As a leader in a Christian organization and in church over the years, I have long associated leadership with shepherding. In fact, in many contexts, the two have been used interchangeably. You are shepherding or leading people.
This concept, borrowed from Psalm 23, is applicable in every leadership situation, be it in the home, in the community or in the marketplace.
This post was inspired by a Facebook post shared by two of my friends. It originated from Paul Getter, whose description of one verse in Psalm 23 ‘you anoint my head with oil’ left me reflecting deeply on the leader as a shepherd. He argues that David was not being poetic when he wrote those words. He was being practical.
“In the ancient world, sheep were constantly attacked by tiny enemies. Flies that laid eggs in their noses. Parasites that crawled into their ears. Infections that started small and ended with madness, injury or death. A sheep under attack would panic. Rub its head against rocks. Injure itself trying to escape what it could not see. The shepherd would do something intimate and intentional. He would take oil. He would place His hands on the sheep’s head. He would cover the vulnerable places. The nose. The ears. The eyes. Every opening where harm could enter. .”
What an intimate thing to do! Yet, the shepherd does more than this. The shepherd is always concerned about the well-being of his sheep, their pasture, their safety, their health and their comfort.
One of the most profound metaphors for leadership is that of a shepherd, a figure who guides, protects, and nurtures their flock with wisdom and compassion. Here are a few questions we can ask ourselves as we lead as shepherds.
1. Does my team have what (if not all) they need? Do they have peace and refreshment or just busy work? Do they have the assurance that with me in charge they have what they need to perform their duties? The leader as a shepherd provides and nurtures. This is the posture. The provision and nurturing take various forms including training and staff development programmes.
2. In which direction am I guiding my team? Am I guiding my team in the right direction or am I just reacting to problems? What clarifying questions am I asking? The leader as a shepherd provides guidance and protection.
3. Am I consciously creating an environment where my team feels safe to work? Do they enjoy their workday or are they eager for the day to end? Would they consider their workspace a ‘green’ pasture? The leader as a shepherd care about the protection and safety of the team.
4. How am I restoring my team? Am I offering them rest and renewal or am I pushing them to exhaustion? When was the last fun day? When is the next team building event? When is the next retreat? The leader as a shepherd restores and renews the team.
5. How am I serving my team? Am I cognizant of the truth that true greatness in leadership comes from serving and not in lording it over others? In what ways am I ‘preparing’ a table for my team? The leader as a shepherd displays humility and selflessness.
6. What does my behavior during a crisis say about my leadership? Do I provide steady and confident assurance? Do I calm fear and offer hope? How do I lead through valleys and storms? Are my ‘rod and staff for comfort or for threats? The leader as a shepherd offers comfort in crisis.
7. What legacy am I leaving? Is it one of kindness and integrity? Will it be a ‘forever’ (lasting) legacy or will it soon disappear? What will I leave behind. The leader as a shepherd leaves a legacy.