understand the path forward is not always clear and see mistakes and failures as opportunities to learn and grow.
Leaders are trustworthy. Effective leaders recognize that people will not follow anyone they do not trust. Leaders must be genuine and let their community members see them and know them. People will follow someone who is real and flawed before they will follow someone who wears a façade of perfection. Leaders have difficult conversations, and they own their decisions, doing what is right, not necessarily what is popular.
Leaders are flexible. Effective leaders understand how to work from any position – from the front, from behind, from alongside – because different situations and different individuals require various types of leadership. Leaders can course correct mid-path to meet the demands of varied situations.
Leaders are humble. Effective leaders realize they do not have all of the answers and that they shouldn’t have all of the answers. Community members that are engaged, challenged, and growing push their creativity and their impact further. Leaders understand how to follow. They are collaborators, not dictators.
If my philosophy resonates with you, click to learn how we can work together to help you discover your unique design, become critically engaged, and transform your community.