Sharing the stage is one level of maturity as a leader. You’ve invited people to share the stage with you. You are allowing them to lead. You don’t feel like you need to be in total control to influence the outcome. Actually, now you believe that the outcome may even be better if you are not in full control.
Ok, now let’s go a step farther. How about clearing the stage? How about coming down, sitting in the audience, and letting another leader, or other leaders, take center stage?
This is not easy to do, if you have the mindset that “if it’s to be it’s up to me,” and that’s the only principle you follow. In some instances, I know I have to put my full weight to move things. I have to step up and lead. However, at different times, and at different stages of an organization, namely when other leaders rise and are capable, it would be a leadership crime (to you and to them) if you don’t clear the stage.
In your team and organization, I recommend that to model great leadership, you need to aim to see others take center stage. By the way, leaving the stage may not mean resigning your position; it may be a change in scope, where you are more in the background than others.
In my journey in building a healthcare organization, my aim was to not be CEO. My aim was to have a CEO and executive team, which we currently do. And I am in the background serving and supporting the CEO. While I am still a “managing partner,” while I have full authority if I need to exercise it, I am not the face of the organization. While I still have a presence, I am not the main orchestra director. I have cleared the stage. And that allowed other leaders to rise up, and it’s beautiful to watch.
Are you at a point in your organization where you need to leave the stage? Maybe you have already invited someone to share the stage with you, but now it’s time to let them take center stage on their own. Allow them to lead–on their own. It will be beautiful to watch.
How can I support you more as a Christian leader and entrepreneur?
