Several months ago, I was having a really bad day. I had received some challenging news that I was unprepared to face. With feelings of depression, hopelessness, and no small amount of anger setting in, I was unable to face my staff who depend on me for leadership and support.
So what did I do? I went straight to my boss, burst into her office, pushing for some serious talk time. And she did exactly those things that cause me to count on her. She validated my feelings. She did a reality check on my facts. Immediately went to the source to correct the issue. Sent me on my way confident in the work we had already done together.
Jesus knew about this need. He was very clear about the source of His power.
“I have received authority from my Father”. Revelation 2:27 NIV.
Jesus knew that without regular time spent with His Father, to renew, to refocus, to remind, to repurpose, He would lose strength and lose sight of His mission. He was on a three year game-changing mission. He had an impossibly short time to do something so shocking, so unique, and finally, so violent, that it would change the thoughts of a universe for all time.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35 NIV.
He knew where to go. He had no question to Whom He should turn. Through His short life, he modeled this for us over and over. He proved it’s value finally through a victorious mission.
Someone told me something about leadership once, and I’ve found it to have lasting value.
When you’re down, go up!
When you’re up, go down!
What do these cryptic words mean? When you are emotionally down, when you’re mission focus is blurry, when you are confused and discouraged about your value or direction, go up! Up the food chain, up the org chart, up to your boss, up to your Heavenly Father, up to a caring parent. Someone who can handle all of your garbage, your discouragement, your confusion, and your anger. Someone who can remind you of who you are. Someone who can get you standing upright again.
When you’re up, when you are clear on the mission, when you have value to share with those around you, when you are strong enough to support and affirm, go to those who count on you for leadership. They could be employees, children, fellow students. If you’re not ready to do that, go up! Rant in your boss’s office, take a prayer moment in the car before entering your home, go where you need to go to get your game face back on.
Jesus knew where to go for renewal, to get His game face back on. And so do you.
shared in the workplace 12.16.13 Thanks Heather!
Related posts: about the importance of my leadership vibe and leading with my values.