Nouwen: Leadership
“It is the compassionate authority that empowers, encourages, calls forth hidden gifts, and enables great things to happen. True spiritual authorities are located at the point of an upside-down triangle, supporting and holding everyone they lead in the light.”—Henri Nouwen in Bread for the Journey (HarperSanFrancisco, 1997).
The upside-down triangle. What a brilliant image for leadership, one that supports, empowers, and encourages those being led. I have a spiritual friend who tells me that his senior warden explained it another way: “You have to let them know that you care before you show them what you know.” How true this is in any kind of relationship or ministry. This is one of the models Jesus gives us. I believe I have encountered a handful of leaders in my lifetime who fit this description. It is a rare form of leadership. It is servant leadership.
I recently cried with another friend, Ann, as we shared the struggles of trying to lead by practicing this leadership style. When we use it, we are often labeled a “weak sister.” This leadership style is counter-cultural. We can face resistance at almost every turn.
Even if we have not been servant leaders in the past, there is still time to change. When we are given a chance, we can try to live it. We can share our experiences with other spiritual friends and support one another. It is a leadership model that is not powered by our ego—or by as little ego as possible.
Parker Palmer identifies this form of leadership in Let Your Life Speak (Jossey-Bass, 1999). Leaders who are insecure about their identity deprive others of their autonomy as they try to bolster themselves. Secure leaders are not afraid of chaos. They do not view the world as a battleground. They are not functional atheists who believe it all depends on them. The identity of these leaders depends not on the role they play or the power it gives them over others. Grounded leaders know we are all valued children of God and that the group’s work can be life-giving for all.
May we pray to become this kind of servant leader and to be led to become role models and mentors who also embody servant leadership.
Fall is an ideal time to reflect on our leadership style.
Joanna joannaseibert.com