4 Ways to Multiply Your Leadership
Over the course of this summer I’m going to share with you some quick thoughts from my Top 10 favorite books on leadership. If you know me you know that I love leadership. I love learning about it and getting better at it.
Today’s post comes from the book titled Multipliers. It’s a book I take guys in my Leadership Cohort through. The book is insightful and practical on how we can choose to not be “accidental diminishers.” If you haven't read it, here’s the link to order it.
We all lead something or someone. It could be an employee, a volunteer, a child, a team, a teammate, etc. You lead someone and if you want to lead the way of Jesus then we have to grow in becoming a multiplying leader.
Below are 4 quick ideas on how to do this.
1. Involve Those You Lead
Seems obvious, I know, but how often do we choose to do it all? We own every last detail and as we do, we limit the growth of those we’re leading. I want you to think back on when your heart was captured by whatever you’re currently passionate about. Chances are good it was a moment or season when someone invited you and involved you. This is what changed me forever. I’ll never forget the first time I felt like it mattered that I showed up to lead and use my gifts. I’ll never forget that feeling and I’ll never stop giving people that same opportunity.
We see this principle played out in the greatest leader who ever lived - Jesus of Nazareth. As you read through the gospels, look at how Jesus INVOLVED his disciples and followers.
There is a Chinese Proverb that says “tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.” What a great proverb for becoming and being a multiplying leader.
2. Delegate But Don’t Abdicate
A few years ago, I was feeling afraid and whenever I began to feel afraid my instincts were to take control. When this happened I became over responsible for God’s work and over demanding of God’s people. It was in that season I pinned a simple prayer by my office door:
“Dear God, this is your church. I’m going home. Amen.”
What was once a season of control and fear started to become a season of freedom and joy. That’s what is often on the other side of delegation. We need to delegate, but at the same time make sure to stay connected. Delegation is not the same thing as departing from those you lead. Stay in touch, develop regular check-ins and hold those you lead accountable to what you agreed upon.
Liz Wiseman writes: “The Diminisher is a Micromanager who jumps in and out. The Multiplier is an Investor who gives others ownership and full accountability.”
3. Give Away Real Authority
Multiplying leaders develop the skill (emphasis on skill) of entrusting others with real authority. At some point, as hard as it was, my parents handed me the keys. It was hard and I’m quite sure scary but then again that’s what multiplying leadership feels like. Sometimes giving away real authority can blow up in your face but so does creating “dependents”.
Multiplying leaders gift their people with the room to fail and the freedom to soar.
4. Less How and More Where
Yes, those you lead can often crave direction but if you prioritize direction (how) over vision (where) you may get doers but you may not get leaders. I’m so glad my parents didn’t always give me everything I asked for. I’m also glad some of my former bosses didn’t give me all the direction and clarity I so often craved back then. It was in those moments that I got creative and found a way.
In the book, Liz shares this epic quote from ANTOINE DE ST. EXUPERY:
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood,
divide the work and give orders.
Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
Multiplying Leaders spend less time on the HOW and more time on the WHERE.
Simply put: stop controlling, start trusting. Stop diminishing, start multiplying.
-Jon
Looking for some summer reading material?
Pick up:
or something from Jon’s Recommended Reading List!