Leaders Give Permission

Jan23
2012 29 Comments Written by danonleadership

It’s Guest Post Monday!!! This post is from Marc Millan who is a worship pastor and fellow blogger. Make sure to check his blog Here and follow him on Twitter. If you would like to be featured on the Guest Post Monday please email me at danblackonleadership.com.

Any way you slice it, leadership more than anything influences people. If you follow John Maxwell, you already know he has said “leadership is influence.” At some point in your leadership I think it’s profoundly important for you to create your own definition of leadership verbally, because whether you know this or not, you are living it out daily for those around you to see it and read it clearly. So, if everyone is watching you lead, you might as well convince yourself of what it should look like.

I believe leadership is a diving spiritual gift that helps people come together, towards a accomplishing a common goal. I’m still working on that definition but I believe that it’s both spiritual and influential. People watch the leaders, “speed of the leader, speed of the team”, that’s what Bill Hybels says. If it’s muddy in the leaders mind, then the people following are sure to be confused, We set so many things in motion as leaders. We set the standard, we set the pace, we give vision and definition, we ultimately give permission.

We tell others what is allowed, what’s not allowed, what’s perfectly ok to do, what we can get away with, we give permission to the culture of our teams. If your team is not coming to work on time, WE give them permission to continue this or we make it clear what is expected in terms or promptness. If your team is not getting their projects done on time, WE give permission for them to continue handing things in late or we set the bar to be met. If your people are showing up unprepared, WE set this standard by example, we convey in action, what is permissible.

Do most people follow these standards or particular set of behaviors? Most times, some people, regardless of how well you lead and give a good example still don’t jump in the game, but I can tell you, it eliminates the excuses, it forces accountability from you first, then towards the team and it leaves a unique legacy. Leadership gives permission.

Question: What permission are you giving intentionally?

Posted in Leadership
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  • http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

    I love that Bill Hybels quote.
    One of the things I try to be careful about is not stamping out initiative. A lot of times people will have ideas about things they’d like to do – and quite frankly, they often aren’t that great. But if I constantly point out the flaws in these ideas, I’m afraid people will hesitate to offer up more and more ideas. So I have to handle those carefully.
    I guess what I’m saying is that I try to give permission to people to come up with new ideas.

    • Anonymous

      Loren,
      Allowing and helping people come up with ideas is so important. A leader an go so far if they train and allow their people to think about and share different ideas. Great points.

    • http://About.me/marcmillan Marc Millan

      Loren,
      Your comment is an extended great start for another
      Post. When we shoot down ideas, we are saying loudly…
      We don’t need them, don’t want them…
      M_

  • Anonymous

    Leadership is as much example as influence. You discussed leading yourself in a post not long ago. So crucial! If you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead others!

    • Anonymous

      Matt,
      so true. Thank you for taking time to read and share.

    • http://About.me/marcmillan Marc Millan

      Our example is our promoted permission right?
      Thanks Matt.
      M_

  • http://tcavey.blogspot.com/ TCAvey

    Love your point that leaders need to be accountable first, I think people realize when leaders are not living out their beliefs or if they are confused. It is important for leaders be accountable to others and to themselves. I think it’s also important for leaders to be honest with others when they are confused. Honesty goes a long way in building relationships.

    • Anonymous

      Great points. I think when leaders don’t live what they are preaching the people will stop following the leader. Marc hit a home run on this post. Thank you for adding to the discussion.

    • http://About.me/marcmillan Marc Millan

      TC,
      Honesty is everything, people buy into the leader
      Before they can fully buy into the mission or vision.
      M_

      • http://tcavey.blogspot.com/ TCAvey

        So true! Enjoyed, I checked out your blog…good stuff, I look forward to reading more. Please feel free to check out mine :)

  • http://thebeardedidealist.com/ Stephen Haggerty

    True and convicting. I really like the Hybels quote. Right off the bad I’m thinking of several things that have recently perturbed me about my team lately that I now realize I have led them to think is acceptable behavior as demonstrated by my own behavior. Thanks for the insight, Marc, and thanks for hosting a community-minded blog, Dan!

    • http://About.me/marcmillan Marc Millan

      Steve, thank for reading and sharing bro.
      Blessings,
      M_

    • Anonymous

      Stephen,
      I also feel convicted with some of my current behaviors. Let’s change our behaviors so we leave lasting value and impact. Glad you enjoy reading the guest posts. I know I have.

  • http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

    I try to give the leaders in my ministry the permission to use their gifts and talents to try something new, and give them the permission to fail. It’s not always easy, because for years, I was the only leader and did everything. There definitely was a transition period of handing off some of those duties, but now – I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love that my leaders can fail, because it helps them be more creative.

  • http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

    I try to give the leaders in my ministry the permission to use their gifts and talents to try something new, and give them the permission to fail. It’s not always easy, because for years, I was the only leader and did everything. There definitely was a transition period of handing off some of those duties, but now – I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love that my leaders can fail, because it helps them be more creative.

    • Anonymous

      Jason,
      I think this is sometimes the hardest thing to do. Being able to let go and allow other people to take different parts of the ministry. I was in your same situation a few years ago when I was a volunteer youth leader/pastor. It took a while for myself and the other leaders to allow the youth/ other workers to serve. Thank you for sharing your experience.

    • http://About.me/marcmillan Marc Millan

      Jason, that’s the struggle isn’t it? Allowing others to grow and fail?
      Good stuff.
      M_

  • http://talesofwork.com kimanzi constable

    Actions speak louder than words and when leaders actual do what they’re telling others to do, people will naturally follow! That’s what our Lord did, He did everything He said He would do.That’s what I strive for with the people the Lord has entrusted me to lead! Great post

    • Anonymous

      Kimanzi,
      What true and great points. I also strive to follow the Lord and lead through His example. Thank you for adding value to the post.

    • http://About.me/marcmillan Marc Millan

      You are absolutely right, there I’d a quite “what you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what your saying”
      Blessings,
      M_

  • http://www.thedeterminedchristian.com/ Susan

    This is wonderful! As a leader gives permission to others, so must the leader be willing to give permission to himself – permission to learn from others and permission to lead with strength. Too often, people second guess themselves. It is important to rethink things that may take your project or your team in the wrong direction, however, it is not productive to allow doubt to be your leader. After prayer and discussion with people whose opinions I trust, I am able to move forward with confidence.
    Thanks for the great post! I look forward to learning more from you.

    • Anonymous

      Susan,
      These are some great points. I think it starts with self permission before you give others permission. Focusing on self is so important when it comes to setting a positive example. If you have not read Marcs blog make sure you do, he has great content. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.

    • http://About.me/marcmillan Marc Millan

      Such a great understanding, thank you for sharing that nugget of wisdom with us.
      Blessings,
      M_

  • http://www.j4man.wordpress.com Jim F.

    You make excellent points.

    I have been micro-managed in a job I had and I was given the permission to do my job at another place. The one who gave me permission to do what I was called to do – I would have then and now called him a leader. The one who micro-managed – he thought he was a leader but truth is he was not and is not even now.

    Thanks for sharing!

    • Anonymous

      Jim,
      What a great example between the differences of a true leader and a micro-manager. Thank you for sharing your experience.

    • http://About.me/marcmillan Marc Millan

      Jim, I’m glad you have the trust of leader to do what your called to do.
      blessings,
      M_

  • http://www.nginaotiende.blogspot.com Ngina Otiende

    Sometimes as leaders, we want to take credit for the good in our team but shy away from addressing and taking responsibility for the not-so-good. I like how you’ve put it, that “we give permission to the culture in our team’. We can’t be slack in setting the pace and tone. Everything does rise and fall on leadership (John Maxwell).

    Thank you for sharing this. It’s powerful.

    • Anonymous

      Ngina,
      These are some very good points. Thank you for taking the time to read and share.

    • http://About.me/marcmillan Marc Millan

      Ngina,
      Absolutely right, thank you for sharing with us.
      M_