Leadership Paradoxes (5) – the Role paradox.

The question which then comes into the mind of any one who is expected to lead, if he or she is to be the Vision casting person, motivating and building people, through effective communication, but the timing is not really in our control, what is really a leader’s role in fulfilling the vision?

Does he or she see the role as a positional one or a functional one? If it is functional one – what is the function? Is it to direct or to serve? Is it to do things yourself or to get things done through others? Is it to make people work or to build people so that they will take ownership? Is it to walk ahead and show the way or to come behind and support and motivate to move ahead? Is it to teach and train or to hand hold and support? Is it to get the task done or getting people who can get the task done? In one sense it is combination of many things.

The Master’s model is interesting. He came in after 30 years of preparation for a 3 and half year role. (Leading self) He starts off with declaring his mandate – “the spirit of God is upon me……”. (The vision). He then went around choosing a group of people who will be with him - interesting mix of complex characters – short tempered, impulsive, emotional, position hungry, back biter, zealot, questionable integrity, a motley group of people, not a good HR choice as per current standards. (Worked with people) Took them into his house, opened up his life, and shared his life with them. (Vulnerability) Took them on long journeys of Medical camps, healing sessions, teaching sessions, made use of every opportunity to align them to the big picture, the Kingdom vision, the character of the Kingdom and the expectations of the Kingdom individual etc. (Role modeled, lived, taught) Pushed them out to do things on their own, pushed them to limits of their ability and then helped them to exercise their faith. (Built people). Pushed them into uncomfortable areas – like working with non-Jews, accepting leapers and people with questionable character…Created opportunities for rest and reflection, washed their feet, walked ahead of them into dangerous zones. And prepared them for his to move on, though they mostly did not understand what was happening. And many other ways and finally - gave up his life by standing for the purpose he came for – and left the work to these small group of people. Of course there was the spirit made available to them to take forward what he had told them to…..

So for him, leading was living with them, doing many things with them, and helping them to do things he wanted them to do, sharing life and finally giving up life for them!

And in the midst of all these, the urgent and individuals needs were attended to – acute illnesses, impending fatal illnesses, deaths etc – though a bit late at one time!

Well that was the Master, not me! But he said,  you will do greater things than this -  “The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it.”

Is it true? Can I count on this?