June 19, 2024

 

In recent weeks, my yearlong commitment to reflection has led to great spiritual growth. While exploring the challenges of change management during an executive leadership training, I was reminded of the story of Moses. Here’s my reflection from Moses’ journey:

 

Don’t Strike the Rock

 

Moses was called to lead a people out of bondage. Despite overcoming great challenge during his tenure, he never fully realized the promise of his calling.

 

This failing was not the result of the feasibility of the task. It was not the result of a failing average, or even a lack of vision. Rather, Moses failed to temper his approach.

 

Moses neglected the approach that had been proposed for the task. He struck a rock instead of speaking to the issue. As a result, he never entered into the promise of his tenure.

 

As leaders, we are often confronted by some of the challenges Moses faced, including:

 

-low morale 

 

-self doubt 

 

-resistance 

 

-obstacles 

 

-lack of resources 

 

Any one of these challenges can feel insurmountable and/or encumber our ability to realize vision. As I consider Moses’ leadership journey, I am mindful that:

 

-We can not neglect organizational morale.

 

-We can not let our need to prove ourselves drive our decision making.

 

-We must remain resolute in our focus, lest we lose sight of the goal.

 

Throughout his tenure, Moses faced bouts of low morale. Each of these instances are an opportunity to explore the impact and role of the leader in these times. Having led throughout the pandemic, I can attest to the ways in which narrative, momentum and truth become contorted in the grips of fear. If you are leader experiencing low organizational morale, address it. The morale of an organization is the foundation of its resolve, belief and hopes. When morale is low so is the organization’s execution. Just as planting a seed in fertile ground can be fruitful, planting innovation in an organization experiencing low morale can be the death of possibility.

 

Similarly, when we allow ourselves to be driven by proving, we fall victim to a God complex that will surely derail the work. No effort can be sustained or optimally executed if we are proving:

 

-ourselves right

 

-others wrong 

 

- there’s only one way 

 

-proving there is no way

 

Moreover, we destroy our ability to partner and thus ensure our failure.

 

Lastly, Moses’ leadership journey underscores that it is wholly possible to win many battles and lose the war when we are not consistently attending to our approach, communication and goal. After bringing a generation out of enslavement, through a perilous trek, and near their goal, Moses failed to bring the people to the promise land. He lost sight of the game plan. He allowed doubt and other factors to drive his strategy. We must allow wisdom to prevail. Our strategy must be driven by what the situation demands, not our wavering or doubts.

 

With this new awareness, I encourage you to consider how you are leading in your home, on your job and in your community. 

 

In these uncertain political times, are you reminding others that they have a voice? Are you cheerleading your household to victory? Are you empowering your colleagues to transformation?

 

Are you resolute in your resolve?

 

If you are unsure or struggling, take these important steps with me:

 

• Remember the mission! Often times the mission is no one instance or person. Accordingly, don’t let anyone one person or incident take you off mission.

 

• Recommit to strategy. Take the time to review the strategy underway. Confirm that the strategy is the most responsive course of action and not a reaction to your fears. Once confirmed, focus on taking the next step needed.

 

• Return to executing the game plan. Take the next. After faltering or doubting yourself, you may be tempted to ruminate—DON’T! This is where your short term memory is needed. Grieve the delay or mistake and move on! Once you have the lesson, there is no need to focus on the loss. Reserve that energy for moving forward!