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We hear it all the time in sacrament meeting; the invitation, coming from the lectern, to “stand after your name is read.” This means members of your ward are getting a calling. Most callings that are extended to us require no leadership responsibilities. Maybe they are simply asking you to watch over small children, or organize an activity. These callings don’t feel like a leadership calling, but they should. Leadership is born in the individual who realizes they can make a difference as a primary teacher, a deacon’s quorum adviser, a home teacher, or even a door greeter.
A few months back I was recommended the book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us. The recommendation to read this book was delivered to me in such a way that I bought the book the same day. The author, Seth Godin would be described as a marketing genius in the business world, but I would describe him as a leadership genius that talks about marketing. Quite frankly, marketing has a lot to do with leadership. If you don’t know how to transfer (or sell) your idea to those you lead you may not reach success.
The idea that impacted me the most in this book was Leading From the Bottom on page 19.
It reads:
The skeptical among us look at the idea of leadership and we hesitate.
We hesitate because it feels like something we need to be ordained to do. That without authority, we can’t lead. That big organizations reserve leadership for the CEO, not for us.
Perhaps you work at a big organization. Perhaps you feel as though there’s just too much resistance to change. Here’s a question: Is your organization stiffer than the Pentagon? More bureaucratic or formalized?
Thomas Barnett changed the Pentagon. From the bottom. No, he wasn’t on KP duty, but he was close. He had no status, no rank–he was just a researcher with a big idea.
Here’s what the Wall Street Journal said:
Mr. Barnett overhauled the concept to address more directly the post-9/11 world. The result is a three-hour PowerPoint presentation that more resembles performance art than a Pentagon briefing. It’s making Mr. Barnett, 41 years old, a key figure in the debate currently raging about what the modern military should look like. Senior military officials say his decidedly controversial ideas are influencing the way the Pentagon views its enemies, vulnerabilities and future structure.
It’s simple, really. Barnett led a tribe that was passionate about change. He galvanized them, inspired them, and connected them, through his idea.
One man with no authority suddenly becomes a key figure. Tribes give each of us the very same opportunity. Skill and attitude are essential. Authority is not. In fact, authority can get in the way.
You do not need access to a stage in front of hundreds of people in order to lead. Leaders don’t inspire masses, they inspire individuals, and you can be surrounded by individuals in any calling extended to you. I hope that nobody waits for a title before they decide to lead. Lead because you able to lead, not because you are asked to lead.
Well said.
You can only lead from the bottom is the top is willing to change. I thought my Branch President was going to burst a blood vessel when I suggested changes, and I was the RS President. I gave up and just did what I could in RS. The branch council was horrible and nothing ever got done or changed the whole two and a half years I served. I hope we move next year and I have another chance to serve with a leader who is more inspired, more willing to listen, more organized, and more willing to actually lead.
I tend to have a great deal of sympathy for what Rozy has said. Frankly, even if you have a loving, inspired Bishop, it is just not the way to lead from the bottom in this church. If all we’re saying is leadership is magnifying your calling, then sure, I’ll go along with doing your best in your calling is leadership in a way. But too many times I’ve attempted to do things, even defined in the handbook as my role, but was kept from it by leaders shutting me down.
The website/podcast are great efforts, and it is good that our leaders have resources to help them, but when they don’t choose leadership and instead choose authoritarianism or management there isn’t anything that can be done.
In my life I’ve been blessed with both leaders and authoritarians in these roles…there is a significant difference in member’s lives between the two types.
This is a valid concern. Dealing with difficult leaders is another area to explore on Leading Saints. I am sure there are many that strive to go above and beyond but are blocked by poor leadership.
Elder Harold B. Lee
The time is here when each of you must stand on your own feet. Be converted, because no one can endure on borrowed light. You will have to be guided by the light within yourself. If you do not have it, you will not stand. (Stand Ye in Holy Places, p. 95) TLDP:684
Why do I feel the day has come.
Church life for me is unrecognisable.
The bishopric said today that we had a great Ward, even with all the noise.
Children running up and down the aisles and pulpit, banging on the piano, screaming, adults having audible conversations. “Fun” activities. I sit right up the front and can’t hear the speaker. It’s every man and woman for themselves.
We have the opposite of authoritarian we have whatever goes, goes. All is well in Zion.
I have come back to the principle that we need to work out our own salvation even if it is my weakness rubbing up against those of others. I have discovered that through the atonement His grace enables me to survive the imperfections of those around me, and they mine. It has been distressing that the lack of leadership has been in part the reason why all my children have left the church but I also know that God knows, and will compensate for all that is lacking.
The changes at church have caused me to recognise that even with everything in the world and at church turning on its head, I need to trust Him, and He will eventually set all to rights.
Thank you for your comments DeeB. I feel exactly the same way.
There was a time that my wife and I had no callings in the Ward. We had recently returned from a full time mission and were enthusiastic and eager to make a difference in our Ward, which had been dramatically reduced in size (and leadership) by a Ward split during our mission. We prayerfully decided to work with a number of less active families that we had been assigned to home/visiting teach. We worked closely with the full time missionaries and loved and served those families. We had success and heartbreak. We have since received callings and responsibilities, but every calling has significantly involved loving, teaching and inspiring individuals.
If we keep the goal of loving service to the individuals and families within our reach, the Lord will teach us through the Spirit how to serve in the councils in our wards and stakes, how to serve in in our organizations and how to magnify our callings and sustain our leaders.