The Leader as Shepherd - Presence PointThe Ideal Team Player, and The Advantage Shepherd leadership...
Transcript of The Leader as Shepherd - Presence PointThe Ideal Team Player, and The Advantage Shepherd leadership...
Holly Culhane
A Lesson from the Ancients for Modern Day Leaders
The Leader as Shepherd
It’s right, it’s real, and it’s convicting.
— Patrick LencioniAuthor of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,
The Ideal Team Player, and The Advantage
Shepherd leadership is all about
servant leadership in action. Everyone
should recognize that their job is to
provide, protect, and be present for their
people. Applying this model will make
a difference in their lives and yours.
— Ken Blanchard, Ph.D.Author of New One Minute Manager
Co-author Lead Like Jesus Revisited
“We would have dealt with this issue last month, but we had
financial decisions to make,” was the response by the Chair of the
organization’s Board when we inquired into the timing of the removal
of a leader in our church body. My husband and I were shocked. The
leader had breached an acceptable moral norm of religious society and
moved far to the left of the Scriptural tenets of the organization.
“Didn’t you think this issue took precedence to a financial decision, or
at least also should have been dealt with during that meeting” we asked.
They put the importance of a financial decision above this issue. Our
thoughts were that the new leader had broken what many believe to be
God’s law as communicated directly to Moses on a mountaintop 3,600
years ago in the Ten Commandments: inappropriate relationships
outside of the marriage covenant are forbidden.
It may simply have been “mission drift,” a phrase Peter Greer and
Chris Horst coined to describe the unspoken crisis leaders, charities,
and churches face as they drift from their founding mission and purpose.
It seemed more than that, much more. A financial decision — not even
an especially critical one — had overridden the need to address the
immoral lifestyle of the senior leader of an organization built on
spiritually moral tenets. Something was profoundly wrong.
Introduction
© 2016 Presence Point, Inc. · Live Into Your Calling®
Introduction · 3
We asked if they were seeking advice on how to help church
members, many in a state of grief. The obtuse response we received
was, “No. Should we be?”
Those who had invested their lives, their resources, and their
hearts were deeply pained by the compounding disappointments with
leaders in this organization. Many efforts had initiated from this group.
From feeding the hungry and adopting the orphaned, to loving the
lost in the local neighborhood and around the world, so many had
invested so much and their trust had been betrayed on multiple
occasions and at profound levels.
This was the fourth serious sexual failure among the leadership
team in seven years. For those with deep knowledge of the organization,
it was yet another gap in integrity exposed. It represented more than
missing the mark of its spiritual directives.
As a couple, together we sought wise counsel and dug deeply into
the possible cause of such a lapse in devotion by leadership. Meditation
and prayer were given priority at a time when we knew our next steps
were imperative. We moved forward with the belief that we had a new
level of responsibility.
During this process, one theme consistently emerged: there was
something missing. What would cause these men to risk the respect
and dedication of 1,500 parishioners and to seemingly miss their
responsibility to care for people now feeling so betrayed? Was there
a trait, a skill, or a tool they lacked?
Neither of us knew and I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I was
compelled to learn more.
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
4 · Introduction
Two weeks later at an unrelated board meeting, a gentlemen
sitting next to me learned of my experience and leaned over to gently
whisper, “Are you sure this isn’t a leadership issue?” My immediate
thought was one of denial. It couldn’t be.
Later, a wise and dear friend reminded my husband and I,
“A shepherd is supposed to lay down his life for the sheep.” We both
were fascinated by the comment, but I was especially intrigued. The
ancients often referred to followers as sheep and tended to their needs.
It became obvious our church leaders had not considered the needs of
their followers as their highest priority. It boiled down to true leadership.
Perhaps it needed to be shepherd leadership. Was that the issue?
© 2016 Presence Point, Inc. · Live Into Your Calling®
Introduction · 5
In the Webb household, leadership was routine. Whatever my dad
was passionate about, he led. Although his routine included working
the third shift for an automobile manufacturer and sleeping a few
hours each morning, he awoke at noon to delve with passion into his
rental property business. Volunteer efforts consumed his “free time.”
Dad took a brief nap before heading to work by 10 p.m. each
night. Board meetings, planning sessions, and research were part of
the nights that did not include a scheduled work shift. Preparation,
teaching, and service to his beliefs typically consumed a major
portion of his weekends.
Without a son, my dad seemed to feel all he knew must be passed
on to me, his first-born daughter. Working with him at rental properties
after school and during summer afternoons, I listened to the wisdom
he imparted about the importance of entrepreneurship. His opinion on
business-related issues and integrity filled our time together. No matter
the size of the group, from ten years of age or so forward, my job was
to accompany him to Board meetings and planning sessions. I sat quietly
beside him and paid close attention, doing so partly because he told me
to and partly because I was curious. I learned a great deal from him
during those times.
The first and primary lesson I learned from him was how to lead.
Care for your people, risk your life to protect them, and be sure they
see you often. Dad didn’t say it as much as he lived it, but I knew.
Lessons from a Father
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
6 · Lessons from a Father
Even as the owner of rental property, he felt it was important.
He believed tenants should see you every day. It was a rare day that my
dad didn’t stop by each property. He casually strolled the driveway and
common areas, whistling as he went. His casual demeanor indicated
his comfort level, and his whistle assured anyone inside knew that
he was present.
My depression-era, World War II veteran father taught me all he
knew: a solid work ethic, integrity, and passion. He led while I learned.
He provided for my needs. He protected me when necessary and taught
me how to protect myself. His presence, even in the craziness of his
unconventional life, was palpable. Because of his work schedule, he
didn’t make every evening event at school, but I never felt he wasn’t
there. When I needed to talk, he made time. When I needed a hug,
he knew. His love was deep and his convictions strong. He taught me
from his lifestyle, his words, and his actions. In the context of my wise
friend’s comment, I recognized my dad had been a shepherd to me.
I didn’t fully understand what that term meant, but I realized it was
time to find out.
“Care for your people, risk
your life to protect them, and
be sure they see you often.”
© 2016 Presence Point, Inc. · Live Into Your Calling®
I had occasionally heard the term “shepherding” in a leadership
context from time to time in speeches, books, and the media. Academia
had given us leadership models that I knew worked. After all, I’d taught
them and worked hard to use them — often imperfectly — for nearly
25 years. Heart-felt leaders had spent much time discussing the values
of servant leadership, but was there a skill or a tool or a philosophy
of shepherds that would bring more meaning and deepen the lessons
of servant leadership? After all, a shepherd is one of the best examples
of a servant leader.
Shepherd… what did that mean beyond Webster’s definition of “a
person who herds, tends, or guards sheep” and “a person who protects,
guides, or watches over a person or group of people?” I couldn’t get it
out of my head. It was nagging at me like a dripping faucet.
The second lesson my dad taught me was that he never let the lack
of a college education keep him from learning what he needed to know
to be successful in a business venture or in the classes he taught. In the
days before search engines and laptops, I saw my dad research, read,
take notes, and implement what he learned.
I began to do the same with my current questions. I did Internet
searches of topics related to sheep and shepherding and conducted
interviews with modern-day shepherds. Order after order from
Amazon of books written by shepherds, about shepherds, and for
shepherds came next.
The Dilemma
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
8 · The Dilemma
I learned about methodologies and medical techniques, philosophies
and opinions, and processes and procedures. All pointed to poignant
and practical leadership lessons. It became obvious the term “shepherd”
needed our consideration from a leadership perspective.
In The Catholic Vision for Leading like Jesus, author Dr. Owen
Phelps captured the concept when he boldly noted that an effective
leader is a combination of servant, shepherd, and steward. Ken and
Margie Blanchard built on that school of thought in their Servant
Leadership training program.
After research, multiple interviews, and even readings of the
ancient prophets, a premise emerged: Shepherding is a universal — and
I would say Godly — leadership principle. It applies to supervising, managing,
parenting, and partnering, across cultures, socioeconomic levels,
ethnicities, and generations. It pertains to leading in the government,
non-profit, and private sectors, and applies to entrepreneurs, CEOs,
Vice Presidents, and Directors. Whether leading volunteers, staff
Shepherding is a universal – and some
would say Godly – leadership principle.
The Dilemma · 9
members, peers, children, or church congregants, the principle applies.
(Is this the concept those men had missed?) It applies to friendships, work
relationships, customer service, fundraising efforts, and sales.
As we tested the premise, we learned it worked in third-world
countries such as Kenya where a vast majority of the adults, as children,
had shepherded sheep or goats as part of their contribution to the family
unit. In first-world countries like the U.S., the actual shepherd of sheep
is a foreign concept to most, but the richness of the metaphor spoke
to people as they applied what we had learned in their work units and
families. It connected across generations from Millennials with growing
businesses who found this concept was changing their organizational
culture, to Boomers who connected with a need to shift the leader role
in their families as their children grew into self-sufficient adults. People
of all ages and ethnicities connected with the shepherding message.
It became clear it was time to develop this remarkably simple, yet
uniquely profound concept.
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
10 · The Dilemma
The responsibilities of a shepherd range from assuring the sheep
are in good health on a consistent basis, are well-fed, and are shielded
from predators. The needs of sheep are remarkably similar to people!
Sheep need:
• a calming presence to rest
• discipline to stay on task with the flock
• a leader who knows their condition and responds accordingly
• special attention when they’re young or new to the flock
or struggling
Sheep have no desire for change. In fact, it takes some time for them
to produce wool again after their lifestyle has been altered in any way.
They can be the most beneficial of all livestock when well-managed. They
can be the most destructive, causing ruin almost beyond remedy when
under mismanagement.
Sound familiar? If you’re a parent, a supervisor, or a leader of people
in any environment, you’ll immediately see the analogy between what
people and sheep need to perform well.
The authors of the sacred texts understood this concept and referenced
it throughout their writings. The metaphor of the shepherd was often
used to describe effective leaders, with those who were not led well
referred to as “sheep without a shepherd.” They highlighted shepherds
in their ancient writings starting with the second-born offspring of man,
who was Abel. According to the text, his first sacrifice was a lamb.
True Shepherding
© 2016 Presence Point, Inc. · Live Into Your Calling®
True Shepherding · 11
The writings also tell us that the man who led the enslaved Jews
out of Egypt was Moses, a shepherd of sheep for 40 years prior to
taking on this leadership role. One of the most well-known kings
of ancient times was David, a former shepherd. (Had shepherding
responsibilities prepared Moses and David for their roles?) Amos, an
author described as a prophet, spoke of his vocation as a shepherd.
And Rachel, a shepherdess, was the mother of Joseph, a celebrated
ruler in ancient Egyptian history whose well-implemented strategic
plan saved thousands from starvation during a seven-year famine.
There it was in plain view. When dissected, the ancients understood
the analogy of sheep and people and capitalized on the metaphor of a
shepherd as a leader. Even Jesus, considered by many to be the greatest
leader of all time, referred to Himself as “The Good Shepherd.”
In today’s terminology, the nearly 40 detailed tasks that comprise
the job description of a responsible shepherd of sheep were exactly
those needed to lead people well. Everything from their relationship
with the sheep to the manner in which they provided for their care,
to how they assured for their safety, was included. All I had to do was
synthesize these findings into a model that could be communicated and
implemented by the everyday leader, manager, parent, and partner.
Then it surfaced. Every responsibility of a shepherd and ultimately,
every responsibility of a leader, can be captured in three words:
Provision, Protection, and Presence.
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
12 · True Shepherding
The research was clear. Effective shepherding is grounded in
three pivotal elements of leadership. It’s only when Provision, Protection,
and Presence are intertwined that a shepherd can truly fulfill their
calling as leader.
A good shepherd cares meticulously for the sheep, sparing no pain
for their welfare, providing nourishment from the finest grazing, and
assuring clean water is available from a variety of sources. Similarly, an
effective leader cares for team members or family, providing a suitable
place for them to work or live and resources to sustain them. Effective
spiritual leaders provide provide nourishment through their teaching for
those under their care and enforce that teaching through the lifestyles
they lead.
A good shepherd also delights in his flock, shelters them from
storms, protects them from ruthless enemies, as well as from the diseases
and parasites to which they are susceptible. An effective leader also takes
great pleasure in the successes of his or her team or family, protects them
from danger, and endeavors to assure they are physically and emotionally
healthy. Spiritual leaders who shepherd well prepare their flock for the
storms of life, providing counseling when appropriate to help with
balanced emotional health.
A good shepherd assures their sheep are free from friction, including
tension, rivalry, and cruel competition with other sheep; keeps them in
a dry climate; brings a calming presence to the sheep and watches over
The Leader’s Shield
© 2016 Presence Point, Inc. · Live Into Your Calling®
The Leader’s Shield · 13
them to assure those that are fallen are quickly overturned. An effective
leader addresses conflict, pressure, and harsh competitiveness when it
arises, works hard to encourage rather than frustrate his or her team,
family, or spiritual flock, and brings a reassuring and comforting presence
to his or her followers, including the volunteers of an organization,
providing assistance to those who are struggling.
A good shepherd assures the sheep carries only the proper amount of
wool and guides and disciplines them, in addition to protecting them,
through training, development, and coaching. An effective leader
promises to work with team, family, or church/parish members when
emotional baggage inhibits their productivity, performance, or success.
They discipline fairly when appropriate, providing opportunities for
growth and coaching when it’s suitable to do so.
The effective leader provides for their sheep, protects their sheep, and
are present at a variety of levels for their sheep. To develop the model,
we’ve used the following working definitions of these three terms:
• Provision — “to take care of or to furnish or
supply the need of another”
• Protection — “the act of safeguarding, shielding another
from harm, or guarding against danger”
• Presence — “at hand; physically and/or emotionally
available and engaged”
These three pivotal elements form the Leader’s Shield — not to
protect the leader from those they lead but, in fact, to act as a shield for
those they lead.
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
14 · The Leader’s Shield
What would employee engagement statistics look like if a leader
at work became a true shepherd? What would the future of the world’s
children be if their parental unit shepherded them with an emphasis
on all three pivotal elements? Would prison overcrowding become
a concern of the past? Would the annual one-third turnover rate of
volunteers drop dramatically if non-profits, churches, synagogues, and
mosques truly shepherded those who voluntarily gave of their time,
talents, and treasure to further the mission of their organizations?
Would leadership meetings be better balanced if the behavior of their
leaders and the financial decisions of the organization encompassed
Provision, Protection, and Presence for those they served?
What would employee
engagement statistics look
like if a leader at work became
a true shepherd?
The Leader’s Shield · 15
Years ago, Richard Williams had a goal and a 78-page plan for his
daughters, Venus and Serena. He envisioned them as tennis champions
long before they were born and took tennis lessons himself to learn the
game. Although admittedly starting the girls on the court earlier than
he would now recommend, he started giving them tennis lessons as
preschoolers. He moved them to gang-ridden Compton, California,
not long afterward, believing that champions had to possess more than
skill and talent. Mr. Williams believed they needed determination,
discipline, and toughness to make it to the top of their sport. If that
was his goal, this neighborhood could do it ... if a gang-banger bullet
didn’t kill one of them first.
Were his methods unconventional? Most would say yes, but it
was his commitment to shepherding his girls — not just to be tennis
champions, but to be well-educated, determined women who knew
they were loved by their father — that won the day. He home-schooled
them, fought gang members away from the court when necessary to
allow them appropriate time to practice, and he was willing to sacrifice
himself for their safety and future.
I believe Venus and Serena would say their father was at the top of
his game as a dad. He provided for them, he protected them, and he
was present for them.
Tennis Champions
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
16 · Tennis Champions
Williams love for his daughters was an overriding factor in
their success: Grand Slam title winners a combined total of 28 times,
Wimbledon champions, Olympic Gold medalists four times each,
and both ranked number one in the world in women’s tennis at
various points of their careers. No one can question their success in
tennis. Their greatest claim to fame, however, is having a shepherd
leader as a dad.
© 2016 Presence Point, Inc. · Live Into Your Calling®
Tennis Champions · 17
There’s no formulaic equation that will determine how these three
responsibilities are demonstrated. Every work, home, and volunteer
environment, as well as the culture of a country or organization, will
dictate how a leader lives out Provision, Protection, and Presence.
From the ancients forward, the shepherd’s rod has provided discipline,
prodding, nudging, training, and coaching to help sheep make the right
choices. The shepherd’s staff represents protection, ready at a moment’s
notice to pull the sheep to safety or to help them avoid slipping into a
ravine or crevice. It’s the shepherd’s presence that allows both tools to
be available when needed and provides the trust and peace sheep need
to live well and produce effectively.
For an entrepreneur, supervisor, or manager in a first-world
country, Provision may look like providing a specific type of equipment
or a fair wage. Protection may look like ergonomically designed chairs
and desks, or a facilitated conflict resolution meeting when a team is
struggling. Presence may look like responding to emails in a timely
manner or electronic face-to-face chats if the leader isn’t available
on a consistent basis.
We’ve learned that in a third-world environment, Provision and
Protection may be demonstrated differently. Provision may be expressed
by paying transportation fees for employees. Protection may include
ensuring their employees leave their work environment in time to arrive
at home before dark, or assist them in techniques of how to address
Provision, Protection, and Presence in Action
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
18 · Provision, Protection, and Presence in Action
potential bribery by vendors. Presence is similar in many settings.
It may include the leader’s being available for conversations, seeking
input with problem-solving, and helping address concerns with
their team members.
In the case of a parent, Provision may look like a number
of behaviors, from providing basic food and shelter needs of a child
to assistance with funding for a college education. Protection may be
exhibited by an emotionally safe environment where children and
spouses can thrive, learn, and grow as they share life together. It could
also consist of teaching basic life skills and assuring everyone learns
their responsibility in the family unit. Presence may take the form of
A good shepherd assures the sheep
do not carry too much wool, guides
and disciplines them, in addition to
protecting them through training,
development, and coaching.
Provision, Protection and Presence in Action · 19
electronic-free times together (yes, no cell phones or tablets for either
the parent or the child!), date nights with your spouse, attending
children’s sports events (and paying attention), or listening attentively
to a teenager’s angst over friendships and high school.
Leaders of volunteers may demonstrate Provision by assuring
the volunteers know how their tasks are to be performed and providing
manuals that outline their responsibilities. They may demonstrate
Protection by assuring conflict among volunteers is addressed and
Presence by candid face-to-face communication, holding meetings on
a consistent basis, and/or by seeking volunteers’ feedback in their
areas of expertise.
It’s important to add two additional points of interest with regard
to these three responsibilities: First, whether or not a behavior is
correctly defined as Provision, Protection, or Presence is not imperative.
What is imperative is that all three responsibilities exist through the
efforts of the leader.
Secondly, Presence is about focused attention. Keep in mind
the definition of Presence: “at hand, physically and/or emotionally
available and engaged.” Being present isn’t about attending an event or
signing on to a web connection; followers want their leaders to be
engaged. Engaging presence is one of the significant behaviors that
separate a shepherd from every other kind of leader.
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
20 · Provision, Protection, and Presence in Action
We humans are complicated beings — difficult to understand,
often a struggle to lead, and imperfect in our actions and responses.
It’s often easier to love the child who challenges and stretches our
leadership than the co-worker, team member, or volunteer who
pushes our limits. Here’s the deal, though: We don’t have the option
of discriminating between those we shepherd well and those we
leave in need.
The ancients knew it well. As I studied their writings describing the
shepherd, it was clear this leadership concept is to apply to everyone
leaders are working to influence — even laterally to our peers and
friends. Shepherding well is what leaders are called to when they take
on any influencing or leadership role. And the Leader’s Shield is a tool
to be implemented at all times, not just in easy, convenient, or
comfortable circumstances.
The reality is that our responsibility — our calling as leaders — is
to shepherd, and to shepherd well, all of those in our care.
The Reality
What is imperative is that
all three responsibilities exist
through the efforts of a leader.
The Reality · 21
My dad was intentional in his Provision, Protection, and Presence
for me. So was Richard Williams with his daughters. So are a number
of leaders at organizations who have told us they have ramped up their
attention to all three areas of responsibility. They are seeing remarkable
results in how their teams function together and produce. The same
is true of families who are focusing on Provision, Protection,
and Presence.
The challenge to remember is that the leadership team mentioned
earlier was also intentional. However, their intentionality was misguided.
They missed the shepherding mark, by misunderstanding the elements
of protection and presence. It’s important to remember that leadership
isn’t just about budgets and dollars, but about people. It’s about the sheep.
That’s why it’s imperative that every leader is intentional. Intentional
in the Provision, the Protection, and the Presence provided to those in
their lives. Intentionality doesn’t rule the day, however. As shepherds we
must be purposefully informed. Answering the question of why one does
what he or she does as a leader is imperative. There must be informed
purpose behind each action, each decision, and each step a leader takes
on the shepherd leadership journey. The people in our lives are too
important to offer them less.
Purposeful and Informed Intentionality
The Leader As Shepherd · Holly Culhane
22 · Purposeful and Informed Intentionality
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The power of your message penetrates quickly into issues
of the heart as well as into the role and responsibilities
of the shepherd.
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