A Shepherd’s Leadership Path

Leadership in business is often romanticized, painted as a picture of power, prestige, and success. Yet, true leadership is far from glamorous. I strongly believe it’s about rolling up your sleeves, doing the dirty work, and guiding the people you lead away from the problems you see ahead of them or equipping them with the things (tools, systems or knowledge) needed to overcome or maneuver the problems themselves.

To write this article today, I drew knowledge from shepherds. A shepherd’s approach to leadership offers timeless lessons for us as business professionals and individuals of different calibers. A shepherd doesn’t just point the way for his sheep; he walks it first. He takes responsibility for the safety, growth, and direction of his flock, no matter how challenging the terrain.

In the same manner, leadership requires going ahead or behind and getting your hands dirty no matter how risky it looks but considering the reward and if it's worth walking that path at all. A shepherd tends to the wounds of their sheep and faces harsh conditions. And in the same manner, effective leaders immerse themselves in the realities of their business or path. This means understanding the challenges on the ground, empathizing with employees, and being willing to take on the unglamorous tasks.

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When Howard Schultz returned as CEO of Starbucks during a time of crisis, he didn’t lead from a distance. He visited stores, spoke directly to employees, and worked to understand their concerns. Leadership isn’t maintaining an image; it’s ensuring your team thrives, even if it means stepping into uncomfortable roles. So, leadership is service. Be present, involved, and be willing to tackle challenges head-on.

I believe leaders should take control of the direction. A shepherd leads with intentionality, understanding that the path is just as important as the destination. I spoke on how important the direction is compared to the destination in this article (See it Here). It's important to take full ownership of your team’s direction. Vision is critical, but without decisive action and guidance, even the clearest visions can fall flat.

There's a place and balance for hierarchy, delegation of duties to different managers and team leaders but personally, I would love to see business leaders (CEOs especially) accessible to their employees again (just personal thoughts, had to put it in somewhere).

Allow me to cite the career of Reed Hastings of Netflix, who steered the company from a DVD rental business to a video streaming giant. The video streaming business path was uncharted and filled with risks, but Hastings maintained control of the company’s direction, even as the industry evolved. Leadership is not following trends; it’s setting a course to a vision and aligning the people you lead to that course no matter their differences. I strongly believe that to guide your team in that path to the vision, you need to own the vision and have clarity and confidence. By owning the vision I don't mean be the originator or the person who thought about it, I mean making the vision something that you see as what must be achieved, you must align to it before you can align others to it.

Also, the path gets brighter as you move forward. Mark Zuckerberg of Meta & Facebook famously said "No one has the full details when they start, so just start". Progress often feels slow and uncertain and the journey of a leader can be daunting (it is), but clarity comes with movement. A shepherd trusts that each step forward brings them closer to greener pastures.

Jeff Bezos famously reminded his team at Amazon that Amazon’s success wasn’t about instant wins but consistent progress. “We are stubborn on vision. We are flexible on details,” he said. Leadership requires resilience, staying true to the bigger picture even when the immediate results are unclear. Trust the process. Progress isn’t always visible, but persistence pays off.

I'll also like to say that tables are prepared in the presence of challenges (yeah, Psalm 23:5 inspired that). That profit won't be unlocked if there's no challenge you overcome. Setbacks and obstacles are inevitable. Yet, these challenges create opportunities for growth and innovation. The most successful leaders where built during challenging time and they recognize that adversity is not a sign of failure but a setup for success.

During the 2008 financial crisis, many businesses faltered, but companies like Airbnb and Uber were born out of the same turbulence. Their leaders saw opportunities where others saw obstacles. Challenges force you to think differently and prepare for a future that others might not see coming. So, don't run away from challenges, embrace them. They are often the stepping stones to your greatest breakthroughs.

A true leader understands their team just like a shepherd knows the unique needs of their sheep. Leadership isn’t issuing orders from the top, it’s listening, connecting, and truly leading.

Satya Nadella transformed Microsoft by developing a culture of inclusivity (not race or gender) and empathy. He focused on the voices of employees, customers, and partners, and that turned a once-stagnant company into a thriving innovator again. Understanding your team’s needs will help build trust and will inspire their loyalty.

Leadership, like shepherding, is not about power or who has the staff, it’s about responsibility. It’s about who the sheep connects to, whose voice they understand and will follow. So, guide with purpose, navigate with resilience, and create opportunities for growth in your team.

A shepherd doesn’t abandon their flock when it's time to climb up a hill, and neither should a leader.

If you did not get anything from this article, I want you to get this;

1. Leadership is a journey, and the path shines brighter and brighter as you proceed.
2. Success is not just about reaching the destination; but about how you reach it.

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