360 Degree Leadership

Via Bill Hybels and Dee Hock

The Premise:
Typically we think of leadership as leading down. Hock, the genius behind the Visa company, argues that this is too one-dimensional; that the most effective leadership has a 360 degree nature.

Hybels likens it to a compass, as the image shows. Obviously, the imagery is intentional as a compass is the tool which directs our leadership. As seen, there are four points and a center to the compass, each corresponding to a different area of leadership. I'll explain...

SELF
The leader must care for himself first. This might seem unethical or selfish or narcissistic but here me out. If I am not leading myself; i.e. staying grounded in prayer, family, discipline, reflection, exercise, etc., my leadership will certainly suffer. If I focus all my time on leading down but don't care for my own growth, the organization will stagnate and I will burnout in micromanagement. The same will happen with an over-focus on pleasing superiors. Undue focus on peers will leave me satisfied socially but suffering vocationally. And so effective leadership starts with the self. So much so that Hock thinks 50% of our energy should be placed here!

UPWARD
Hock uses the term, "leading your superiors." I had to wrad my mind around that for a while. Hybels again describes it as "leading up" not "sucking up". There are four components to practicing this healthily:

1. Do your job well! It all starts with being dependable. In this way your boss need not micromanage you, but rather resource you. The more you do your job, the less he does your job, and the more
   
2. Establish relationships. Thereby you will better know one another's needs, and you can be better resourced.
   
3. Know their style. Leaders lead differently; thee is no one pattern so discern and adjust. Again this frees your superior from micromanagement.
   
4. Dream with them. Send them ideas, not problems.
   

Hock recommends spending 25% of our energy leading up. If everyone at every level led up, it would be easy to see how little leading down would need to take place...

PEER (INSIDE)
This refers to those in the organization. Hock gives 10% of our energy here, ensuring constructive relationships while keeping drama to the minimum.

PEER (OUTSIDE)
Refers to friends outside. This also receives 10% and refers to colleagues socially and in the marketplace. If we are not learning from peers how will we best advance?

DOWNWARD
So leaves leaves only 5% of our energy in leading down. The hope is that those under our authority are so motivated by our character (ie SELF), by our example of "leading up" and by the model of our camaraderie with peers, that they will replicate this diagram and likewise apply the same percentages. In this way, leading down is only to clarify information gaps, offer minor correctives, and to lavish affirmations as we wee them.

Could it work in the church? Without getting to deeply into it, it is interesting to notice that the most celebrated Biblical characters, Moses, David, Jesus, and Paul, clearly spent intentional energy to better themselves with God. Out of this God centered self-care came incredible blessing and ministry...