Day 7 Strategic Times for Reimagining

1 Thess. 5:23

To reimagine our leadership, we, too, need a framework, one that prioritizes a wholistic view. We can find one in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. This prayer asks the God of peace to make us holy in every way. To be holy is to be set apart for God’s purposes. As Christian women, we can connect holiness with wholeness, in that holiness is not a set of dos and don’ts for us to follow but a journey of becoming whole and healthy in our spirit, soul, and body as we draw closer to God. I also believe holiness and wholeness entail receiving and experiencing the peace of God.

This passage deals with the sanctification of the believer, and its emphasis on the whole person being set apart for God’s purposes is instructive for us as Christian leaders. The framework we need must address our whole being, not just one dimension of ourselves.

Too often, leadership development frameworks are about developing competencies, which are more cognitive or mental skill sets that guide behavior. Sometimes they include emotional intelligence. But until we address the whole being within the context of our leadership, we won’t be able to lead well.

From 1 Thess. 5:23 we can develop a wholistic approach to our leadership. Leading well entails leading from a place of wellbeing of spirit, soul and body. It includes developing and maintaining a healthy leader identity and ensuring our leadership practices are informed by the values that emerge from our faith. We must ensure we have soul-role alignment, such that our leadership role does not put undo stress on our mental, emotional, relational and physical wellbeing. To lead well also entails beginning to see leadership as a calling from God to make a difference wherever God so chooses to place us.

In my coaching practice, I have found there are strategic times and seasons of life when we may need to reimagine our leadership. During times of vocational transition, such as changing jobs or careers, or after a promotion, we can create something new. With every major life change, such as marriage, divorce, childbirth, adoption, or becoming a caregiver for elderly loved ones, we may need to adjust our rhythms, routines, and practices to thrive and to lead well. Such changes demand we assess and adjust our leadership for our souls’ sakes.

While launching a business, we can develop strategic plans that include leadership self­care. Finally, as we get closer to retirement, we must reimagine our next leadership stage with the view that as Black Christian women of faith we will still be vital to our communities. Any or all of these strategic times may cause external pressures, but we can lead well from the inside out.

Now is the time to reimagine how we will attend to our wellness while ensuring the health of our business, our role, our further education, and the people we lead. Now is the time to consider the boundaries we need to establish and maintain that will enable us to lead well for the long haul.

Now is the time to prioritize caring for ourselves while leading others.