Scripture

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:41-42)

Thought

There is an imbedded standard of success in your industry that is the established norm. If you are in business, in order to be successful you must drive profits. If you are in athletics, in order to be successful you must win games and championships. If you are in education, in order to be successful your students must achieve high test scores and move on to the next grade.

Whatever the industry, there is a defined and established result that “successful leaders” achieve. Most leaders agree with this standard. It’s assumed if you’re leading in athletics you want to win games. It’s assumed if you’re in business you want to increase profits.

In my book, Stay The Course: Five Transformational Principles of Leaders Who Last we dive into the five principles of Stay The Course Leadership through the lens of sixteen elite leaders and their journey to industry success.

1.) Start Small

2.) Just Keep Showing Up

3.) Embrace Change

4.) Play the Long Game

5.) Live a Higher Standard

Transformational leaders who make a significant impact understand the imbedded standard of success in their industry simply isn’t going to satisfy in the long run. No one is suggesting those standards are not important - because they are. Of course we want to hit the imbedded standard of success, because excellence is important to us as leaders.

But we know it won’t sustain the deeper desires of our soul.

When Jesus introduces the higher standard in Matthew chapter 5 he is inviting us into an elevated and poised perspective. He is encouraging us to see the big picture beyond the day-to-day. He is lending us a view of our leadership assignments that can change everything.

Most leaders who are obsessed with achieving and striving for success in their industry often become transactional, shallow, and self-absorbed (we’ve all been there). Some leaders even feel as if something will change if they become “successful”. If they can just win more games, drive more profit, get more promotions - THEN, well everything will change for them.

If you’re not satisfied with the way things are going now, why would you assume the wins, the trophies, the record breaking Q4, the teacher of the year award, the 40 under 40 list, or whatever metric in your industry deems you successful will be enough to satisfy the deeper needs of your soul someday?

As transformational leaders, we’re invited into the inverted nature of the kingdom, in which we are fulfilled the most - not by what we achieve (the wins, trophies, promotions), but by what we give and pour out into the lives of those we lead.

It’s by giving and releasing we are encouraged, not by striving and achieving.

There is something so powerful about a leader completely free from the pressure and striving. A leader who is achieving success in their industry and then leveraging that success for the development of the people they lead.

A transformational leader lives a higher standard. They are excellent at what they do, and they live with open hands to serve and support those they lead, caring for their needs at a mental and soul level.

Call to Action

Take a moment to reflect on where you are in your leadership journey this week. Are you striving for some external success as if it will be a solution for some internal shortage of fulfillment?