Leadership

I was thinking recently on one of the most profound moments of my life.  It happened when I was in High School (I know, lame to talk about high school).  Have you ever had one of those moments that really helped to shape the person that you are today?  That profound understanding of a basic principle that would radically change the course of your life?  Well this was one of those moments for me. 

During my sophomore year in High School, I played quarterback on the Reserve Football team.  If you know me, you know I love the sport of football so hopefully this will make sense.  On a saturday, during a game against Moeller in the rain, I threw a pass to one of our receivers who ran it 50 yards to the goal-line.  However, at the goal line, a defender hit the ball out of his hands and the other team recovered the fumble.  

As we jogged off the field, my coach came straight for me.  He said, "Urmston, what the Q#$%#$ happened out there?  I looked at him very perplexed and said, "Coach, I didn't fumble the ball!!!  I threw a great pass!!!  He fumbled the ball, its not my fault!

I will never forget the words that he spoke to me at that moment.  He grabbed my facemask, pulled my head close to his (I can still smell the tobacco dip being sprayed on my face as he spoke).  He said, "URMSTON, YOU'RE THE LEADER, ITS ALWAYS YOUR FAULT."  His voice still rings in my head and hits me to this day.  

As a leader, it is my job to take responsibility for those I lead.  To stand in the gap for them, throw myself in front of a bus for them, to speak the truth in love to them, to defend them when they are attacked.  I am the leader...God put leaders on this earth to lead.  When we succeed it is the team that wins.  When we fall short, it is the leader who stands up, breaths vision and leads everyone into the next battle.

As a person who was raised by a somewhat controlling Father (He's not that way anymore, but that story is for another time), I tend to lead by committee as an act of rebellion.  I like to let people run with their ideas and encourage them along the way.  This sometimes creates situations where I don't lead well, or I remain undecided due to too much "committee"  and not enough hutspa to make a decision, even though I know in my gut it is right.  

I have to remember what my Coach said way back in my sophomore year of High School.  He said, "as the leader, it is always on me to make the decision.  While I can take counsel, and hear opinions, and try to get consensus;  the ultimate weight of the decision falls on me...THE LEADER.

OK...I get it God.  Counsel is great, opinions are important, but sometimes you grab my facemask and tell me...YOU'RE THE LEADER...I CHOSE YOU.  MAKE A DECISION, AND LEAD.