Issue #395, April 2, 2025
Successful leaders maintain a laser focus on the organization’s success and ensure everyone is aligned with accomplishing the mission. This is the third action of the Serving Leader Model®, Blaze the Trail™ (*see note). This action reflects what organizations do—their mission. Faith leaders, like Paul, see their organization as a part of God’s plan to make the world a better place so they have added reason to carry out the mission. Consider these verses reflecting Paul’s leadership:
15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory (2 Corinthians 10:15-16, NIV).
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, (Hebrews 12:1. **see note).
Paul helped his team focus on the factors that were critical to the success of the mission.
Paul clarified key success factors.
Paul’s mission was clear: to preach the gospel, especially in “the regions beyond” where there was no church. He defined both his objective and the geographical area in which he would focus. This was his unique contribution to the growth of the church. Every leader and every organization has a unique contribution to make to the world, a “special sauce” that makes their organization distinctive. Some leaders, especially founders, understand this intuitively but don’t know how to clarify this for their team. But serving leaders make these factors clear to everyone on their team. They are able to state with confidence, “These are the things that make us unique.”
Paul taught for success.
Paul calls his followers to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” The markers along the way show the runners where to focus. Paul devoted his life to training others how to achieve the mission. Leaders who Blaze the Trail™ mark the path of success so that others can follow along behind them. They establish standard patterns of operation that can be taught to new team members.
Some leaders expect team members to figure out on their own how to succeed but serving leaders take time to teach what is needed. They are able to say with conviction, “These are the actions we take to succeed and this is how we do it.”
Paul removed obstacles to success.
Paul does not want anything to hinder the focus on the mission. He urges, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” Great leaders name the obstacles to success and do whatever it takes to remove them. They work hard to eliminate wasted time and energy. These obstacles may include lack of training, missing information or necessary equipment, distractions, unnecessary paperwork, wasted time and energy, etc. Some of these activities may be good things, but when they keep people from success, they need to be removed. Some leaders press workers for success but do little to help them remove obstacles. But serving leaders aggressively look for and remove obstacles from their teams. They are able to say with courage, “These things will keep us from success.”
The world needs leaders who “blaze the trail” by showing their teams the way to success.
For further reflection and discussion:
-Do I clearly understand what makes my organization (department, team, etc.) uniquely special? If not, what will I do to clarify what brings us success? Who do I need to talk to? What questions will I ask them?
-How well does my team understand our mission? What can I do this week to remind them of the activities on which we need to focus?
-How well do I teach my team what actions bring us success? How has this impacted my leadership capacity? In what ways can I strengthen the training processes with those I lead?
-Take 10 minutes to reflect on waste in the organization you lead. What are the 3 main areas of waste? (See the short list of suggestions above for ideas). What will I do to remove them?
-In addition to the scriptures used in this issue, read and reflect on how the following passages also illustrate how Paul acted to Blaze the Trail™: Acts 20:20-24; 26:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:2, 22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-11; Philippians 1:27, 3:7-14; 17; 1 Corinthians 4:14-17, 11:1, 15:58; Colossians 1:28-29, 3:2; Galatians 2:7-8; and Ephesians 5:8.
Until next time, yours on the journey,
Jon Byler
In the next issue, we’ll look at how Paul build teams based on strengths.
*Note: The Five Actions of Serving Leadership™ were recognized by Dr. John Stahl-Wert and illustrated in the book The Serving Leader. These actions have been applied by many organizations to integrate serving leadership into everyday leadership practices. See www.CenterforServingLeadership.com for more information.
**Note: It is not known if Paul was the writer of Hebrews although it was traditionally attributed to him. However, even if Paul was not the author, it was almost certainly written by a close disciple or associate of Paul and was in alignment with Paul’s leadership and teaching.