“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” – Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
It was very common in the ancient Near East that kings would describe themselves as shepherds with their leadership. I also was recently talking with a leader who mentioned that he needed his leadership in his company to be like a shepherd. So, what is it about shepherds that we would want our leadership to be like them?
When I lived in Wyoming, I would occasionally see shepherds when I was hiking in the mountains. Mountains are beautiful, but they can also be a place of harsh conditions. Shepherds provide three areas of leadership that are critical to the well-being of the sheep. Let’s explore how these also relate to us leading others well.
Leadership Provision
A shepherd is intentional and proactive in finding nourishment and restoration for his/ her sheep. Sheep need meadows where they can eat and streams where they can get water. These are also places where they can rest before they need to move on to find another area of food source.
In a similar way, we need to provide nourishment and restoration for the people we lead. Moving towards a mission and vision requires strength, passion and effort. All these things require energy from our team members, and so they need to be renewed. We can do this by providing wages and time off. However, high functioning teams go beyond this; they also encourage the heart. (For further resources read: The Leadership Challenge and Encouraging the Heart by Kouzes and Posner)
One of the best ways to encourage the heart is to know your people. We all have our preferences with how we are encouraged and are motivated. We also need various resources to support the work we are doing. Ask your people how you can be encouraging them better? Then show them how you plan to follow through.
Leadership Guidance
Sheep can easily wander and get loss. They are unable to find their way on their own to the next meadow. It is also interesting that when shepherds move their sheep they are often walking beside them. They are not a far distance off, just expecting the sheep to find their way.
People need leadership guidance. They first need a clear vision cast so they know where we are all going, but they also need on-going communication and team work. We need constant reminders of the vision, so we don’t stray. We also need on-going guidance on how to get there. Leadership and the One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard is an excellent resource on learning when to use the right style of guidance with people, such as directing, coaching, supporting or delegating.
Leadership Protection
Sheep are easy prey and can wander into areas where they can get injured. A shepherd is constantly aware of where there is danger. They then direct the sheep away from the danger, such as a cliff, or defend them against the predator.
People also need their leaders to protect them. They need to know that you “have their backs.” Yesterday, I was talking with a manager who told me how encouraged she is by her leader who provides a “buffer” when difficult decisions must be relayed to other team members. He stands with her as a joint team regarding the decision and helps the team members to see that it is a decision best for the mission and not to focus frustrations on the “messenger.”
They also need to know that you will support them through mistakes and help them to learn through the process. You won’t use blame or take credit for other’s success. You look out for the best interest of your team members in connection to the mission.
What next steps will you take to provide shepherd leadership through provision, guidance and protection?