I love real life portrayals of leaders: a shepherd, a firefighter, a quarterback, or a symphony conductor. Each of these roles conjures an image and pinpoints our attention on a specific aspect of a leader’s life. A shepherd nurtures; leaders must nurture their people. A firefighter runs toward the flames while others run away; leaders must run toward the heat. A quarterback sees who is ready for the pass to score a touchdown for their team; leaders look to see who is open, toss them an opportunity, and shine a spotlight on them. A symphony conductor raises his baton to direct everyone in unison; leaders point the way to victory, directing each team member in their complementing roles.
Recently, I started thinking about a new image of leadership: a relay runner.
As you know, a relay runner is part of a team in which each member takes a baton and passes it to the next runner until the finish line is reached. Here is what I like about this illustration of leadership, and why it is key for us to adopt the lessons from this illustration of leadership. As a leader:
1. I may not take the credit. Oftentimes in leadership, we are only needed for a segment of the race. When this is the case, we cannot take credit for the journey. Are we willing to do that? For example, I love serving on the boards of trustees of ministries I believe in. As a board member, one rarely makes all the difference, and one rarely stays there long enough to see if their contribution truly made a difference. As a board member, it’s unlikely you will receive all the credit, but you will be counted on to contribute to the greater good, running your leg of the race with excellence. Are you willing to lead well if God is calling you to give in this season, even if your contribution is not the key to the big success?
2. I may not see the end. In a relay race, only one person crosses the finish line, the last person designated to carry the baton. Are you willing to lead even if you don’t see the finish line? Would you be willing to sacrifice for your church for two years to direct a group of leaders planning a big project, then hand off the position to the next person elected to see it through to completion? Leaders love to see a mission accomplished, cross a finish line, and raise a flag on top of a mountain. Isn’t leadership about taking people to great places, getting there, and celebrating the victory together? Not always. Sometimes we might be called upon to take a team only to the next level, not the final destination. This can be hard to accept, but I invite you to humbly embrace it when the Lord calls you to leadership roles in which you only serve for a portion of the race.
3. I may not need to demonstrate extraordinary skills or feats. Through my eyes as a non-runner, a relay race does not seem to involve any showy feats or skills. To my non-athletic eyes, these athletes have to be world-class runners, but the majority of their work seems less technical than those of a great basketball player or ice skater, for example. Sometimes what is needed from us as leaders is our presence, our quiet presence. There are times in leadership when our special skills may not be called upon. If this season calls for you to lead with less visibility, are you willing to do that?
I am not suggesting that we disappear behind the curtain. Leaders have to fill all the roles described above at different times. We may be the center of attention, the quarterback, for some seasons. Other times, we are called to be the shepherd, becoming the heart of our team as we demonstrate our care for them. Some days, we may be the symphony conductor, conspicuously standing with our backside to the audience, the world, as we face our team, boldly waving our hands and passionately directing the music. Still there are times when we are called to lead quietly, without fanfare, then bow out and allow the other runners to carry us to victory, while we go on to our next assignment. May we have the wisdom to discern our role and the courage to lead in any role we are called to.
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