The Way of The Shepherd
For an upcoming leadership retreat we were asked to read the book The Way of The Shepherd (Leman & Pentak). It’s a fast (really fast) read. So much so (I struggled with the literary style) it seems made up. Which brings to mind . . . Does a fictional narrative have the same power to tell truth as a non-fictional narrrative?
I mean, how do I explain this . . . the power of what is being taught is swallowed up in the schmaltz and syrup of the narrative. I must be over thinking . . .
Anyhoo, the seven timeless principles of management are:
1. Know the Condition of Your Flock
- Follow the status of your people as well as the status of the work.
- Get to know your flock, one person at a time.
- Engage your people on a regular basis.
- Keep your eyes and ears open, question, and follow through.
2. Discover the Shape of your Sheep
- Your choice of people can make flock management easier or harder.
- Start with healthy people, or you’ll inherit someone else’s problem.
- Know the SHAPE of your people to make sure they’re in the right fold.
3. Help Your Sheep Identify with You
- Build trust with your followers by modeling authenticity, integrity, and compassion.
- Set high standards of performance.
- Engage your people on a regular basis.
- Relentlessly communicate your values and sense of mission.
- Define the cause for your people and tell them where they fit in.
- Remember that great leadership isn’t just professional; it’s personal.
4. Make Your Pasture a Safe Place
- Keep your people well informed.
- Infuse every position with importance.
- Cull chronic instigators from the flock.
- Regularly rotate your people to fresh pastures.
- Reassure your people by staying visible.
- Don’t give problems time to fester.
5. The Staff of Direction
- Know where you’re going, get out in front, and keep your flock on the move.
- When directing, use persuasion rather than coercion.
- Give your people freedom of movement, but make sure they know where the fence line is.
- Don’t confuse boundaries with bridles.
- When your people get in trouble, go and get them out.
- Remind your people that failure isn’t fatal.
6. The Rod of Correction
- Protect: Stand in the gap and fight for your people.
- Correct: Approach discipline as a teaching opportunity.
- Inspect: Regularly inquire about your people’s progress.
7. The Heart of the Shepherd
- Great leadership is a lifestyle, not a technique.
- Every day you have to decide who’s going to pay for your leadership – you or your people.
- Most of all, have a heart for your people.
I know there’s useful truth in this. I just need to get over the style to absorb the substance.
Getting over the style to absorb the substance … sort of like being a friend to me, isn’t it?!
I don’t even know how to react to Discover the Shape of your Sheep.
You know I’m the ever-positive one, but I can’t tell you how many leadership retreats I’ve attended and pulled together for elders only to find when all is said and done we keep doing the same things the same way.
i too am not sure about the ‘Discover the Shape of your Sheep’.
fiction has an incredible power to tell and reveal truth; some just are better at it than others.
there is of course, creative non-fiction.
either way: you find a truth you want to impart and structure the narrative around it; even reverse engineer it if needed. so you have some principles, you find a metaphor set, apply, and voile. make sure you have some segues, maybe throw in a couple devices like an anecdote or epitaph and your good.
i only hope they had enough respect for their audience not to write it at a third grade level.
can i find this part discomfiting “Every day you have to decide who’s going to pay for your leadership – you or your people.”?
“Great leadership is a lifestyle, not a technique.
Every day you have to decide who’s going to pay for your leadership – you or your people.
Most of all, have a heart for your people. ”
I agree – great points. Can I come?