Leadership Development: The Classroom Without Walls

Visionary leadership development extends training beyond the confines of the four walls of a classroom. At its core leadership development means doing life together not just off-loading facts. It is impossible to separate some level of “mentoring” from effective leadership development.

I hesitate to share maxims about this topic lest it be relegated to a motivational plaque on a wall. However, sometimes concise, pithy words capture a dynamic truth. One of those phases is “In everything we do…we teach.” I do not remember the first time I heard this concept or the first person who said it to me, but I do know it has influenced my approach to leadership development.

As leaders it is easy to forget or convince ourselves training others is strictly formal. We overlook the power of our influence in the day to day activities. People watch how we handle pressure, answer questions, treat people and just live our lives.

Effective leaders understand the potential of their influence as mentor. Mentoring leaders see the power of “In everything we do…we teach,” and it becomes a philosophy to adapt, not a statement to post. A commitment to this approach creates a variety of tensions to be managed.

I have listed three key tensions to manage when considering the concept of, “In everything we do…we teach.”

Excellence vs Status-quo

The mentoring leader is committed to details realizing the value of setting a standard for excellence. She understands that how she handles the details creates a paradigm for those she is leading. Living a life of excellence will validate a leader’s classroom training sessions.

Design vs Default

Mentoring leaders are committed to “big picture” living- functioning by design not default.  They have a plan or design which serves as their blueprint for life, business and ministry.

Someone has said there are three types of people in the world:

• Those who make things happen
• Those who watch things happen
• Those who wonder…what happened

Obviously, the leader who leads by design is one who makes things happen. He is not willing to relinquish his influence to default.

People vs Program

Mentoring leaders are more concerned with “people than programs.” They do not use people to build their organizations or ministries. They understand building people is the primary objective of a leader. They focus on investing in people. Mentoring leaders capitalize on teachable moments and use them to effectively build individuals.

Managing these tensions will be the difference maker in a leader’s life. How have you navigated these concepts in order to build the people under your leadership?