“Choice of attention—to pay attention to this and ignore that—is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences, whatever they be.”

— W.H. Auden

My leadership was nurtured on the two-look paradigm. It has served me well.

I say a big “Thank you!” to Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard. Their book, Management of Organizational Behavior, profoundly influenced my thinking and my leading. The result is that for years I have focused on that X-Y axis. Task and Relationship were the two beats of my drum, my sunrise and sunset, my offense and defense.

For a long, long time I have attempted to (and encouraged others to) keep my leadership eyes focused on the task to be achieved and the people who make it possible.

A Different Model

Leading in the crisis of the coronavirus has helped me to see that I have actually operated with a third look. It is an assumed perspective — “eyes on Christ.” I say “assumed” in that I have not drawn it up as I do now, nor have I processed the leadership implications as I am these days.

These days, I am coming back to The Leadership Triangle time and again.

Leaders need to keep their “leadership eyes” on Christ, the task, and the relationships that make the task possible.

Leaders Must See Christ

While this may seem self-evident, it is not. Recently, I discovered Winston Churchill never once used “Jesus Christ” in “the 5.2 million words that he wrote and the 6.1 million words that he spoke.” Arguably the greatest leader of the twentieth century, he spoke of “God,” “providence,” and “the Almighty,” but “Christ” only once and it was not as Savior.

There are many reasons for keeping one’s eyes on Christ, but let’s address two:

Christ is the Christian leader’s identity. Paul summed this up in Colossians 3:4, “When Christ who is your life appears . . . .” Too many times I have allowed numerical growth, “success” (however defined), being known, or being liked fill my identity bucket. The problem with that, of course, is when numbers tank, popularity wanes, or the business fails, my sense of identity will collapse with it. If, however, I align my identity with that of Christ who died and rose for me, I can give my best win, lose, or draw. Why? Because my ultimate sense of “okay-ness” comes from what God has done for me, not what I do for him or others.
Christ is the Christian leader’s ability. Jesus said to his disciples, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). For the record, I checked on that word. “Nothing” comes from the Greek word, OUDEIS. One Greek dictionary says, “It rules out by definition, i.e. ‘shuts the door’ objectively and leaves no exceptions.” Paul provides the flip slide of that equation when writing to his friends at Philippi, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). I need that reminder. A coronavirus, a world pandemic, an economy in free fall, recession, depression, people living in fear — these are big deals! And yet, they are no match for God.

Leaders Must See the Task

Leadership is stewardship. Writing to fellow workers for God, the apostle Paul penned these words: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).

Leadership is stewardship. I love the words of Tod Bolsinger in Canoeing the Mountains.

“Stewardship precedes leadership.”

Why must leaders consider their work a stewardship? Because everything they have (breath, gifts, brains, energy, positions, power) comes from God (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Like the word “nothing,” “steward” is also a word rich in meaning. It was used in Paul’s day of a house-manager. The Greek scholar, Thayer, paints an even more compelling picture. He notes that the “house-manager” was generally a freedman – i.e. a slave released from forced, legal servitude. Spiritually speaking, I am a freedman, Christ releasing me from slavery to my sin; so now, I gladly serve him with my life and leadership.

All of this means my leadership task (in whatever form it takes) is my assignment from God. I must look at my work as his holy task for me to serve his purposes in the world. Calvin put it this way:

“Each individual has his own kind of living assigned to him by the Lord as a sort of sentry post so that he may not heedlessly wander about throughout life . . .”

Leaders Must See the Relationship

God made us for relationships. At the outset of earth, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” Living in the land of Zoom, as most of us are these days, we recognize how much we miss and long for the joy of relationship. And it is in relationship that our work is most effective.

Why do we have one hundred-and-one books on teams? Because we have learned “together is better.” The writer of Ecclesiastes says, “Two are better than one for they have a good return on their work.” He takes it a step further when he notes, “a cord of three strands is not easily broken.”

Wise leaders tend to the relationships that make the task possible.

My Aha! Moment

The leadership triangle is not hard to grasp, nor is it particularly difficult to embrace. What I saw recently, however, is that each of us — especially in crisis — must be aware of our bent. As Auden noted, choice of attention — to pay attention to this and ignore that — is critical. As a leader I must keep all three points of the triangle clearly in view. Which point of the leadership triangle is your primary look?

What is Your Bent?

1. Some leaders have a “holy bent.”

That’s a good thing. But devotion to God is most always harnessed to action for God. Note the number of times God uses the words, “Now go!”

Exodus 3:10 - God to Moses: “Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh” NLT
Exodus 32:34 - God to Moses: “But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you” ESV
1 Samuel 9:13 - God to Saul: “Now go up, for you will meet him immediately” ESV
2 Samuel 7:8 - God to Nathan: “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared.” NLT

A word of caution for those with a “holy bent”: Beware of idleness!

Is there a danger of spending too much time before God? Stay with me. It feels sacrilegious to use the word “danger” in reference to keeping one’s eyes on Christ. How could one possibly go wrong “seeking first the Kingdom of God”? But I think there is a potential problem here. The danger is spiritual idleness.

Years ago, I sat across from a student who told me that God told her what to wear every day. I’m serious. She “waited on God” until he delivered the wardrobe instructions for the day.

I am afraid many well-meaning Christian leaders are like that young student. Waiting on God is a good and necessary thing! However, waiting on God can lead to a certain kind of idleness: “Let’s not hurry. Let’s wait for God to come through! He will work it out.” That mindset is admirable. But if you are chased by a lion, unless you are Daniel, to wait too long is to be eaten alive.

Most days — and especially in crisis — one must move from waiting on God to action for God. This is not an “either-or,” it is a “both-and.”

The coronavirus has upended the higher education table. Students had to leave campus, an academic model had to be re-worked, athletics were sidelined, and donor dollars slowed. God is quite capable of re-setting the table. He can bring back the students, fill the seats, and pour funds back in the coffers; but his instrument to help make that happen is us!

Pray. Seek God. Meet with him daily. But remember, “Now go” and figure it out.

Question: Do you agree/disagree that a leader can have an unhealthy “holy bent” as described above? Why? Why not? What would you recommend to a leader in such a situation?

2. Some leaders have a “task bent.”

Leadership is a journey from here to there. It is a relationship between leaders and followers focused on a common mission. It is a brick-upon-brick building process. It never stops. Leaders love this, but there is an inherent danger for the task-driven type.

A word of caution for those with a task bent: Beware of independence!

The leaders with whom I interact during COVID-19 are striving for excellence. They are working grueling hours, reading like crazy, considering multiple scenarios, planning for all contingencies. For those leaders who love a challenge, these days (hurting people notwithstanding) are energizing.

However, like someone struggling with a severe case of nearsightedness, task-focused leaders can look so closely at the challenges that they may take their eyes off Christ. They can also easily miss the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain of those with whom they work as well as those they are ultimately serving.

“Task-focused leaders run the danger of being ‘Task-mastered!’”

Task-focused leaders can fall into the trap of thinking they are “the savior” instead of resting in The Savior. When I am leading in “savior-mode” I miss out on the amazing power of Christ. I can also become blind to my own need for time to rest, to laugh, to slow down and refuel, or to enjoy the relationships at home.

When my eyes are focused solely on the task, I become consumed with, “I’ve got to get this figured out!” When my eyes are focused on Christ and task, I still work very hard, but I work out of rest knowing “God’s got this. He will help me figure it out”.

Question: What are the signs that you are too “task focused”? What are some ways that can look different?

3. Some leaders have a “relational bent.”

My life has been graced by some true shepherds. These leaders have a keen ability to spot hurts, listen intently, and provide a taste of the grace of the Good Shepherd himself. These leaders are wired for relationships. They are absolutely necessary, and as with those with the “holy bent” and “task bent,” their strong leanings toward care and concern can be a double-edged sword of compassion and indecision.

A word of caution for those with a relationship bent: Beware of paralysis.

Relationship-oriented leaders, those with a big shepherd’s heart, feel the hurt more than others. More keenly attuned to the pain, they lean into individual needs, sometimes to the neglect of the institutional needs. Most sectors of society are feeling the financial pinch. Leaders are trimming budgets. Trimming budgets often means saying goodbye to mission-fit people who have served the organization well.

A leader primarily focused on the relationship point of the triangle may avoid making the hard call, or wait too long to do so, thus jeopardizing the mission the organization he or she serves.

Question: How can you ensure your desire to care for someone does not hinder the overall progress of your organization?