Leadership Lessons: It’s All About The Climb

The busy fall season is suddenly upon us, but I hope you were able to take some time away for quiet reflection during the slower summer months.  I always take a study leave retreat in the mountains.

• This year, I hiked to a summit in the Rocky Mountains, and it reminded me of how much climbing a mountain is like leading a church.  Here are a few lessons learned from the climb.

Seven Lessons from the Rockies for leaders

Lesson 1: Switchbacks are safer than straight shots

• My hike could have been a lot shorter if it weren’t for all the switchbacks in the path. One time, I tried to go straight up the mountain, ignoring them. But I quickly found out why switchbacks exist! Your body can only handle so much “rise” over “run.”
• In our churches, we need to remember to lead onward and upward at a rate our people are able to handle.  What switchbacks can you create to bring more people along?

Lesson 2: Add steps when the climb is too steep

• Sometimes switchbacks are not feasible, so how do you handle the hike then?  This is where you often find stairs added to the path.
• When you sense the climb is too steep for your people, think in terms of steps.  What next step could you add to make the journey more manageable? Take it one step at a time.

Lesson 3: Don’t be afraid to ask for directions

• I got a bit lost at one point, so I asked people hiking in the other direction what lay ahead.  When they told me what I was in for, I realized that I needed to do a 180 and get back on a trail suited to my skill level!
• Do you know people who are a few steps farther down the path you’re on? Do you have relationships with people who have already done what your’re trying to do? Don’t hesitate to ask them for directions! It’s the simplest leadership shortcut there is!

Lesson 4: Be willing to go where you can’t see

• I was tempted to turn back at several points along my hike. How many miles of drab forest can you take? But I knew the promised destination is worth it, so I kept marching forward.
• Sometimes your leadership breakthrough is right around the next corner. You may feel like you’re lost in a deep, dark forest, but keep going! Don’t give up! A beautiful vista may be so much closer than you think.

Lesson 5: Don’t focus on the cliff’s edge

• I watched bikers ascend the mountain, sharing the road with cars. With no bike lane or even a shoulder on the road, they had to hug the edge, literally inches from a very steep drop-off. I noticed none of them looked at that drop-off.  They looked toward where they were going.
• There is no shortage of pitfalls in ministry. What could go wrong? About a million different things! But you will go where you direct your attention. Deal with the challenges wisely, but spend your best time and effort focusing on the destination.

Lesson 6: Get above the tree line to see clearly

• The first part of my hike was boring because all I could see were the trees right in front of me.  At a certain altitude, though, the trees can’t grow.  Getting to that inhospitable environment – that rarefied air – is the only way to see the magnificent landscape in full.
• Working in the day-to-day trenches of ministry, it is almost impossible to see the big picture. But as a leader, it is core to your calling to do just that! There’s no other way to fight your way out of the frenetic messy, daily grind at regular intervals.

Lesson 7: It is way easier to go downhill

• Summiting leaves you breathless – not just because of the view but because the air is so thin and the climb was so hard. By comparison, the hike back down is often quick and easy.  Gravity is your friend when descending a mountain path.
• When leaders do not put in sustained, focused effort, churches often stop ascending.  They do not stay put, though. Gravity kicks in, and the descent begins. In the moment, it feels good – a great relief from the strenuous effort of ministry. However, coasting never leads anywhere good.  You never coast your way to an amazing mountaintop experience!

I’m praying for you on your journey of leadership. If I or anyone else at the Center for Church Renewal can be of assistance to you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out!