Do You Know Your Leadership Threads?

Photo by Anya Chernykh on Unsplash

Every leader occasionally needs to look back to move ahead. There are two primary reasons to do so. One reason is to uncover your primary wound. The other reason is to discover and clarify your threads of continuity. I have written about a leader's primary wound before. If we don't allow our primary wound to be redeemed, it will show up and express itself in unhelpful and destructive ways. If we can identify this overarching hurt, we can begin to experience healing and allow it to transform into a compassionate expression of our leadership. Both journeys require time for reflection to discern these essential aspects of our leadership development. In this article, we will focus on a leader's threads of continuity.

I realize that the phrase "threads of continuity" requires some definition. If uncovering our primary wound takes a glance at the dark side of our leadership, "threads of continuity" gaze at the positive side. When you consider this concept, you are looking for consistent ways in which you have been unusually fruitful in your leadership. How has God tended to use you in the lives of others or in the life of an organization over time? What would you say are some of your most positive and effective contributions? Where and how have you become more alive over the course of your leadership life? What were you doing? What was the fruitful impact? What did others consistently compliment you for? Look for themes of expression more than a specific result.

Over time, others have consistently encouraged me in my ability to teach and train. I have also been complimented on my ability to take large amounts of research and input and synthesize them into simple, clear concepts. I have consistently been encouraged for my ability to lead teams and work groups effectively.

The benefits of understanding clearly how you have been fruitful over time are numerous:

• Narrow and sharpen your primary contributions moving forward

• Clarify your "yes's" and "no's" to various opportunities that come your way

• Build your confidence in what you consistently bring to the table of leadership

• Better understand where you need to collaborate with others for their benefit and yours

• Better know where you can lean in more to your expression of leadership for your own joy and energy

Discovering your leadership threads is a self-reflective journey that others can validate. Here is a pathway I recommend.

1. Formal Assessments: As we all know, our current cultural climate can be a little assessment crazy. But some invaluable tools can provide indicators of our core competencies, gifts, and preferred contexts for making our best contributions. Consider Clifton Strengths, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Working Genius, Enneagram, or DISC. You should add a bit of certified coaching to any of these assessments to make the most of them.

2. Self-Reflection: Set aside dedicated time to work through a series of thoughtful questions. Record your thoughts. Here are a few suggested questions to get started.

   1. What activities consistently energize me rather than drain me—even when they require effort?

   2. Where do I often experience "flow," losing track of time because I'm so absorbed?

   3. What tasks or roles do others repeatedly affirm me in—without me prompting them?

   4. When have I contributed something that made a tangible difference for others?

   5. What comes easily or intuitively to me that seems difficult for others?

   6. What types of problems do I naturally notice and feel compelled to solve?

   7. What do I do that consistently produces positive outcomes—even when I'm not trying to impress?

3. Survey Friends and Colleagues: I have done this two or three times over the course of my leadership career. It flows from the reality that I can't possibly see myself clearly and accurately. I need help from others to better understand my core contributions and patterns of fruitfulness. I have typically used a digital survey approach (like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey) to reach out to 10-15 friends and colleagues who know me well and have seen me in leadership over time. Design the survey around 5-10 questions that your friends can readily answer, and likely use open-ended comment boxes. Here are a few suggested questions.

   1. What do I do well? How have you seen the Lord use me over time?

   2. In what contexts do I function best?

   3. Where am I most challenged? What contributions or efforts should I avoid?

   4. How would you describe my leadership style? In what contexts is my leadership most effective?

   5. Is there anything else you would like to tell me regarding my talents, gifts, and past contributions?

Discovering your leadership threads matters. The path of greater contribution, influence, impact, and joy is at stake.

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