Leadership Beyond Limitations
Last week, Forbes posted an alarming study about how most people drive their cars. As they state in the article, all cars made since 1996 are equipped with an OBD II (onboard diagnostic) system that allows the car’s electrical system to tap into the engine in real time and provide the driver with updates (in the form of dashboard lights) if something is mechanically wrong with the car.
According to their research, 50% of people drive with at least one of their dashboard warning lights on, and 20% of people will drive with their check engine light illuminated. Check engine lights can point to issues of varying severity. While they are sometimes minor, they can sometimes cause major damage if left unattended.
When I saw this report, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a metaphor for a larger issue that many of us face in our everyday lives. We go through days and seasons that are especially taxing and point to potential issues in our hearts and minds, yet we choose to do nothing about them and hope that the issue simply resolves itself. We know we are experiencing something abnormal that could be detrimental, yet we’re not willing to slow down long enough to identify the issue and treat the root cause.
To fulfill our potential as leaders and followers of Jesus, we must be willing to take these issues seriously. We have to find a way to refresh ourselves so we can continue refreshing others and adding value to the world around us.
If you’ve read the Gospels, you know that Jesus would regularly spend time by Himself in prayer. At times, he would seemingly ignore opportunities to do other good things, such as performing healings or interacting with people He cared about, in order to honor and uphold this time. This may seem inconsistent at first glance with what we know about Jesus. However, as we consider this further, we begin to understand that Jesus knew something we’re quick to ignore in our world today: you can’t pour from an empty cup.
I’ve experienced this truth time and time again in my everyday life. I know leadership is challenging. I know that dealing with people requires my best energy, focus, and attention. I know that I will struggle to be the best leader I can be if I’m not intentional about carving out time to care for myself, and I don’t want to see other leaders fall victim to these pitfalls that are so common in today’s world.
Over the next several weeks, we’re going to dig deeper into the activities leaders must prioritize to rejuvenate and develop themselves. We’ll talk about regular practices such as getting alone, embracing and expressing emotions, prioritizing physical activity, staying connected to others, and becoming a lifelong learner.
Throughout this series, my hope is that you will develop a greater sense of urgency to work ON yourself, and not just FOR yourself. In a fast-paced and demanding society, it can become easy to put off tasks that aren’t time-bound (even when they are of critical importance). While nobody is going to stand over your shoulder and tell you that you need to emphasize self-care, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s true, and it might just be the catalyst for your highest level of effectiveness and impact.