What Type of Leader Will You Become?

 

"Brothers and sisters, it is destiny to live in a remarkable time. It is a time of turmoil and great wickedness, but also a time of miracles and heavenly blessings. With your future in mind, we have sought to prepare you to become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and leaders in our families, in the Church, and in the world around you.

President Kim B. Clark

This week we studied leadership in my Entrepreneurship class. I am sure I just like many of you who have had their share of varying experiences of being a leader and interacting with a leader. We have all had the so-called leader who was more of a dictator and then those leaders that made an impact on our lives for good. Those are the leaders that we remember their names and most importantly how they made us feel.

On the flip side, most of us had had the experience of being the leader. I can’ only speak from my own experience but I have had both negative and positive experiences of being a leader.  Some of those times I wish I could erase from memory; I wasn’t a leader. I was a dictator and wasn’t happy during the entire time. Then there are those other times that I was put into a leadership position and looking back I don’t remember being the leader. I remember learning so much from others, having so much fun, and being sad when it ended.

The part of the lesson this week that stood out to me the most was becoming a disciple leader.

“The call to be a disciple-leader is a call to minister and to serve. It is a call to lead as Christ leads.” President Kim B Clark

The leadership discussed was not just for business but for all aspects of life, especially for our families. I loved this. Ultimately our families should be the most important focus. Our desire for them to become something greater than us, will come from how they were raised and treated.

Pres. Clark gave a talk in Dec. of 2007 entitled “Leadership with a Small L”, in this talk he gave 3 principals of leadership that are not only good to be used in the workplace but very essential in leading our families.

#1 Lead by Example: I think this is one of the most powerful ways a leader can have the most impact. No one will follow a leader that says one thing and then does the opposite.  This is especially true with children, especially when they are little. They mimic what their parents do and say. We have all had that embarring moment when a child says something, repeats what we have said and/or what we have said about someone that they have repeated. As our children get older then begin more to exercise their own agency. This can and is hard for parents to watch their children make choices that they don’t agree with. But this is the time to not waiver from our own beliefs and paths.

#2 Lead with Vision: One of the best ways to do this is to work side by side with someone.  Showing them and telling them the reasoning behind what we are trying to accomplish. Then let them spread their wings, with them knowing that we believe in them and believe in what they can become. 

#3 Lead with Love: This is one crucial part of the equation. When one feels loved and respected they are more open-minded to learn and to be teachable.  I know that when someone treats me with respect and understanding, I am more open to approaching them with questions and being able to come to them when I know I have screwed up. I am more open to correction and reprimand because I know it is done to help me learn and grow.

There was one leader in my life that has had the most impact on me. Her name was Lynne Gale. She was a mom of 6 kids. Most of them were grown when I got to know her the most. I had known of her for years, but it wasn’t until she was called as a Relief Society President that I learned how to be a leader from her. She was a woman of a humble and lead a simple life. Nothing fancy or flashy.  It was right after her being called to lead Relief Society that her world began to crumble around her. She got up one Sunday and spoke about how she felt she was a hypocrite for standing up and teaching us how to me women, mothers, and daughters of God when she felt she had failed. 3 of six children had recently made some serious and publicly know mistakes. She wanted to be released but decided not to. She held her head high and did what she did best to serve and love. She always showed up at the perfect time, not when your house was clean or expecting you but when you need her. She never had anything in her hands to offer, but she brought herself. You received her time and attention. She always kept what was said private and tucked away. Never once did you feel judged or unwanted. She showed me the importance of being present. To be there for someone when they needed you, to be all in. She taught me to be worthy of the whisperings of the spirit and to act on those impressions. A leader doesn’t have to lead a perfect life, they just need to do their best. To serve, to love, and give all that they can. 

This is the type of leader we all should strive to become. This is the leader I am striving to become. We all had the perfect example of a leader, the Savior and what did he ask of us, to love one another, and to become even as he is.