Leadership
for Saints,
Part 3: Catalysts for the Mighty Change
by
Rodger Dean Duncan and Ed J. Pinegar
In our individual
ministries we can choose to be either primarily transactional leaders
or transformational leaders.
A transactional
leader focuses on routine and regimented activities. He invests
most of his energy in making sure meetings run on time, that administrative
details are properly handled and that completed tasks are noted
on check lists.
A transformational
leader focuses primarily on initiating and “managing” change in
those he serves. He invests energy in efforts that influence people
to improve, to stretch and to redefine what’s possible.
While the Church
needs both kinds of leaders, it is the transformational leader
who is most influential in bringing about “the mighty change” in
people.
A good bishop,
for example, will certainly ensure (mostly by delegating to other
capable people) that appropriate information is gathered and accurate
reports are generated, that music is prepared for sacrament meeting
and that the ward social is planned and organized. Those are transactional
matters that must be done properly.
The bishop’s
primary responsibility, however, is to be a transformational leader—to
be an instrument in the hands of the Lord in bringing about positive
change in the lives of his people.
He does this
by doing what every good leader does—by loving unconditionally,
by teaching correct principles and by giving encouragement.
He does it in
confidential interviews where he listens with empathy and teaches
with tenderness. He does it with a reassuring handshake or a pat
on the shoulder.
He does it with
a kind smile. He does it when he addresses the entire ward and when
he talks one-on-one with a child. He does it by boldly bearing witness
to the saving principles of the restored gospel.
The same applies
to all of us wherever we serve. We must be sure that the appropriate
transactional things are done properly. They are an important part
of our ministry. But more importantly, we must tend to the transformational
things, the things that change lives and save souls.
Transactional
things involve making sure the train runs on time. Transformational
things involve making sure the train is on the right track, that
it is headed in the right direction, and that everyone who wants
to make the trip has a ticket.
Leaders,
Followers, and More Leaders
The
Lord is most eager that we understand and labor together to accomplish
the mission of the Restored Church: to invite all to come unto Christ
and be perfected in him.
There are three
important ways to accomplish this mission: (1) to proclaim the gospel;
(2) to perfect the saints; and (3) to redeem the dead. Everything
we do should be aimed at fulfilling one or more of those purposes.
It’s often said
that a critical part of effective leadership is the development
of effective followers. That is no doubt true, especially when
considering “Are the followers reaching their potential? Are they
learning? Serving? Do they achieve the required results? Do they
change with grace? [Do they] manage conflict?” [1]
Another characteristic
of effective leaders is the development of other effective leaders.
Especially in the Church, which as a fulfillment of prophecy is
growing at unprecedented rates, the development of a wider and wider
army of influential, spirit-driven leaders is critical to the vitality
of the people and the success of the work.
Our challenge
is focus. For a variety of reasons, many of us who hold leadership
positions in the Church suffer occasional bouts of blurred vision.
On the surface,
we are good “institutional” Latter-day Saints. We accept callings.
We go through the requisite administrative motions. But do we have
the genuine, Christlike caring for one another that is embodied
in the covenants we have made? Sometimes, we simply need more focus.
There’s a marvelous
little book, long out of print, called Markings. It’s essentially
the personal journal of Dag Hammarskjöld, a wonderful Swede, a truly
Christian gentleman, who served as Secretary-General of the United
Nations. (He was killed in a tragic airplane crash in Africa in
1961.)
In Hammarskjöld’s
little book are many powerful statements that have profoundly affected
millions of people. One of those universal truths is this: “It is
more noble to give yourself completely to one individual than to
labor diligently for the salvation of the masses.” [2]
Think about
that. Embodied in that statement is unfiltered truth, the pure love
of Christ. As the Savior himself taught, the key to the ninety-nine
is the one.
Understanding
Linkages
Everything
you do as a leader should have a purpose or it is extraneous. Great
leaders know that time and influence are the primary currencies
by which they bring about good. Great leaders also know the importance
of focus. Can you imagine the spiritual leverage we could
exert throughout the Church if every Latter-day Saint would genuinely
focus on just one other person?
A young father
tells of a conversation he overheard between his 10-year-old son
and 6-year-old daughter. The subject was colors. Sarah asked her
big brother what you get when you mix blue with yellow.
Ten-year-old
Matthew said: “With blue and yellow you get green.”
Then he decided
to test his little sister by asking: “What do you get when you mix
red with orange?” Without missing a beat, little Sarah replied:
“You get a sunset!”
That little
girl is one of those blessed souls who understands linkages.
Do you
understand linkages?
Do you understand
the linkage between a strong and effective and involved Sunday School
presidency—and bringing people to Christ?
Do you understand
the linkage between well-prepared Sunday School and priesthood and
Primary and Relief Society lessons—and bringing people to Christ?
Do you understand
the linkage between home teaching and visiting teaching done the
right way for the right reasons—and bringing people to Christ?
Do you understand
the linkage between carefully planned and executed social and cultural
activities in our wards and branches—and bringing people to Christ?
Do you understand
the linkage between attending the temple—and bringing people to
Christ?
Do you understand
the linkage between teaching simple gospel principles to Sunbeams
and Valiants—and bringing people to Christ?
Do you understand
the linkage between working with hard-to-handle teenagers—heirs
to everything God has—and bringing people to Christ?
Do you understand
the linkage between rendering compassionate service—and bringing
people to Christ?
Do you understand
the linkage between personal obedience—and bringing people to Christ?
Our labor as
leaders in the Church is the Lord’s work. In every facet
of our assignments we have the opportunity to help bring others—and
ourselves—closer to him. As Elder Marvin J. Ashton said, “No one
ever lifted someone else without stepping toward higher ground.”
[3]
[1] Max DePree, Leadership is An Art [New York: Dell
Publishing, 1989], 12
[2] Dag Hammarskjöld, Markings [New York: Alfred A.
Knopf, 1964], 142
© 2002 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
|
