Leaders Use the Right Tools

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1998

Abstract

gheart.com/blog/leaders-protect-teams-from-predators?rq=protect">protecting the team</a> from those who would do harm. We protect the team from <a href="https://www.shepherdingheart.com/blog/leaders-protect-their-teams-from-burning?rq=protect">themselves</a> and help us achieve the mission and accomplish the <a href="https://www.shepherdingheart.com/blog/recognizing-the-remarkable?rq=accomplish">remarkable</a>.</li><li><b>Staff:</b> The staff is used most. It represents our responsibility to provide direction, guidance, and comfort along the journey. It can even extend our reach.</li></ul><h2 id="ae93">Internal</h2><p id="89b4">The most important are the tools residing inside each leader reflected in our <a href="https://www.shepherdingheart.com/blog/actions-defining-the-leader?rq=actions">actions</a>. Dimensions include the heart, mind, voice, and hands.</p><ul><li><b>Heart: </b>Traits of the heart include motivation, empathy, listening, and healing. Without invoking the heart we have great difficulty making lasting change. Watch out! When our hearts focuses more on our desires, motivating our teams may tempt us to employ coercive and authoritarian ways.</li><li><b>Head: </b>Traits of the head include mindset, principles, plans, and execution. When governed by our hearts, our minds work well in devising winning plans to achieve the mission while preserving team health</li><li><b>Voice: </b>Our voice reflects what is in our heart in concert with our head. It communicates both in what we say and how we say it. For this reason, I think our voice is the most important tool because it can connect our message and direction to the hearts of others.</li></ul><h2 id="2a13">Do you have what it takes?</h2><p id="18b7">I think you do. You have all you need to get started. Becoming a leader others want to follow is established with trust over time.</p><p id="1ede">We know each person by name. We know their story. What they like what they don’t and we care about each one.</p><p

Options

id="447e">Our people understand we care. That is why when we call them they come. They will not follow the voice of a stranger.</p><h2 id="3012">Last thoughts</h2><blockquote id="e013"><p><i>The <a href="https://www.shepherdingheart.com/blog/the-case-for-shepherding?rq=shepherd%20leader">shepherd-leader</a></i> <i>leads out front when it is time to move. Not because they are better, but because it is up to them to model the behaviors they expect from their team. We set the tone. We do it consistently. And we do it from the heart.</i></p></blockquote><p id="8ad8"><b>Shepherding: </b>The art of becoming the leader others want to follow</p><div id="071d" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/about-me-eric-peterson-shepherd-leadership-6fc994b0ee98"> <div> <div> <h2>About Me — Eric Peterson</h2> <div><h3>Program Manager, Creator, Coach & Servant Leader. I write about leadership, team building, and community formation.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*PErsKvixT63eFIY4yK_VZw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="ae89" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/increasing-your-influence-while-leading-teams-through-adversity-shepherd-leadership-81cffeee51e9"> <div> <div> <h2>Increasing Your Influence While Leading Teams Through Adversity</h2> <div><h3>3 pivots influencers make when facing adversity.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*IoaX40H7mmPX8Rcx)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Tools are important

Effective leaders select tools to accentuate what they do best. Growing leaders treat their development just as an apprentice does their craft. Applying themselves daily, perfecting their skills to maximize value for those they choose to serve.

The best leaders get the most out of their current toolset while acquiring new ones for the future. Humble. Empathetic. Compassionate. The leader of tomorrow recognizes their limitations. They learn from other leaders further ahead on the journey. And they keep creating new things.

In my work in equipping servant leaders, there are an additional set of tools one can acquire.

External

The shepherd-leader uses physical tools such as the rod and the staff. As symbols, each illustrates important and distinct purposes.

Rod: The rod represents protecting the team from those who would do harm. We protect the team from themselves and help us achieve the mission and accomplish the remarkable.

Staff: The staff is used most. It represents our responsibility to provide direction, guidance, and comfort along the journey. It can even extend our reach.

Internal

The most important are the tools residing inside each leader reflected in our actions. Dimensions include the heart, mind, voice, and hands.

Heart: Traits of the heart include motivation, empathy, listening, and healing. Without invoking the heart we have great difficulty making lasting change. Watch out! When our hearts focuses more on our desires, motivating our teams may tempt us to employ coercive and authoritarian ways.

Head: Traits of the head include mindset, principles, plans, and execution. When governed by our hearts, our minds work well in devising winning plans to achieve the mission while preserving team health

Voice: Our voice reflects what is in our heart in concert with our head. It communicates both in what we say and how we say it. For this reason, I think our voice is the most important tool because it can connect our message and direction to the hearts of others.

Do you have what it takes?

I think you do. You have all you need to get started. Becoming a leader others want to follow is established with trust over time.

We know each person by name. We know their story. What they like what they don’t and we care about each one.

Our people understand we care. That is why when we call them they come. They will not follow the voice of a stranger.

Leadership

Leaders Use the Right Tools

The most important leadership tools may not be what you think

Tools are important

External

Internal

Do you have what it takes?

Last thoughts

About Me — Eric Peterson

Program Manager, Creator, Coach & Servant Leader. I write about leadership, team building, and community formation.

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