I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership recently. It’s funny and ironic how in normal times, we resent authority. We dislike President Trump or Governor Brown (probably depending on which jersey we’re wearing). We resent administrators, coaches, bosses, or parents for trying to control our lives. This includes our skepticism of “experts” (see Tom Nicoles, Death of Expertise). Why should we trust experts or authority figures when we have Wikipedia? I’m my own boss, with Google as my co-pilot. 

But then something like this hits. And unless you’re an idiot partying in Florida, pretty much everyone else is looking up to totem pole for guidance and direction. We’re all anxious and constantly looking towards the authority figures in our lives right now, for what the Bible would call Wisdom, or even Law. For work, we’re looking towards our boss, who is looking towards his boss, who is looking towards her boss. Kids are looking to their parents. Most of us in Oregon are looking at Governor Brown (she’s upset with all ya’ll at Table Rock this last weekend). 

But we’re asking authority figures and experts: “What should I do or not do? What are my marching orders? Should we meet or not meet, how many people, how many feet apart? Can we continue operating? If so, how so?” We rightly recognize that these decisions are often above our expertise and paygrade.     

Authority, hierarchy, leadership, rules, boundaries. These are normally swear words to an American, profanity. Now, we’re anxiously checking and refreshing for what the newest executive orders are (no wonder the Libertarians are nervous). 

Not only do we look to authority figures right now, we realize we ARE authority figures. Almost everyone reading this is a leader is some capacity, you have authority and influence over someone. You’re a spouse, a parent, an older sibling, you’re someone with influence, maybe you have a twitter account with five followers. You’re a supervisor at work, you’re a manager at Winco, you’re a babysitter, you run a small business. Or maybe you’re just trying to talk your grandpa out of going to Costco. We’re all influencing right now. 

Remember that John Maxwell quote? “If you think you’re leading, but no one is following, you’re just taking a walk.” Lol. Well, most of us aren’t just talking a walk. We have many people following us, and they may or may not be practicing social distancing.

So I have nine encouragements for the leaders today.

1) Thank You So Much. I’m so impressed by so many of you, leading well during this time. God has given you an area of influence and expertise. And whether we were ready or not (we weren’t), you are now forced to make very difficult, tough decisions. You have people underneath your care, people you are responsible for providing for and paying, your responsible for your business and customers, responsible for your kids and family members. You are leading well, and we’re so proud of so many of you. I’m thankful to know you, to watch you work from a safe social distance. We see your struggle, we’re all in this together. Thank you, leaders, for leading well! 

In particular, and of course I’m sure I’ll leave people out. But I’m really

Proud of church leaders.

Proud of school administrators.

Proud of grocery store managers.

Proud of those who coordinate truck driving routes.

Proud of parents who never wanted to homeschool (lol).

Yes, even proud of government (begrudgingly).

Thank someone who is leading well during this time.

2) Foster Creativity

When things are fine, we do things the same way we’ve always done them. But when something like this happens, the paradigm changes, the playbook goes out the window. We MUST adapt, we HAVE to get innovative. If we do not change, we will not thrive. We will not survive (metaphorically) as a family, group, organization, or business if we don’t think of new ways of doing what we do.  As a leader, creativity is your responsibility. We CANNOT control that which happens outside of us or around us. But we can control our response to the crisis.

I love the Jordan Peterson quote, a new rule in his upcoming book: “Notice that opportunity lurks where responsibility has been abrogated.”  We could and should think long and hard about this. There are opportunities in the midst of massive upheaval, particularly where responsibility has been pushed to the side.  Obstacles create opportunities

3) Tell the Truth, or at Least Don’t Lie. 

I think there’s a temptation as leaders to lie to help people feel better: 

“Things will be better by May,” 

“No, we won’t have any layoffs,” 

“No, you won’t get sick.”  

“The economy will be fine.”

We don’t know any of these things, no one really knows what’s going on. As leaders, we have the responsibility to tell the truth, or to at least not lie. It may not be possible or advantageous to tell the entirety of the truth, as not everyone is entitled to that information. Heck, you probably don’t have that information. Do your best to lead people in truth.    

4) Be a Non-Anxious Presence

More than the words we use, does our posture and tone and demeaner communicate a non-anxious presence? If you’re anxious, your kids or employees or congregants will be anxious. If you’re communicating and resembling a posture of peace, joy, and contentment, your people will pick that up.   

5) Stay Healthy. 

A huge part of being a non-anxious presence is being a healthy presence. Yes, this means not getting the coronavirus if possible, but it’s so much more than that. Staying physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and relationally healthy. Our routines are routed, our good habits hindered. The gyms are closing (as they probably should). Fresh produce is a little harder to come by. The house got a little louder, I’m on my phone and facebook way more than normal.  But as leader, it’s our responsibilities to stay holistically healthy. To find ways to exercise (youtube ABS), eat right, get sufficient sleep, pray, read scripture, read in general. Facetime with friends. Get some sun. Listening to the birds. For me, it’s really important to put my phone on airplane mode when I go to sleep, and not to turn it back on until after I wake up and have spent 30-60 with God. If you’re not healthy, those who follow you might not be either.  

6) Love Those You Lead.

When we check in with people, when we really care about them and love them, it’s amazing how our own anxiety somewhat dissipates. Making those texts, Facetimes, and phone calls brings us socially closer when we’re physically isolated. And these are acts of love because they’re selfless. They’re outward focused instead of fearful inward focused. I’m working hard every time to pray the famous Jesus Creed: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.”   

“Love those we lead” means we’re going to operate with a generosity mindset, not a scarcity mindset. In other words, I’m not going to hoard my time, talents, money, energy, or toilet paper, I’m going to bless others with it (in wisdom with a small group of people, not indiscriminately). I must look out for my neighbor. And in this, I’ll find more peace and joy.   

7) Serve and Speak on YOUR Area of Expertise (not someone else’s). 

I know little to nothing about medicine or healthcare. I know nothing about parenting. I’m bad at math and I’m not a good cook (although I’m trying to learn and I grill mean carne asada). For me, I’m somewhat familiar with the Bible, prayer, and spiritual direction. So these are the areas I need to serve in and bless others with. I don’t need to weigh in on government policy, on the statistics of the spread, or how to keep shelves stocked.  I think there’s a temptation to try and weigh in on things we have no real knowledge about (I know I’ve done it too), to communicate expertise about things the smartest people in the world are grappling with right now. Sure let’s talk about these things, but we shouldn’t LEAD in them.  

God has given YOU something you’re good at, any area of influence and expertise. Use THAT, stay in your lane, and bless others in that place.   

8) Network with Others in your Sphere of Influence to Share Frustrations, Ideas, and Encouragements. 

Referencing #7, there are lots of people who are facing the exact same challenges you are, whether it be parenting crazy kids, making things, running an empty school, managing a closed business, doing real estate, working at the hospital. And like 10,000 other things. Talk to those people, call them up, commiserate together and then create ideas together. We are not alone. This pandemic could create lots of networking and relationships that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.  

9) God Has You in this Role for a Reason

In his plan and sovereign control, God has placed you where you are for a reason. Not only for the skills you do have, but for the abilities you don’t have. Your insecurities and INabilities. How can these things be assets? Because they require us to depend on him more, to trust him. Yes to pursue creativity, but to do it prayerfully. And maybe you don’t know God right now, or you’ve drifted away from him, you’ve felt distant from him. Maybe God has you in this place of leadership so that the weight of the role might bring you back to him.  

Leaders: What kinds of things have you learned in leading this crisis?  Thank you for all that you are doing!!

-Tyler