Month: October 2023
Collaboration: It’s Always Better When We’re Together
This post is the fifth in a series around the C’s of leadership, featuring a different Leadership C with each new post. Whether you lead a corporation, a church, a department, a classroom, or a family, HOW you lead has enormous impact on those you lead.
Years back in a conversation with an unchurched person, he said to me: “I’m not really into the ‘sage on the stage.'” We went on to have deeper conversation around traditional sermons (which is what he meant by ‘the sage on the stage’). My unchurched friend (BTW, every person who goes to church ought to have unchurched friends!) found enormous value in dialogue and there’s absolutely no dialogue with a traditional sermon. I consider myself a pretty decent preacher but I have to confess: sometimes I look out and feel as if I am holding the people in the pews emotionally and intellectually hostage. I mean, sure, they can always get up and walk out; but that’s not a healthy way to respond to words that confuse, challenge, or anger me, right?
When I was at my church in Lafayette, I worked with a great staff and lay leaders. Over the years in ministry, I think my best ministry results came through dialogue. Many times all I had was a tiny seed of an idea but, thrown into the soil of those great minds, it grew into something really fruitful. We miss out on so much when we try to go it on our own as leaders. Great ideas need to be shaped by perspectives and experiences and my individual perspectives and experiences are limited. My ideas can grow bigger when they are exposed to multiple perspectives and experiences… even perspectives I disagree with!
Now, don’t get me wrong… Education and training are important. I’m proud to be part of a denomination (United Methodist) that requires its clergy to be educated. Educated clergy and religious scholars have a critical role to play in interpreting the Word of God. But that Word never exists in a vacuum. It only bears fruit when it’s planted in our lives and I will never know as much about your life as you do… and paradoxically, I will never know as much about my own life without knowing about your life. I guess this is why, while at Trinity, we launched Trinity Fusion, a space where the Word of God and the word of our lives could be fused and integrated.
I guess this strong commitment to collaboration is why I feel so much passion and excitement around this new online community I am launching through my work with the Indiana Conference. It, too, is a place where the Word of God and our own words are fused. It is a space where we collaborate to go deeper in our relationship with God AND with others. I don’t think spiritual formation can ever be a spectator sport, nor can it be a solo performance. It is a team, an orchestra. If you are interested in doing Christian community in a way that is collaborative – that requires courage, deepens compassion, promotes curiosity, and grows communication – please consider joining us for A Place for You Online on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 Eastern time.
A Place for You Online Gathering for dialogue, discovery, prayer and celebration
6:30 PM Indiana (East) Every week on Wed, until Nov 15, 2023
https://inumc.zoom.us/j/84536355755
Meeting ID 845 3635 5755
Curiosity: It might not be good for a cat, but it’s essential for a leader
This post is the fourth in a series around the C’s of leadership, featuring a different Leadership C with each new post. Whether you lead a corporation, a church, a department, a classroom, or a family, HOW you lead has enormous impact on those you lead.
One of my favorite books is “Questions God Asks Us” by Trevor Hudson. People often think of the Bible as a book of answers. But it’s amazing how many questions are in Scripture. Jesus was very fond of asking questions… In fact, he often answered questions with questions!
I think Jesus asked a lot of questions because he wanted to get people thinking. Jesus’ very first words in the gospel of John are addressed to disciples of John the Baptist who turn to follow Jesus. Perceiving their presence behind him, Jesus turns to ask them a very deep question: “What are you looking for?” The question in Greek (the language of the New Testament) is even more powerful. It’s a two word phrase: tis zeteo. Tis can be translated as what, who or why. “What are you seeking?” “Who are you seeking?” or even “Why are you seeking?” See what I mean? It’s a deep, deep question.
My last “leadership C” was communication. But communication is impossible without genuine curiosity. Consider how few people – including leaders – are genuinely curious about the thoughts, ideas, beliefs and passions of others. Often our curiosity is crowded out by assumptions and prejudices. In my opinion, curiosity and fear can’t exist in the same space. Curiosity is a stance of openness… not openness in the sense of being wishy-washy or gullible; but openness in the sense of making every effort to sincerely let our guard down and open our ears, minds and hearts. Today our world seems paralyzed with fear. We are so fearful of “the other” who is different. But fear begets fear and, eventually, violence. Curiosity begets openness, understanding, and creativity.
When leaders are curiosity about the ideas, opinions, experiences and dreams of those they lead, it can lead to powerful collaboration and creativity as walls of fear, prejudice and insecurity break down. Curiosity demonstrates respect and builds trust.
This Wednesday, October 11, at 6:30, we’ll launch A Place for You, an online gathering for people who want to explore a different approach to Christian community. As we convene, I’ll be asking participants to covenant together around how we will be in community with one another. One thing I’ll be asking of us all is to: “Cultivate safe space by being gentle and curious.” Let’s make the world a more kind, creative and welcoming place by being curious.
To find the link for Wednesday’s gathering, go to https://www.inumc.org/umc-a-place-for-you/
traceyleslie 