Day 1 What Is Leading Well?

John 4:13–14

Black women lead. Some of us are corporate executives or managers seeking to rewire our leadership. Some are considering entering new leadership roles. Some lead in churches and community agencies. Some lead as volunteers in service organizations. Still others are retired, now helping to raise grandchildren. And more and more of us want to lead in a way that does not cause detriment to our souls. Basically, we want to lead well. What does that look like from a Black woman’s perspective?

Because answers vary, let’s start with a foundational definition. For our purposes, leading is the process of influencing, making an impact, and providing guidance and wisdom, whether we have a title or not. As Black women of faith, leading also includes being the light and a representative of Christ wherever we have been called.

Like our hair textures, colors, lengths, and styles, Black Christian women’s leadership is diverse. Leadership looks different on each of us! Yet when it comes to execution of our roles, one similarity is worth pursuit. We can—and should—lead well. What does that mean?

Leading well is foremost leading effectively. Effective leaders fulfill their assignments and execute responsibilities with excellence and maximum impact. I believe leading well also means leading from a place of wholeness, whereby Black Christian women are empowered by the Spirit of God for maximum output with minimal negative impact on ourselves and others. Thus I define leading well as a wholistic approach based on leading from the inside out—from the wellspring of living water that Jesus promised in John 4:14. It is the type of leadership that equips, empowers, rejuvenates, and inspires us to serve in the church and the marketplace as a calling.

The story of the woman at the well is powerful. It shows Jesus in dialogue with an unnamed woman and reveals the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Their interaction leads to a reimagining of salvation as an eternally flowing, life­giving relationship that bubbles up like a spring of fresh water and shifts our perspective on worship to an authentic means of accessing the Spirit not to be confined to a place.

Further, this woman’s story didn’t stop at the end of John 4. The Orthodox Christian tradition names this woman as early missionary leader St. Photini. Their chronicling of her legendary story helps us reimagine the woman at the well even further. The same thing is possible for us. We can reimagine our lives and leadership and chronicle our legendary stories for our wellbeing and those we lead and serve.