What Should Go and What Should Stay

This week’s Lincoln on Leadership podcast consisted of interviews with a number of different leaders who hold various kinds of leadership positions speaking to what they thought about leadership. Specifically, they were asked to speak to what aspects of leadership theory or practice that leaders are hanging on to from the last century that ought to be jettisoned as we get ready to enter the second decade of this new century. I urge you to listen to their answers by clicking here or onto the podcast icon on the web page.

After you have listened in join the discussion by commenting at the end of this blog. Don’t forget that we want to hear from you your ideas are important and we can learn from each other as we share from our research, experiences, and our reflections on leadership.

In the next few days (probably early the week of July 19) on the Hargrove Leadership webpage you will find a link go active to forums, and we want your participation in these. Our desire is that the forums will be a way to share what you have learned about leadership or a place to ask questions and get answers. My hope is that you will begin to think of the Hargrove Leadership Institute and its webpage as your toolbox. The desire of the staff, faculty, and administration of Lincoln Christian University is that you will see Lincoln as a place to continue to learn and to get real life answers to your real life problems.

You might be wondering what my thoughts are about the question of what needs to go and what needs to stay in regard to leadership. Well, my take is not so much about what needs to go but what I learned in the last century that I think we ought to keep. I learned the value of leading with a purpose and I am still doing my best to lead from with purpose in mind. Not just any purpose, but a purpose that is rooted in theology. When I first began teaching as an adjunct professor in the 1990’s I told my students “Know your theology, know your purpose.” What I wanted my students to understand is that leadership that is not rooted in a theological or biblical worldview is not going to be sustainable. Sustainable leadership or leadership that survives the verities and difficulties of the day-to-day is leadership that is not coming from books or current fads.

My suggestion to all who read this blog is to do your theology first and allow your leadership purpose, philosophy, and methods to rise from your theology. I know that for most of you this statement is a “duh.” If that is the case I am glad. But I am wondering if you are assuming that your leadership is rooted in a sound theological understanding or if you have actually done the work. I am not judging anyone- I am only observing that many people dance around the edge and speak one way about leadership and act in completely different ways. So that is why I am looking for folks to share what they have learned about leadership from their study. Join in the discussion and let’s learn together.