A Hidden Power That’s Obvious

Let's start with an example we can all consider. 

A self-absorbed chief executive officer arrived at the hotel ballroom for his company's annual meeting, only to be stopped at the door by a uniformed guard. The muscular six-foot-five guard asked the CEO to wait while he checked the list. "But don't you know who I am?" the CEO sputtered. “No, sir,” the guard replied. “As soon as I find out, I’ll let you know.”

Everywhere I travel these days, I find people upset with the current leadership in government, business, education, media, and pretty much every other area where relationships matter. It's like flies on a screen door. The flies inside want out, and the flies outside want in. People are swinging from one extreme to another, looking for a leader they can trust, someone who is honest and not self-serving. Most people sense that something is wrong, but identifying what's wrong is much harder. 

Dr. Loren Gresham, president of Southern Nazarene University, observed, "True leadership must be for the benefit of the people, not just for the enrichment of the institution. I might add, not just for the sake of philosophy or political position." 

Stephen Covey describes a leader as someone who climbs the tallest tree, surveys the situation, and yells, "Wrong jungle!" The story in Matthew 20:20-28 recounts Jesus yelling, "Wrong jungle!" at some of His leaders. The mother of two of His leaders, James and John, approached Jesus and tried to manipulate Him into granting them the highest places of honor, sitting on His right and left in His kingdom to come. This disgusted the other disciples, who became angry with both the sons and the mother. Perhaps this is what makes so many people disgusted and frustrated with leaders in today's world, too. 

Look at what Jesus says to the other disgruntled leaders about true leadership: "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It won't be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your servant. That is what the Son of Man has done; He came to serve, not to be served" Matthew 20:23-25, Message

Jesus used this incident to define real leadership, the kind that is not EGO-driven but a heavenly form of EGO-driven. In his book Lead Like Jesus, Ken Blanchard writes that human leadership must not elbow its way to the front or take over. Ego-centered, ego-prominent humanistic leadership betrays the type of leadership God wants. According to Blanchard, Jesus demonstrated EGO leadership - "Exalt God Only" - instead of humanistic EGO - "Edging God Out."

It doesn't matter which political party or side of an argument we are affiliated with. What frustrates people is ego-driven, self-centered leaders who plunder the people they lead. We see this leadership style in every setting, whether in a marriage, a company, a school, a church, a city, or a nation. 

The Edging God Out style always creates separation from God, from others, and within us. It fosters comparison, classification, and commendation. It distorts the truth into a false sense of security - an “us vs. them/win-lose/right-wrong” mindset that ultimately divides a house against itself. It thrives on instant gratification, recognition, power, and being the center of attention. 

Maybe it is time to stop complaining and start serving, marrying, working for, following, and being an Exalt God Only type leader who lives the less me, more we type of leadership. 

So, what should we do about it? I recommend reading Ethan Willis's new book, “Humble Power: Less Ego, More Impact, Better Results” (Humblepower.com)

Ethan opens his book by discussing Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, a $700-million batter-pitcher extraordinaire and arguably the greatest two-way player in modern baseball history. You might ask, how could you call one of sports' highest-paid players humble?

Ethan explains that it all goes back to his high school coach in Japan. The coach had a knack for building character alongside skill. Regarding pitchers, the coach said: “The mound is the most important place on the field. It's like a stage where you receive the most attention; you are at the pinnacle. For the rest of the day, I tell them, 'You have to do the lowest job.'" That's why Ohtani fills water cups for his teammates between innings and stacks them on the cooler. The adjective "humble" appears in nearly every media interview with Ohtani.

Ethan Willis distinguishes between phony self-deprecating behavior and true humility. You learn that “humble power is a mighty and expansive force multiplier of good things.” Ethan also writes, “When ego isn’t in the way, criticism becomes information. Adjustments become possible, and improvement continues.”

Here’s your leadership takeaway from Ethan Willis: "Leading with ‘Humble Power' is not about diminishing yourself. It's about amplifying others." "Humble power isn't soft," Willis writes. “It’s the kind of power that is strong enough to last.” 

Humble pie may taste awful, but it contains much nourishment.