I guess leadership has always been a part of my life. I've always been in the middle of some effort to organize the people around me into a cohesive unit. I remember getting a group of about ten friends together to start a trading card "company" in elementary school.
Yep. You read that right. I somehow had a bunch of 10-year-olds drawing up card art, making card abilities; all of the stuff you'd see on a Pokemon or Yugioh card. I'm sure this lasted only a few weeks, but you get the point.
Since then, I've led all sorts of things, from starting a neighborhood hockey team, to leading a small-group in college where I was the youngest guy there. The biggest lesson I've had to learn is this:
Leading others well doesn't come from "being a natural leader" or enjoying the experience. Neither of these things get to the heart of what it means to lead others. In fact, in all of my leading efforts, however noble my intentions were, I was constantly leading out of my ability. Unfortunately for the people I've led, that means I've been leading without truly caring for their hearts instead of trying to build a relationship with the people that make up a group. The result of that type of leader is a factory mindset which focuses on producing numbers and results.
Annnnnyway, I've been blessed and humbled to learn from and grow alongside leaders like Doyle. I've learned that I have to address my heart and my motivations before leading others and expecting them to grow and change. I am also STILL learning that the most important part about leading people is the relationships I get to have WITH those people.
That's what drives me. The desire to be a better leader. To see myself and others changed by the power of Jesus. To build relationships with others that allow an Philippians 2:3 environment, considering others as more important than myself.
Whether you are a group leader, a parent, a spouse, or you consider yourself "just a follower;" God is calling you to look at your relationship with Him and your relationship with those around you.
He is calling you to greater things.
He is calling you to live in surrender to Him and to lead others out of humility and a desire for deep relationships.
--VJ
Many times I have heard someone say about another, “They were born to be a leader.” The implication is that some are born to lead and others are not. I don’t agree. I think that everyone is destined to be a leader at some level. That is, if the only person we ever lead is ourselves, it is to our benefit to learn how to lead well.
I don’t remember when I was aware of this reality, but I have always been driven to learn more about leadership. As I have learned and experienced leadership opportunities I have been more convinced than ever that everyone benefits from learning about leadership. There are many levels of leadership and leadership responsibilities.
There are all sorts of examples that illustrate what I mean. One that comes to mind happened several years ago on the American River in the foothills of Northern California. My son Nathan and I went on a white water rafting trip with a group of fathers and sons. If you have ever been on a white water rafting trip, you know that it is filled with excitement, presents unique challenges, and is fraught with potential danger. Every one of us learned something about leadership that day. Everyone on this trip had to be a leader.
There were six crew members and the raft guide. He was ultimately the main leader, but we all had a part to play. Controlling our personal emotions required personal leadership. Collaboration with our fellow crew members required a level of leadership and teamwork as we responded to the changing conditions of the river. There were even some necessary levels of confrontation.
This trip for me is a microcosm of what I have seen repeated over and over. It reminds me of the value of learning all we can about leadership. It reminds me of the value of being challenged to lead ourselves or groups of people to reach their purpose and destiny.
That is what I have seen in my relationship with V. J. There is no doubt that he has the DNA of a leader. He is passionate about growing in his relationship with God. Also, he loves to see others reach their purpose and he delights in leading them to that place.
Together, we would like to have you join us on this leadership journey that we have called “Led to Lead.” Who are you being led by? What are you learning from them? Who are you leading? How well do you lead yourself or lead others is the opportunities present themselves?
Since God is the one ultimately responsible for who you are as He knit you together in your mother’s womb, he has put the DNA of leadership in everyone. That’s why I think we are all led to lead.
--Doyle