Josh Collesano dot com

What Emerging Leaders Need To Excel

Last week Dan Sadlier asked if I would take part in a blog series called Letters From The Future. Each post would be from a young, emerging leader and would answer the question “what do you need from your leader(s) to excel?”

Rather than search the infinitely expanding blog world I wanted to share out of my own practical experiences what I believe to be 5 key things that emerging leaders need in order to excel.

PERMISSION

This isn’t freedom, this is different than freedom. Freedom is needed and a good thing, but permission… permission is intentional. Give me permission to fail, to lead, and to win. Let me show you what I can do without you tell me what you think I can do. This flows directly into the next thing young leaders need. Restriction.

RESTRICTION

Wait… what!? Yea I know… I so badly didn’t want to write this one down but the more I think about it the more it’s true. I see young leaders in my generation screaming for freedom (and that’s good) but I don’t think we necessarily know what we’re asking for. Give me complete freedom and chances are the project won’t get done on time, i’ll be less likely to change the vision to fit what I want and i’ll probably burn myself out in the end. Yes, I am an adult. Yes, I am responsible, but if you show me the sandbox that I get to play in, i’ll build a better sandcastle. Show me the beach… i’m going surfing.

RELATIONSHIP

In order for me to follow you I need to know YOU.  Not just what you do in the context of what we do together, but who you are. Healthy relationships are open, honest, communicate intentionality, and build trust. I love meeting with those who are leading me and hearing “so, what do you need?” or “what do you have for me”. It shows that a leader cares about me as a person, rather than a producer. The world needs intentional leaders, not managers.

VISION

give me THE vision, and if the above four are present then I will do the best with what i’ve been given to carry it with me in all that I do. If the vision is clear, or isn’t often communicated it leaves it open to interpretation, which can be a dangerous thing. It also helps if the vision makes sense. I work for a church and I can’t tell you how many mission statements, vision statements that i’ve seen that are a paragraph long which by the end of them you’re left scratching your head wondering how to make sense of it. 

PASSION

I will champion the vision and the mission if I believe in it. I believe it when I see that you believe it. I’m bringing my own form of awesome-sauce to the table but it’s so much more refreshing to work with and for leadership that is passionate about what they do and where they do it.    

I’m grateful for Dan’s friendship and continued leadership in my life. Read his blog. Follow his tweets.