The Magnificent ExitSample

Patiently Pioneering and Defeating Insecurity

John the Baptist was a visionary leader. He was also Jesus’ cousin. He could easily have lived with crippling jealousy and insecurity, trying to oust Jesus from the circles of powerful influence he had built up as a renowned leader. Instead, John celebrated Jesus’ majesty and ministry. He got out of the way, so God could do His work.

Chances are you’re a visionary leader – and after you’ve handed over one organization, you’ll most likely still have visionary and pioneering impulses. There are many examples of old leaders who pioneer something new near their old project. This spells disaster. Those you’ve led for years now have the option of sitting under a new leader who is learning the art of leadership or coming under your trusted leadership again. It may be a no-brainer for them. If these people move with you, then you’ll change the center of gravity and make it impossible for the new leader to find their equilibrium, their security, or worse, their voice. All the effort you put into ensuring a smooth transition for your old team will be washed away in a few short years. I would encourage you to be patient. Seek the Lord for clarity and timing. Perhaps the new vision you carry is right from the heart of God, but the timing for it may still be far off.

And then, recognize that as the ‘old leader’, you won’t be exempt from insecurity. You’re a mature leader who has likely dealt with this many times in the past, yet it will likely happen again. Never underestimate the impact that stepping out of a primary leadership role can have on your life. It even happens to retirees who celebrate finally getting to the place they’ve longed to reach for decades.

Insecurity makes us do strange things. Unlike a young leader, whose insecurity may make them try to undermine others to build themselves up, a senior leader’s insecurity gets expressed differently. This type makes you want to showcase your accomplishments, stop taking team input, or stop explaining and being accountable for your decisions. You step into a directive leadership style and drive your own agenda, often at the expense of others.

I believe that the antidote for mature leadership insecurity is to find joy in coaching and releasing others. A common characteristic that most wise, senior leaders have is the incredible ability to contribute to growing other leaders. This is both a rare skill and a much needed one. You’re probably in a place where you can make a real difference in many people’s lives – not by pioneering something new but by contributing to the growth and development of a new generation of leaders. It may be your season to celebrate the growth of others, and you can make their growth possible. You’ve earned the right to this privilege.