Modeling For The Future of Leadership

There is a lot happening in the world that might cause concern, stress, and consternation. For instance, a few days ago, there was another “teen takeover” in our city. I thought to myself, why is this happening? What needs to change?

And then I turned on the news and saw what is happening at the highest levels of our government. At that moment, an interesting thought occurred to me: the same lawlessness that is happening in Washington, D.C. can be seen in the young people of our communities. I know, the politicians aren't running up and down the streets jumping on cars and creating noise and disorder literally, but their actions are creating the same sense of stress, economic destruction and ‘dis-ease,’ as the unruly bands of children on the streets.

The same spirit is at work – lawlessness: open disregard for rules of constitutionality or established behavioral norms.

So, as we all grapple with the shape of our world, I ask what are you modeling? In many of our interactions whether on social media or in public, we can easily observe a lack of respect for the dignity and worth of others. We see behavior that minimizes the contributions of some while validating the mindsets of those we believe to be “important”.  Are you modeling a sense of respect and courtesy for your team, or those you encounter regularly, regardless of position or title? Is your communication with team members respectful in tone? Do you apologize when you make a mistake? How do you respond when other members of the team are treated with disrespect? Do you address it or ignore the behavior?

We are in changing times, and if we are to be impactful leaders going forward, it is time for some self-examination. How do you want to show up as a leader? The great thing about self-examination is that it provides the opportunity to make adjustments in how we show up. Whether we are leading organizations, families, workplace teams or community groups, we can choose to model behavior that elevates each other to the place of dignity and standards that reflect the best of our world. Notice I didn't say, 'for those you agree with?' Your agreement or lack of it should not change the behavior you display.

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Here's a personal story that still stings when I think of it. In a church meeting probably 40 years ago I brought my Sunday school class of 13 to 15 year olds to observe how business should be conducted in the church. We had a lesson about how the gifts operate together, and I wanted them to see this process at work in our church. What an embarrassing mistake! The meeting became an argumentative back and forth between the leaders about drums. When I stood up to address my students and tell them this is not the way it was supposed to be, one of the agitators said, “Oh grow up, Michele.”  The argumentative behavior was modeled by leaders to teenagers, who decided that’s how church business meetings happened. Who would want to step into that mess as a leader? Probably none of them.

More than 40 years later Michele hasn’t 'grown up'.  I still believe that every human being deserves the dignity and respect due to those made in image of God. Call it naïve, but it is a stance I pray to never outgrow. I wonder if there are others still here on planet earth who are willing to model dignity, respect for others and their property (brands, material goods, lunches, goals, differences, or work ethics for example)? What you would like to see in the next generation of leaders.  Are you willing to model it today?

Will you join me and carefully consider the behavior and presence that we put out into the world, on social media, and in our daily interactions? If we want to see something different in the generations that follow, we must be willing to show them what different looks like. If your content is solely designed to attract attention, it may gain likes but diminish dignity. What would it look like for you to model behavior that provokes the next generation UPWARD in dignity and a sense of divinely-ordained purpose?  

You are loved,

 Michele