When Jessica and I were running restaurants, we noticed something. You'd take your best employee, the one who cared about the product, showed up early, motivated everyone around him, and took real pride in the mission, and you'd promote him. And sometimes, almost overnight, something shifted. He'd show up the next day carrying a clipboard, pointing at things for others to do, counting things, giving instructions, spending money unnecessarily. Suddenly he saw himself less as a teammate and more as a self important hall monitor. We called it Clipboard Syndrome.
Honestly, it makes sense. Humans are conditioned, even wired, to see promotion as elevation and gaining status. But in the God’s Kingdom, leadership doesn't work that way. We know this because He demonstrated it when the Son of God voluntarily lowered Himself into human form, into all the mess and brokenness that comes with it. He got on His knees and washed dirty feet and then He allowed Himself to be tortured and crucified for the very people He was leading.
Men's Alliance has a lot of leaders. Tribe Chiefs, Tribe Leaders, Regional Leaders, Division Leaders, Directors. And those are good and necessary roles but does the word “leader” sometimes create a false picture in our heads of someone moving up a ladder with special access and special knowledge, looking down.
What if we changed the title and instead of "Tribe Leader" you thought of yourself as Servant to Tribesmen? What if "Regional Leader" became Regional Servant? What if my title was Servant to the mission of Men's Alliance?
Back in the restaurant, the best managers weren't the ones with the clipboard. They were the ones asking the line cook what he needed, listening to the server who was overwhelmed and removing obstacles so the people doing the real work could do it well. The job wasn't to be in charge but rather to serve the people on the front line and make sure they had what they needed for the whole team to succeed. After all, Jesus didn't show up with a clipboard.
So wherever you find yourself leading, at Men's Alliance, at home, at work, at your church; try reframing the title in your head. Your role isn't to direct from above, it’s to serve from alongside. Listen more so you can understand more and then ask more questions. Find out what your tribesmen or tribe leaders or team members are dealing with and come alongside them.
Our ministry is FULL of outstanding leaders already living this out and this is how we build something lasting, to serve the servants and listen and go further together.
If you've not yet registered for our Leadership Summit on April 17 and 18 in Goochland, Virginia, I encourage you to do so and let us all become greater servants together.
Sheepdog