Leading by Letting Go

By Knud Jorgensen

I remember when I was dean of a department for leadership, management and communication at a seminary in Ethiopia. I had a word of wisdom hanging on my wall. It encapsulates so much of what I believe about leadership:

Go to people
Start with what they know. Build on what they have.
When their task is fulfilled
And their work is accomplished, The people will say
to their leaders:
WE DID IT OURSELVES!

Training others to lead involves equipping them for service, showing them the way, focusing on core values, such as integrity and honesty, and encouraging them to use their natural and spiritual gifts – and then letting go. That was how Jesus and Paul trained leaders. That is how we have developed.

This week:

• Who can we help to develop as leaders? How?
• Where do we need to let go more?