Really Simple Leadership
Friday, March 10, 2006 at 08:21AM My IT guy tells me the other day about RSS - a technology concept which apparently hundreds of people understand in regard to the leadership articles posted here. He tells me that people can subscribe and then don't have to go to the page but rather each article is delivered to their computer "front door". He went off and used too many new ideas and terms too quickly and eventually had to throw out the geek lifesaving ring (all of them carry this in their pocket protectors. It quickly inflates and can be thrown at normal people who are drowning in computer chip lingo.). Luckily, I didn't drown and he slowed down, "We need to have coffee and I need to explain RSS to you because it will change how you write online."
Apparently, there are two kinds of people who read this blog - those that navigate to this page and those who right now are reading it over RSS feed (in normal terms, it arrived at their computer's front door and the data dog brought it in). The people navigating to the site out just about equal the number of people who RSS - I think. But then again, I could be totally misunderstanding the statistics report that this site generates...
All of this to say, I am involved in a technology that I don't fully understand. I just wanted to write because I felt God told me to pass on whatever limited knowledge that I had gained at his feet so that others wouldn't have to learn necessarily all alone or with books. However, there are more constructive ways that I could have structured this site so that those who RSS would have greater access and I could reach more people. I just wanted to write.
This is a picture of so many leaders that I know in ministry. They just want to do "Y" but they get into ministry without knowing anything about the "technology". In the end, they struggle constantly to get the results that they desire doing "Y" because they don't understand the nature and design of ministry.
RSS didn't mean that I couldn't write like I felt led. RSS meant that the website - the vehicle of my writing - could have been designed even more effectively. Those that visit the site want to interact and comment or don't know about RSS. But there is another entire audience that wishes to subscribe and have the articles delivered to them.
Those entering the leadership realm are not limited in doing "Y" but they need to understand that effectively doing "Y" means that they must understand the nature of the system in which they work. You cannot long term, effectively do "Y" and lead people unless you understand the truths of Really Simple Leadership (RSL).
RSL is the vehicle that carries the "Y" that you want to do to the people effectively while allowing you to work, lead and survive effectively. Though, I believe that all successful non-spiritual leadership (even the evil stuff) follows inherent God driven truths, spiritual leaders are the worst at starting to do "Y" without getting RSL. There is some really independent, I am free in Christ, I can do anything, I don't need to wait on you mentality combined with leaders who are afraid to reign people in and teach them that encourages doing "Y" without understanding RSL.
Much like my online writing and RSS - you can do "Y" and never understand RSL. However, you will not only miss some of the audience but as well will work less effectively. Really Simple Leadership (RSL) is predicated upon three sequential truths: first you do, then you understand, then you design.
Design is the process of questioning, reinventing, inventing, developing new concepts would if published have the consequence of making or breaking an organizational system. Understanding is the process of asking, studying and grasping the theory behind the system. It is the beginning of being able to lead the do. Do is the process of proving your character, your metal and loyalty as you simply do until you are capable of discipline and success as a follower.
RSL – do, understand and design – incorporates all that the Bible reveals about successful and unsuccessful leaders. The wisest and richest man in history is a King named Solomon who became king at a very young age. When asked what he needed to do his new calling as king, Solomon asked for discernment. He was too young to have done but now he must lead and he quickly needed the discernment (understanding) that usually comes after first doing.
The spiritual fathers in Christianity had three terms for these three truths of RSL: praktikos, theoretikos, and gnostikos.
Ironically, those who are using RSS are missing the interaction of the site and probably don’t know that each day the “Today’s Article” of yesterday is moved to it’s own article journal. Currently, all of the articles are being placed in the “Praktikos Journal” because that is our focus as we pursue an understanding of the spiritual concepts that teach what we must “do” as spiritual leaders. Whether it is the system of RSS for writers or RSL for spiritual leaders, we will be well served to understand the systems. For spiritual leadership the system is RSL and the first step is “do.” Do is focused on character, moral, virtues and discipline – always and without question.
And that is what these praktikos articles are all about – let’s all refresh ourselves on the virtues and then practice them well.
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