Leadership isnโt a position; itโs a process. Throughout our lives, we will hold several positions of leadership in different areas. In fact, there will be seasons where multiple leadership positions converge at once. You may be parenting, leading in some capacity at your church, maintaining a job, and trying to launch a business all at the same time! So, I prefer to start all leadership conversations by focusing on the controlled variable: you.
Just because youโre the constant doesnโt mean you stay the same. Rather, itโs quite the opposite. I have found that there are three main stages for effective leadership: the discovery phase, the productive phase, and the wisdom phase.
ย A Biblical Example of the Leadership Process
It is important to emphasize that effective leadership entails being in every phase at the same time. Some areas of your leadership will be in full bloom while others are just getting started. Thatโs completely normal! Being aware of the process allows you to relax when something is not immediately successful. We see this principle in Numbers 17 when God selects the first high priest among the Israelites.
There was a conflict between the twelve tribes of Israel over who would lead. So, God instructed Moses to tell the chiefs of every tribe to write their family name on their staff. Then, they were told to put the staff in a tent. Whoeverโs staff sprouted overnight would be the one that God had chosen.
The staff of Aaron, Mosesโ brother, โsprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds,โ Numbers 17:9. Through a miraculous sign, Aaron was chosen to be the first high priest of Israel! In those times, a manโs staff was a symbol of his leadership. It was what he used to guide and correct sheep. So, through the miracle, God foreshadowed the fruitfulness of Aaronโs leadership.
This passage signifies that Godly, effective leadership occurs in stages. Think about itโa single sprout wouldโve solidified Aaron as Godโs choice. Instead, God chose to showcase something profound: when leaders are chosen by and connected to Him, theyโre destined for abundance, miraculous encounters, and continual growth. The best part is that since we now have Jesus as our high priest (Hebrews 6:20), every believer is a chosen leader if they choose to accept the challenge!
With that, here are the 3 Stages of Effective Leadership:
1. The Discovery Stage
In this phase, you are actively learning who you are and where you fit. One of my main rules to live by is to never invest in something you donโt understand. So, the discovery phase is a vital learning period. If you try to escape this phase, you wonโt develop a foundation and your metaphorical house will crumble. Even if you donโt realize it, God is always trying to prepare you for the next season He has planned for your life.
If youโre younger, many areas of your leadership may be in the discovery phase. Donโt let this discourage youโembrace it. We have to be a beginner at everything before we can be an expert at anything. If youโre older, you better make sure you at least have a few areas in this stage. As John Maxwell says, โIf we donโt change, we donโt grow. If we donโt grow, we are not really living.โ Donโt die before youโre in the ground!
2. The Productive Stage
This is a stage of a lot of accomplishment. The discovery phase has given you a good foundation to build from, so youโre doing just thatโand probably pretty fast. For many people, this phase feels really good. Youโve hit your sweet spot, and what youโre doing actually feels like effective leadership. However, if youโre not careful, this stage will not be sustainable. Remember that God is your provider, and youโre partnering with Him rather than doing it all by yourself. Be diligent about resting and creating boundaries in order to maximize your output.
For many businesspeople, the productive stage is where they transition from being a doer to being a leader manager. They learn how to work on their business more than they work in their business. The result is undeniable scale and growth.
[Related: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait: 3 Pathways to Patience]
3. The Wisdom Stage
The main desire in this stage is to give back and pour into other people. You have learned through your experience, and now you want to share what you know. Your goal should be to develop the endurance to carry your discovery phase to your wisdom phase. Effective leadership vulnerably shares how the mistakes they made in their discovery phase have contributed to the success they demonstrate in their wisdom phase.
I believe we move from knowledge to understanding to wisdom. In our discovery phase, we gain knowledge. In our productive phase, we put that knowledge to the test and gain understanding. Finally, in our wisdom phase, we reflect on our understanding and gainโฆwellโฆ wisdom!
On a trip to Australia, Becky and I decided to try our hand at scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. However, when the day of the dive arrived, it was getting stormy. The wind was blowing, and the waves were going crazy. I told the instructor half-jokingly that I didnโt want to go anymore, thank you very much! His response hit me in a profound way:
โThe weather on top has no influence on whatโs deep,โ he said matter-of-factly.
We went on the dive, and it was one of the most incredible things Iโve ever seen. Fish of every color of the rainbow, giant goliath grouper, and purple clams were everywhere I looked. It was a completely different reality down below than it was on the surface.
Thatโs what the wisdom phase can be like. At this point, you will have developed a deep sense of unshakeable truth. In the areas where you have true wisdom, chaos wonโt disturb you. You have confidence that cannot be seen or swayed by emotions.
[Related: Wealth Building is Empowered Through Gaining Specific Knowledge]
What do you think it takes to practice effective leadership? How are you experiencing the different stages right now? Iโd love to hear your perspective in the comments. And, if you want to dive deeper into a specific stage, I encourage you to sign up for our Real Estate Workshop October 15-17, 2021. Whether youโre a first-time homebuyer in the discovery phase or a seasoned investor in the wisdom phase, we have something for you. Click Here to learn more.
