“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

John Maxwell

Many of you are familiar with the quote from John Maxwell. The first time I heard the quote was at an event with a speaker discussing leadership. The speaker shared the quote in isolation. In other words, there wasn’t much explanation that followed. And because of that, it led me to my first existential leadership crisis.

My Leadership Struggle

I mistakenly understood the quote to mean that leaders must know everything and have zero uncertainty. So, I struggled and questioned myself as a leader because of a wide gap between my understanding and experience. As a leader, I didn’t know everything and was often faced with uncertainty. I finally concluded that John Maxwell was wrong (highly unlikely 😊) or I was missing something.

What “Knowing the Way” Does Not Mean…

I knew that there was something that I was missing. I also knew that folks with the task of leadership face uncertainty quite often. The complexities of our world do not allow for 100% certainty all the time. The COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example. The system of our modern economy and the systems of our organizations were not designed for pandemics.

When COVID first came on the scene, I was responsible for providing care for men, women, and families who were experiencing homelessness. In addition, we were operating a residential treatment program for men struggling with addiction and three resale shops that funded the program. COVID was a major disruptor that we were not prepared for. Our shelters and treatment centers were designed as congregant living spaces. In other words, lots of people in close proximity. How do you protect folks in a shelter that allows almost no space for social distancing?

To make matters worse, the information we received constantly changed. As a leader in this context, I quickly understood that I had to make decisions based on the relevant information that I had available. And we had to be nimble and quick to adjust as things changed. I am convinced that 80% of leadership is figuring out. Whether it’s a pandemic, the emergence of novel technology, or a new player in the market, disruptions and a degree of uncertainty are a reality.

A Leader is One Who Knows the Way

What I learned from this is that “figuring it out” is what it means to “know the way.” That is to say, the leader will face uncertainty, and it is their job to step in and bring about a sense of certainty for their followers. Leaders must make decisions based on the information that they have available. Sometimes, you will get it right; other times, you will not. That’s okay, so long as you adjust after missing the mark. The best football coaches make adjustments at half-time, and the best teams implement them.

 Knowing the way also means that the leader understands the organization’s purpose. The organization’s mission and values serve as guideposts or, as a good friend of mine has said, “the true north of the organization.” The leader must lean on and refer back to the mission and values, which will help bring certainty. In like manner, the starting point is the mission and values when crafting a vision for the organization.

Abraham: A True Leadership Story

There is a story in the Bible about a man named Abraham. Abraham is known as the father of the three great monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). In the story, God confronts Abraham and asks him to leave his homeland. He’s promised children and many descendants if he obeys. However, God doesn’t tell him where to go, nor does he map out the journey. Instead, God’s message is, “Go, and when you get there, I’ll let you know you made it to the right place.” So, Abraham, armed with a sense of purpose and mission, goes. And along his journey, he faces all sorts of uncertainty. He sometimes makes terrible decisions; he’s spot on in others. You can read about Abraham’s story in Genesis 12 – 25. For me, Abraham is a great example of a leader armed with a purpose and mission and set out to encounter and overcome uncertainty. That, my friends, is faith. Abraham appears once more in the New Testament letter to the Hebrews. In the letter (chapter 11), he is commended for his faith.

Whether new or early in your leadership journey or a seasoned vet, I encourage you to “know the way, go the way, and show the way.”

Please share your insights to leading well through the unknown.

P.S. If you are giving a leadership talk, PLEASE elaborate on the quotes you share 😊.