. . . you have one of those conversations that just COMPLETELY MAKES YOUR DAY. I had one of those the other day!
Every now and then I like to shine the spotlight on a leader (who will remain anonymous).
I was talking with a friend of mine who is working with me on the LCI Exercises. He is in a pretty new leadership role at a new place of work and I asked him how it was going. As he began to talk (in an entirely unassuming way) and tell stories about the people there, I started jotting down notes. This guy was:
full of vital optimism, he loves being in that place (Gordon MacDonald)
a resonant emotionally healthy leader who is lifting others up with his own healthy affections (Daniel Goleman)
having an incredible imprint and leadership leak (Ron Martoia), stuff was just overflowing from his life to the lives of so many others
an incredible encourager (Kouzes and Posner), he told me story after story of how he is a raving fan of so many people there and he goes out of his way to affirm them... and wow, do they ever respond with appreciation...
he is leading up, leading laterally, leading down... he is just doing 360 degree leadership
right in a vocational place of calling, right where God wanted him and where he ended up against huge odds (Os Guiness), he is a missional servant of the purposes of God in a fully secular environment, he is an agent of the kingdom, he is salt and light and he is already having an influence just by leaking love, grace and wisdom.
As he was talking, I realized that my friend is already there or very close to being one of those Level Five leaders the world so desperately needs (Jim Collins).
He is working with high intentionally, a major spiritual formation process and he is being transformed.
He was humble, grateful, joyful...
It was awesome...
My prayers for each of the readers is that we would all, by God's grace, be becoming such leaders.
Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com
