The Leadership Mantle

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t chase after leadership like Elisha chased Elijah’s mantle (1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2:1-14). My leadership story aligns more with Gideon’s (Judges 6). I hid, and I questioned God when He chose me. We can be the barrier to our leadership calling and not even know it.

I believe so passionately that God has placed you into leadership that I wrote a book about it: The Leadership Mantle by Dr. Diane Swanson. Here is a very short excerpt from it. I pray it speaks to your heart.

Early in my leadership career, I was tempted to blame my employees when things were not going as planned or when we were not hitting our organization's goals. Fortunately for my employees, I discovered I was the problem, not them. John Maxwell talks about the Law of the Lid. The lid represents the leader’s ability to lead. The leadership competency level of the leader at the top determines the employees’ level of effectiveness. In other words, I could only raise my team’s level of effectiveness to just below my level of effectiveness. If I want my people to improve, I must improve first.

What kind of barrier was I experiencing? Was it a knowledge deficit? Do I need to learn a new skill, a competency, have experience, or seek a degree? I can meet this type of need through learning. But what if I have a heart issue? What if there is a struggle with anger, trust, shame, or inadequacy? This need requires a different strategy.

God bestows the leadership mantle. No one can take this leadership charge from us. Sadly, we can remove the mantle and refuse to walk in the leadership office. We judge ourselves as unworthy to wear it because we are angry, guilty, ashamed, or bitter. Because these negative beliefs are packed so tightly in our hearts, we believe the unworthiness in our underlying assumptions, under our radar. We rationalize our choices by saying, "Leading is not my thing, I don't want the responsibility, I am too busy," ...all while still sensing that God has more for us.

Shame is our enemy—shame caused by abuse, self-hatred, unforgiveness, tragic loss, idolatry, or sin. Hatred towards our parents affects our parenting ability, inescapably so, and isn’t parenting leadership at its basis? Abortion, miscarriage, and the death of a child can cause unbearable self-hatred and destructive self-condemnation. Growing up without a mother or father or with abusive experiences will make one feel inadequate in so many ways. Addiction, pornography, inadequacy, betrayal, sexual abuse, rejection, promiscuity, the list of causes is endless.

If you have judged yourself by your regrets, you will filter every opportunity through those judgments. My thoughts about myself were filled with inadequacy and insufficiency, I was not good enough for leadership, so I refused it, accepting assignments I knew I could handle. I promoted myself as a support person who works behind the scenes. My self-judgments sabotaged my leadership dreams. The worst part of this experience was that I had no idea I was the one limiting and sabotaging my success. What changed? God healed my wounded, fearful heart. A person with a healed heart chooses good for herself.

Christian leaders desire to make a difference and leave the world in a better place. We strive to be exceptional leaders. We want to be influential leaders and produce outcomes from outstanding leadership: high-achieving organizational goals, healthy organizational cultures, exceptional employee longevity, and high staff morale and productivity. We nurture teamwork, trust, and authenticity. We study how to be servant, authentic, and pastoral leaders, which is excellent.

Yes. Do this—all of it. And at the same time, address the barriers to leadership in your heart.

By reading this book, you are entering an opportunity to address your heart issues and transform your inner leadership abilities. We are taking a divine approach, asking God to intervene in every area, especially the ones that have escaped our notice. We will address motherhood, fatherhood, forgiveness, strongholds, idolatry, and more. Men, read the Mother Mantle chapter. Even though this chapter is called The Mother Mantle, you have a part to play in it, too. Women, read the Father Mantle chapter. Men and women are in leadership together, and we must understand and honor our God-given differences to set each other up for success. All the scriptures, questions, and prayers are for both men and women to answer. Reflect and respond considering your respective mantle or according to your responsibilities towards the other office.

After each chapter, you will be given scripture to read, questions to answer, and guidance on how to pray. Do not skip this part. The leadership and guided prayer section is the place of transformation. Engage and watch what God will do in you and through you. Be brave, you may be challenged. You may discover cracks in your foundation. God reveals them to heal them. He is preparing you for greatness.

Father, I pray for this beloved reader. This is Your child. You have plans and dreams created with a future full of hope. I ask You to bring revelation and understanding during reflection and prayer. Make Your will known. Remove blind spots with Your light.

In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray.

Amen.

Excerpt from The Leadership Mantle by Dr. Diane Swanson.