[This article is part of the “spiritual leadership today” study/discussion going on this year. For all articles in the series, click the Spiritual Influence tab at the top of the page. To have them delivered, subscribe to The Brook Letter]
The biblical concept of the mind points to an amazing dignity and power of human experience. So the very best leadership will be strong and stable because of the depth of thought behind every decision. “Leadership philosophy” is not just the blueprint, it is the foundation. And if there is no philosophy behind our leadership, we have neither blueprint nor foundation. We are left building houses on sand.
The Bible teaches that the mind–the capacity for rational thought and deliberation–is a high-level expression of humanness and God-likeness. This is one aspect of the image of God in humanity. It is not separated from other ways we function, like feeling and will, but we depend on the mind to bring truth and structure to our lives. The mind is capable of knowing God, but it is also capable of being corrupted and set against God. The “fleshly mind” is hostile to God, and has no interest in submitting to God (Rom. 8:7). There are spiritual forces that blind people’s minds (2 Cor. 4:4). Some teachers and leaders influence others out of minds that are fleshly, depraved, or corrupt (Col. 2:18; 1 Tim. 6:5; 2 Tim. 3:8; Tit. 1:15).
Intelligence and education, in other words, do not guarantee integrity in leadership. The same God-given capacity for thought which allows us to create civilization, has also conceived the machines of totalitarianism.
The mind must be renewed. This is an essential principle of spiritual leadership. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is” (Rom. 12:2). This is a perfect example of the distinctiveness of spiritual leadership. All leaders need to be as intelligent as possible in what they do, but in spiritual leadership we know the mind is only as good as its connection with the God who created it. The spiritually renewed mind goes beyond human will to divine will. The transformed mind is essential equipment for leading any person, any group, or any organization along a trajectory that reclaims their God-created dignity.
So how do we go about deepening the thoughtfulness in our leadership, no matter the setting? And how do we promote intellectual integrity and growth among the people we work with? This is not a matter of IQ, but of choice and discipline.
1. Pace leadership processes, take time to think things through. None of us wants someone to say to us years down the road “what could you have possibly been thinking?”–and not have a good answer. Sometimes we need to slow things down. Take an appropriate amount of time to discuss, deliberate, research, seek precedents in other leadership settings, study Scripture, pray. We need to be decisive but we also have to be deliberative.
2. Read. Read regularly. Read widely. Re-read. There is a universe of ideas available to us in the great books and periodical writings, but there are two ways of thinking about accessing those ideas. One is to go looking for a solution when you have a problem. The better approach is when leaders are continually storing up insights and ideas through a regular discipline of reading. This is the way to go. It’s like stocking a lumberyard for building projects yet to be conceived. One can start small in setting a pattern of reading if one does not have a natural hunger. Fifteen minutes a day. Gradually increased. Perhaps try audio books which are a great way to keep “reading” flowing, allows one to multi-task, and has a pace that allows one to think through what one is reading.
3. Broaden your learning. We must also make sure we are not in a reading ghetto. We all have our favorite types of reading and our favorite authors. But thinking deeply means thinking widely. All leaders benefit from the lessons of history. And writings that have stood the test of time are often more helpful than the latest faddish book. Here is a temptation always before leaders: the promise of the brand-new secret solution. In a technical field it may be necessary to always be on top of the latest findings, but in spiritual leadership we need to find and assimilate the principles and practices that have been developed by amazing, intelligent, wise, and godly people–whether the publication date is this year, ten years ago, or a few centuries ago.
4. Learn through other media–but look for quality content. The quantity of audio and video media content is expanding exponentially. There is a lot of junk we can waste our time on, but if we look hard, we can find excellent content.
5. Be in continual conversation with leadership peers. “Networking” is what we call it today–a great concept that emphasizes connection and relationship. Great ideas we discover will be amplified many times over when we discuss them with others. That’s how we see the many facets of a really great idea.
In the end, deepening our leadership thinking is an act of love. It is to care enough about the people we are leading to do the work of researching, examining, comparing, and testing the best thinking that is flowing past us like a river every day. And it is an act of love toward God: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Deut. 6:5; emphasis added).
Great leaders find the great ideas that come from the great God and give people a reason to follow to great ends.
What ways have you found to grow in thoughtfulness?
The disciplines of solitude and sabbath dovetail into this principle. In our fast paced society, with stand up meetings and instant messaging, the need for regular times for out thoughts and our souls to catch up to our bodies is critical.