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Leadership is like captaining a ship: guiding people or organizations with purpose, humility, and courage. Learn nine essential principles to navigate challenges, inspire your crew, and reach your destination successfully.
There are many leaders who have offered their own definitions of leadership.
I don’t know what makes one qualified to give their definition, but I’ve put some thought into it over the years and developed my own. My definition is based more upon an image embedded within the word leadership. In short, my simple definition is: one who leads a ship.
Let me expound on this simple definition. Leadership is the action of leading a ship—a person, a group of people, or an organization—from point A to point B in a manner that glorifies God, so the contents of the ship can arrive safely and be used to bring blessing and flourishing to the world.
By this definition, there are at least nine things we can learn about leadership.
Leadership begins with yourself.
No one can effectively lead others until they have learned to lead themselves. If you cannot navigate yourself from point A to point B, what makes you think you can navigate others? Those who lead others have effectively led (and continue to lead) themselves.
Leadership is purposeful.
In other words, there must be a reason—or reasons—why you want to lead yourself (and others) from point A to point B. If there’s no purpose, there’s a good chance there will be no sustaining motivation. This is why I define leadership as leading a ship from point A to point B in a manner that glorifies God. The glory of God lays the foundation and purpose for how and where I lead. Leaders who lead well keep the mission close to the heart and soul of those they lead.
Leadership transpires on all kinds and sizes of ships.
Like point one, leadership can be the size of a one-man boat—or a jet ski. It can also be a fishing boat for five, or a cruise liner taking hundreds or thousands from point A to point B. The kind of ship determines the destination and the number of people needed to service it to reach that destination.
Leadership is about going where you or others have not been.
As of now, I’m training for a half Ironman. I’ve never competed in a triathlon before. Until recently, I’ve never swum long distances or owned a road bike. Nevertheless, I’m training. To better understand triathlon training, I’ve met with my neighbor, who has completed a full Ironman. I’ve also read extensively by other triathletes. Such people are leading me from point A to point B—to a destination I’ve never been before. Most people you lead have never been where you want to take them. That’s why it’s vital to cast constant vision of the why, what, and so what of the ship (organization).
Leadership is about recruiting and training a crew for the mission.
Depending on the size and scope of the ship, leaders must understand who and what they need to lead the ship from point A to point B. Effective leaders recruit, train, develop, and empower others for their roles and tasks within the organization.
Leadership is about strategic navigation.
I’ve been on my fair share of smaller boats, pontoons, and cruise liners. There’s strategy in navigating a boat. Whether through a host of other boats, wakes, or storms, those captaining the boat need to know about the etiquette and best practices of navigation. They also need to know what kind of waters they are on. A leader who fails to understand strategic navigation through various elements and obstacles increases the likelihood of sinking—or at least damaging—the ship rather than sailing it to its destination.
Leadership is anchored in servant humility.
Leadership isn’t about the leader. First and foremost, it’s about the purpose. In most organizations, the purpose will far outlast the leader. Second, it’s about those you are leading. The fulfillment of the purpose is directly tied to the leader’s effectiveness in empowering and equipping people to do the work. Third, it’s about those who will be impacted and influenced as you lead your organization to fulfill its purpose.
Leadership is about making tough and courageous calls.
We’ve all heard the cliché, “That’s why they pay you the big bucks!” Leaders are where they are because they can— or should be able to—make tough decisions. Many elements can threaten the safety and direction of the ship, and therefore the overall purpose and mission of the organization. Effective leaders—through wisdom, discernment, counsel, and boldness—know when to stand their ground, when to let people go, and when to push through the fear, insecurities, and timidity of those afraid of going where they’ve never been.
Leadership is about sacrifice.
Leaders are responsible for leading people to accomplish a mission that ultimately impacts and influences others. Effective leaders feel the weight of this responsibility. They work vigorously, learning and growing in their life and field, setting an example for the organization, and investing in the lives of those they lead to enhance them as people and team members.
In closing, if you are a captain of a sports team, a stay-at-home mom, a pastor, a small group leader, a small business owner, a shift supervisor, or the President of the United States—you are leading a ship. So, how’s your ship?
