3 Areas of Leadership We Cannot Delegate
“At the core of all our work lies a personal responsibility…to lead ourselves.”
Photo by Janelle Pol
I’ve always believed that there is no leadership outside of self-leadership. How can I lead others if I cannot lead myself? It’s proven true in my parenting, as an executive leader, and in ministry.
“Leader.” The word itself conjures up images of a person who is in charge, discerning, strategic, and charismatic. We manage projects, build teams, solve problems and develop people while delegating and sharing a vision necessary to bring a desired future into reality. But at the core of all our work lies a personal responsibility … to lead ourselves.
We are all familiar with the in-flight instructions that the flight crew delivers: “If you are traveling with someone who needs assistance, please put your oxygen mask on before assisting others.” I’ve heard it a hundred times, but today, it speaks to my weary soul. I am in the tenth week of leading five teams from home in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. This has been a ministry season during which my self-leadership has proven to be more important than ever. But unlike so many other tasks in my leadership, self-leadership cannot be delegated.
There are certain things that ONLY I can do. We have been designed to lead ourselves. This truth was unpacked in a much deeper way for me when I was studying these words: “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.” (emphasis mine)
The word “load” in this verse is a form used in the Greek language (“phortion”) referring to some type of luggage or baggage. Some baggage could be hired out to be carried by a porter. But this particular word for “load” is one the Greek language indicated can only be carried by YOU. It likened it to the fact that no one can be sick for you. No one can mourn the loss of a loved one for you. Realizing this became a powerful motivator for me to pay attention to the things in my life that only I can carry in my self-leadership.
As I began to apply the wisdom of this verse to my own self-leadership, I observed three areas that I have been tenaciously guarding to lead myself in rather than delegate to someone else’s leadership:
MY POWER HOURS — Morning is the most productive time of my day, so I guard my power hours for my most pressing projects. I get up early each day, and it’s important for me to set aside that time to be focused on important projects, brainstorming, and creativity. The saying is true that I cannot burn the candle at both ends. If I know my day starts really early, then I also need to ensure that it does not end very late. I need eight hours of sleep and must protect my evenings in order to have powerful mornings. What are your power hours, and how can you guard them? If you don’t take the lead in maximizing your hours, then someone else will.
MY HABITS — Where am I wasting time (social media, constant emailing, Netflix, phone scrolling)? Is my health suffering (lack of exercise, over-eating, stress)? How are my relationships (marriage, parenting, family and teammates)? I need to consistently assess areas to identify ways my habits are becoming unhealthy. Small choices — good or bad ones — over time can affect the person we become. What is one habit you know needs your self-leadership today?
MY VOICE — Steven Covey said, “It’s easy to say no when you understand your greater yes.” I’ve identified my greater yes to be about things that are specific to my calling, passions, goals, and dreams. It releases me to say YES and, more importantly, to say NO to professional requests, social invitations, decisions, and even family commitments. I need to challenge myself to say NO to good things in order to say YES to better things. What is a decision you’re facing for which you’re tempted to give away your voice?
Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do; excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” Self-leadership is an act of the will to bring excellence to the things that matter to us. Have you delegated some things that you need to “take back” in order to put the “oxygen mask of self-leadership” on yourself today?
Lisa Allen is a Jesus-loving, coffee-loving, leopard-print loving woman. She has a passion for and connection to women and uses this passion as Executive Director of Ministry & Staff Development at Proverbs 31 Ministries. Lisa lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, and has two grown children and a darling Yorkie, PJ. Connect with Lisa at www.ljallencoaching.com.