Lead Differently - The Wet Sands at Tides Edge

There is an ingredient, or at least, an observation, that leaders and their constituents are often missing in their assessment of what "makes" a great leader. Even using the word "great" makes me cringe...as if there is some recipe you can follow to become one. Being a transformational leader is much like "cooking with love." A little bit of this, a little bit of that, cooking to taste...knowing that tastes change.

Forgiveness.

Authentic accountability cannot happen without the awareness of its importance and the practice of forgiveness. We are called to forgive. Because we are called to see the best in each other. Because we are called to see God in the countenance of our neighbor...our co-workers.

Holding each other accountable to the higher ideal, to the counter cultural view of the Greatest Good, requires forgiveness. Because we will fall short sometimes. Those we lead. And as leaders. We will all fall short.

Instead of living in the language and emotion of failure that leads to drastic and culture shifting decisions...

We must lean into forgiveness.

Need we say that this is hard. Of course it is. Forgiveness lives in the space of vulnerability. Recognizing our own vulnerability. Trusting that others are comfortable with theirs. Forgiveness stands on the soft sands of that common ground.

If we pause, the incoming tide will wash some of that sand over our feet and we will carry it with us on our journey. The residual wet sands of forgiveness are uncomfortable sometimes in our sandals, our shoes, when we try to put on socks. We brush them off...too quickly. We lose the sensation of apologizing and accepting someone's apology. We know colleagues, friends, our Self, enough to know it is difficult to even step on to the beach.

Now take a deep breath of that ocean air and amplify this to the organizational level.

Wow. Being slow to judge and quick to forgive as an institution while facing the headwinds of discontent from customer/donors/friends. This is immersively challenging - it challenges at all levels...operations, leadership, governance.

To give grace freely in these times is tough.

What does it mean to give grace? To suspend judgment. To unwire ourselves enough to suspend judgment can only happen if you spend some days at the beach.

And to lead differently. To lead as He led, we must find the inner strength to do so. As leaders, we need to model giving grace. That means we must start with ourselves.

Get yourself to the beach and dig your feet into the wet sands at tides edge.

As high-achieving individuals, we often have the difficulty of forgiving ourselves in the situations where our decisions cause hurt, pain, derision. Many times unintentionally. But in the rarest of times, intentionally, for the betterment of the institution that serves a larger number of individuals. This requires the humility to ask for forgiveness.

May we be blessed with the time and space to silence our thoughts and emotions at the tide's edge to do so...with our God first and foremost. And with those we serve when necessary. And with our Selves.

May you hear God's voice as His Spirit washes over you.

Lead Differently. Lead as He led.