Psalm
23:3b He leads me in paths of righteousness for
his name's sake.
People today expect
independence, adventure, entertainment, recreation, privacy, pampering, comfort
and the center of attention. It’s no wonder that some leaders complain that
their work is more like herding cats than shepherding people. The challenge for
shepherds is dealing with people exhibiting these same attributes.
The world is full of people
out living life according to their standards and these attributes. To bring
these people to new relationships and new life the shepherd will need to lead
from the front. He/she will need to find the path that can be navigated through
a forest of competing world views. Shepherds of all kinds lead from the front.
They go before their flock to show them how to find the true path in life.
The tools a shepherd uses to
lead are different from those used by the world. Shepherds do not rely on tools
as much as on relationships. Communication is critical for any relationship. Be
sure to have time weekly or monthly with your staff or key people. Be sure to visit
the work locations where your people contribute to the organization. Learn
about them by being with them.
Sheep will follow a leader.
Identify someone as a “lead” sheep and get them moving. The others will follow.
People respond more to their peers than their supervisor. Getting others to
hold one another accountable brings the entire team together and on the path
you lead them.
Yogi Berra once said,
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there”. Know the
direction you want others to go and get moving. Bring one person with you and
get them going. Then go back to another sheep and get them moving. It may seem
like you are doing and saying the same things over and over. You are. But
Shepherd leaders accept the challenge and know that sheep need to be led and
fed daily.
