The Journey of Leadership

As a child, I was in many different foster homes, passed around like a bag of groceries. As a teen my disabilities caught up with me and I was dubbed by my peers the looser. I was cursed with an abstract mind in a linear world, was academically challenged, and lived in a home where my step father hated boys and my mom coped with life through alcohol.  I was an outcast at school, a loser with my friends, and abandoned at home. At fourteen, in a desperate attempt to find peace I cried out to the Lord; “God you’re my last chance!” while staring at a noose I had hung in my room. God whispered into my heart; “I am your only chance.” I know I am a leader today because of the grace of God and the many godly mentors and coaches who influenced and gave input to me my leadership journey. Teachers, significant adults, church elders, and businessmen believed in me, even when I didn’t.

In my book “The Amaryllis Way”; I share a parable about a failing manager who learns to treat people like plants and turns his leadership life around in the process. The book has been a tool for me to be a light in the work place, a living witness (Matt 5:16). Using horticultural metaphors found in scripture, I compare growing people to growing plants. Growing leaders does not begin by taking a course, or taking a bunch of principles and forcing them on people. Leadership begins in quiet surrender to the almighty God. If you really want to make a difference start drawing a circle around yourselves and praying that God will change everything in that circle. It is only when a plant dies that new life can come from it.

 “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works but glorify you Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

The Amaryllis Way

Taking various insights on discipleship from scripture and borrowing from various leadership theories, I have developed a philosophy and theory of leadership which is transferable to all aspects of our life called “The Amaryllis Way”. To truly appreciate the concept you must understand some of its rich meanings.  First, amaryllis has a caring and managing theme as part of its core. The Latin word is the name given to a female shepherdess. A shepherd guards, nurtures, manages and tends the sheep. Second, the amaryllis can be a flowering plant that comes from a bulb–not just a little bulb, but one the size of a baseball. A bulb is a complete plant just waiting to be nurtured; it represents potential to be nurtured.  Using the gardening motif, we as leaders can be likened to a gardener who takes the bulb and nurtures it to blossom. Finally, ‘amaryllis’ has its root in the French word which means love. It can be likened to the attitude we engage others. As a leader we want to approach all situations in an attitude of love and care.

“Shepherding Potential in Love”

The combination of these three meanings develops a foundation for what I call “The Amaryllis Way” which is simply “Shepherding Potential in Love”. It is the process of discipleship. As godly leaders, parents and spouses we look for the potential in each other, guiding them like a shepherd in their journey of growth with an attitude of love.

The Growing Process- The 8 P’s

The amaryllis model though developed for the workplace can be applied to all areas of our life. It is an attitude that seeks to bear fruit. Borrowing from the basics of gardening, leadership development is a process that can be summed up in eight key words- picture, plan, plow, plant, protect, prune, pollinate and propagate. The model gives a framework and even a practical theology for parenting, outreach in the work place, leadership development, discipleship and team growth.

 The first stage of growth involves picturing and planning. Growing personally, in our businesses and in our families begins with a picture of what can be. That is the dream, the big idea, the preferred reality or vision of what God can do through us. It is asking God to light our path (Psalm 119:130). Godly leaders are men and woman of the book, knowing that the unfolding of the word gives light (Ps 119:130).  Planning precedes the picture stage, in that it maps out the steps necessary to achieving the big picture. Planning is your road map to success. It is what you will trust God to do. We plan the way we want to live, but God makes us able to live it (Proverbs 16:9). As leaders we acknowledge that everything fits and works into God’s plan (Job 25:2).  God does have a plan for our life and those we work with. Picture and planning help envision possible change.

The second stage of growth involves plowing and planting. Plowing is all the preparation, training and coaching necessary to achieve the preferred picture. We plow with an expectation of growth (1 Cor. 9:10). Plowing makes ready the ground, and it begins with allowing God to plow our unplowed hearts (Jer. 4:3, 4). Farmers just don’t plow but they plant (Isaiah 28:24-29). Planting is incarnational ministry in that it requires the presence of a seed. Those who sow generously reap generously (2 Cor. 9:6). Whether at home or work we will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7). What we as leaders’ plant we will harvest. Plant righteousness reap love (Hosea 10:12). Plowing and planting help us initiate change.

The third stage of growth involves protecting and pruning. To protect is to insure an environment where people can grow. It supports, cares and advocates for those you lead. We as leaders can know that we can find refuge in the shadow of his wings (Ps 36:7).  God’s huge outstretched arms protect us (Ps 91:4). Our example is Christ who thought we worth dying for (Acts 20:28). As leaders we provide an atmosphere and culture where people feel safe. Pruning goes the next step and gives direct hands on input and evaluation into the others life and performance.  Pruning encourages and reshapes growth. As leaders we not only speak into the lives of others with love but we allow God to take the pruning shears to our lives so that we can be reshaped (Romans 11:21). Protecting and pruning helps manage and sustain change in our lives, relationships and or businesses.

The final stage of growth is pollinating and propagating.  Pollinating is collaborative approach to accomplishing tasks and developing personnel. It is about otherness; loving others as we love God. It is all about the power of working together through teams. Propagating is all about the outcome; it is about multiplication and reproduction. It is about bearing good fruit as disciples. In John chapter 15:8, Jesus says “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Great leaders produce fruit! They allow God to transform them. They shepherd and guide others with an “agape” or divine type love. Growing leaders who grow leaders intentionally allows the master gardener shape us so we can shape others. As godly leaders we produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Mt 3:8-10). It is the stage of growth that bears fruit. Pollinating and propagating help actualize and multiply change in our lives.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8

Conclusion

In summary, “The Amaryllis Way” is a more than a philosophy of leadership it is an attitude, theology and process of discipleship.  It has the potential transform your work place and revitalize your marriage, your relationships and your community. It is the legacy of developing others who develop others. The Amaryllis leader sees each person like a bulb, full of potential, and seeks to guide them like a shepherd in an attitude of love. It is a mindset that intentionally “Shepherds Potential in Love”. It is an outgrowth of envisioning, initiating, managing, and actualizing change in others through reliance and commitment to Christ.  Great leaders purposely and strategically engage in leadership development, because they believe there only as effective as their people. To grow is to picture, plan, plow, plant, protect, prune, pollinate, and propagate... the eight P’s- it’s the “Amaryllis way!”

by Derrick Mueller