Leading Within The Law of Gravity

Last week I introduced the idea of Leadership Gravity. This phrase was originally explained to me by Kevin Myers at a seminar I attended a few weeks ago.

Kevin expounded on the idea that every leader is going to be pulled down by something. We live within the law of leadership gravity, and just like the physical law of gravity, we should accept it and work with it. Again, I talked a little more about this right here. However, he also noted that it seems there are some small few who seem to live ABOVE the law of leadership gravity. That is, there are those that seem to be able to defy the natural pull of resources, people, finances, etc.

As an example, Kevin suggested that Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel operate somewhere in outer space. Whatever they do seems to turn to gold. He said, “They do things in leaps that we who are under the law do in layers.”

It can be so easy for us to see these people’s amazing success and want to emulate everything they do – with the mild hope that perhaps we can find relief from the pull of leadership gravity in our respective ministries. This is where we could get ourselves in trouble. Every seminar, workshop, conference, video, and lesson we hear from individuals who seem to accomplish things in one fell swoop that we may never accomplish in 30 faithful, hard-working years, is an opportunity for us to set ourselves up for failure or success.

It’s quite simple, and again I’m quoting Kevin Myers: “You can learn from those who lead in leaps, but you can’t lead like them.” Let’s remember to focus more on ideas and principles and less on methods and specific strategies when we listen to successful pastors and leaders. Ask the Holy Spirit what He wants you to grasp from others’ success, and set the rest on the shelf for another day.

photo credit: Donovan Henneberg-Verity via photopin cc