If you missed the introduction and first mystery, you can find that article here: https://blog.euphemos.com/2016/12/15/leadership-lessons-in-the-luminous-mysteries-baptism-in-the-jordan/.

The second mystery is here https://blog.euphemos.com/2016/12/22/leadership-lessons-in-the-luminous-mysteries-wedding-at-cana/.

Proclamation of the Kingdom

The story, for those unfamiliar – This mystery isn’t so much a single story, as a reflection upon Jesus’s active ministry. After John was arrested, Jesus began to travel around proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom. He continued John’s message calling on people to repent (to change their ways), but extended it to indicate that the promised change had arrived. Like John, he avoided street-corner harangues, and did most of his teaching in out of the way places where people had to choose to come listen. Jesus came with the message that he was the one selected by God to bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. He encouraged others to love their enemies, and to do to others what they would like done to them. 

Share good news

There’s something incredibly powerful about sharing good news. It is so easy to point out problems, but how often do we celebrate victories sincerely, or share good news? People want to be around those who bring good news.

Jesus didn’t only share good news, but he made good news. After he made the good news, his message wasn’t “look what I did” (although it was true) but rather “I’m the one who’s come to tell you about the good news.”

Jesus had the right news for the right person. It wasn’t about whether Jesus was more personally enthused about any one of poor, captives, blind, etc. Jesus was there to bring the right good news to each individual.

What’s some good news I can share? What can I do to make some? If I made it, how can I share it so it is about the hearer, not about me? What good news will resonate the strongest with the person with whom I am speaking right now?

Repentance and Dealing with Betrayal

There’s a common misunderstanding of repentance, and without being on the same page there, it is more difficult to address the topic in the light of leadership. Repentance means to turn around, or to change direction. Sometimes, that is misunderstood as applying only and primarily to people “on the wrong path,” which can make a call to repentance even harder to hear than it must. Neither Jesus nor John primarily focused their message of repentance upon people with an incompatible world-view. Instead, they focused their call to change upon persons with whom they already shared a common foundation. Many of their messages were addressed to leaders among the Scribes and Pharisees, the two major religious parties at the time, and none (as far as I can recall) were directed to the pagan people around them. That’s not to say that Jesus didn’t interact with the irreligious or those of a different faith tradition, but they were not his primary focus in the call to repentance. Both Jesus and John were calling religious people to repent. Repentance was not typically call to “quit worshiping various demons and deities, and worship God” but rather – “you already claim to worship God, how about you act like it.”

In short, repentance is primarily by and for those already on the path. It is for insiders, not outsiders, and for leaders as much as for those being led.

As a person who leads others, I am especially called to this continual conversion. I am charged with the responsibility of being open to correction, admitting when I’m wrong, changing my ways, and getting back to the business of helping the people I lead achieve success.

I am encouraged by Jesus’s example of dealing with Peter’s betrayal to do more than begrudgingly let those who betray or disappoint me prove themselves again. Jesus gave his disciple Peter a special role and additional responsibility within his team, then Peter betrayed him publicly. When Jesus (privately) confronted Peter, he didn’t berate him, but simply asked Peter “do you love me?” Jesus gave Peter a chance to express his true feelings and loyalty, affirming the things he betrayed by his previous words and actions. Jesus then turned around and encouraged Peter by telling him that he’d already (before this conversation) prayed that when (not if) Peter had repented and been re-converted, Peter would be strengthened so he could return to help his fellow disciples.

It’s hard to set aside revenge, harder to repay betrayal with trust, and perhaps hardest to repay hatred or apathy with love. Do I have the confidence to do so?

If you missed the introduction and first mystery, you can find that article here: https://blog.euphemos.com/2016/12/15/leadership-lessons-in-the-luminous-mysteries-baptism-in-the-jordan/

The Wedding at Cana

The story, for those unfamiliar: Jesus, his mother, and his disciples, are all invited to a wedding in a town called Cana. Weddings at the time were multi-day affairs during which wine, representing joy, happiness, and abundance in security, flowed copiously. During this particular celebration, the wine runs out (a major party foul), and they go tell Jesus’s mom, Mary. Mary tells Jesus that they’re out of wine. Jesus asks why that’s his problem, and points out it isn’t the right time to do anything showy. Mary tells the servants to do whatever he tells them. Jesus tells the servants to fill (huge) jugs used for washing with water, then bring the water to the master of ceremonies. They do, and it turns into the best wine, ever. The master of ceremonies complements the bridegroom on his excellent provision, serving the best wine last, rather than good wine until they’re drunk, then bad after. Turning water into wine is Jesus’s first documented miracle.

There are at least as many theological opinions and nuances in this account as there are persons to consider it – I’m not at all attempting to reject those, just presenting a narrow slice as it struck me in the context of leadership.

Stepping up to empower others

Jesus is a guest here. He’s not the host, and has no direct responsibility. There’s some hint that his mother may have some position of responsibility, since the servants come to her with a problem, but that doesn’t automatically make it something Jesus needs to deal with. Nevertheless, Jesus steps up to meet the need.

In many respects, stepping up is the essence of leadership. People who desire leadership position for the perks, or to fill some emptiness within them are typically terrible leaders, at least until they grow out of that particular brokenness. In my experience, the only leaders who inspire others to step up are those who step up themselves.

The question, though, is how do we step up to meet the need? What did Jesus do? (This is almost always a better question than what would Jesus do.)

There’s a temptation, especially when a strong individual contributor is asked to take a leadership role, for the leader to misunderstand servant leadership. It’s servant leadership, not servant doer-ship. Leaders “do”, and Jesus plays his part in the work, but Jesus doesn’t make a big show, or physically do all the heavy lifting himself. Instead, he gives clear, calm instructions, empowering those he leads to achieve what they could never even imagine, much less achieve on their own. Without his leadership, nothing happens. Without his power and influence, their efforts could only result in embarrassing failure (serve wash-water as wine?). Without the trust of those doing the work, Jesus’s leadership is ineffectual.

Do I try to do it all myself? Am I trustworthy? When and how do I step up to meet a need? When and what do I do myself, and when do I empower others? Liturgy and Catholic Social Teaching’s principle of subsidiarity present a suggestion for this – every action should be performed at the lowest level possible by the persons closest to the problem. A priest is also ordained a deacon, but it is the deacon who should read the gospel during the liturgy. National and international governments and large NGOs can care for the poor, but it is I who can best care for my neighbor. Jesus could have miraculously filled the vessels just as he changed the water into wine, but he instead inspired and empowered the servants responsible for the feast.

Leading up, and how to offer and accept advice

In this situation, I see Mary as a line manager, with Jesus in the role of executive. I don’t want to go too far afield with only a brief account of their conversation, but there are certainly some lessons here as Jesus and the Blessed Virgin offer examples of how to ‘lead up’ and to offer and accept advice.

The line manager perceives a need she cannot address, and brings the problem to her executive for consideration. She neither demands nor cajoles, but simply presents the need for his consideration. When the executive is not immediately responsive to her need, she does not plead her case further. She does, however, instruct her team to be prepared to “do whatever he tells you.” She trusts that her executive will do the right thing, and empowers and prepares her team to execute when he arrives at a course of action.

The executive hears the need, and his first response is to question whether this is a problem he needs to solve. He points out that this is not the time for him to display his power (his hour is not yet come), but does not immediately reject or accede to his line manager’s request. He questions her on why she’s bringing this problem to her consideration, then may be reasonably assumed to give the matter some thought, as there’s at least enough time for Mary to go instruct the servants before he gives instructions. Ultimately, he decides to address her need.

As a young man, I was given the opportunity to manage international delivery of our product, including defining the process for deciding which markets justified investment, which we should maintain without additional investment, and which we should divest. The C-level executives bought in to the process we designed, but the first time one of our international managing directors pushed back on a decision guided by this process, the executive team reversed the decision. I was frustrated. Their decision was poorly explained and apparently illogical. It was objectively the wrong decision for the product and for the company, so I pressured them to either reverse their decision or explain their rationale. Ultimately, the right decision is now irrelevant; my point is to give background for what my boss, the CTO, taught me in this situation.

He said

Make your case, but once the decision is made, I need you to let it go and help us execute.

At the time, that sounded like selling out or giving up, but there was wisdom in it. We can’t win every battle, and we begin to lose as soon as it becomes a battle at all. That’s not to say that line managers should never stand upon principle or engage in battle with their executives, because, let’s face it, we’re not all fortunate enough to have Jesus Christ as our managing executive.

As I present challenges to my executive, I want to come like Mary – present the need, but do not demand or cajole. Assuming the executive is trustworthy (if they are not, why I am I here?), trust them to do the right thing. Don’t undermine them with my team, or attempt to establish that my team and I are on one side of an issue, and the executive upon another. Do prepare my team to act. Don’t make it a battle unless it is truly a battle worth fighting, and worth stressing the relationship, but maintain integrity.

As I listen to challenges my leads and managers present, I want to respond more like Jesus – listen to the need, ask clarifying questions, and don’t give an off the cuff answer or jump at the chance to throw my weight around, but respond thoughtfully. I need to be willing to take advice from those who may be in positions of lesser authority, but have wisdom to share.

Sharing joy

Practical lessons aside, Jesus’s actions at the wedding were about sharing joy. He shares the joy of service by empowering the servants at the feast to solve a serious social problem. He shares the joy of acclaim with the master of the feast by allowing him to take the credit for bringing the best wine later in the feast. He undoubtedly brought joy to his mother by heeding her advice and responding to the need she presented. He brought joy to his disciples by giving them evidence to support their growing belief in his identity.

On top of this, Jesus does all of this when he doesn’t have to. He’s not engaged in active ministry here, he’s just a guest at a party, engaging socially. It’s not “his job” to solve this problem, and it isn’t even “work-related.”

Do I care enough about my team to empower them, then let them enjoy the accolades? Does that concern extend beyond the workplace, and into their personal life? How can I bring joy into the hearts and homes of my team without becoming a creepy buttinsky? As an introvert, this extracurricular responsibility is particularly challenging for me. I find that praying for my team individually has helped me to grow in this area. I started by keeping notes, and always having “one thing” where I want to help each of my team grow professionally and personally, and that helped, but there’s something about praying for a person that grows my awareness of their needs, and encourages me to look for creative ways to help meet those needs.

Where can I find joy, and how can I share it?

More and more, I struggle with the fact that it’s hard to lead people. Measuring and managing performance, the tactical stuff, that’s something I can do, but really leading? That’s something I have to be… and it’s hard.

I’m blessed to be surrounded by thoughtful people who also want to grow, and to have an employer that encourages me to interact with leadership coaches and invest time in becoming a better leader. The other day, my fellow manager, Tracy, and I were discussing this challenge. How do we become more inspirational leaders? Not just effective managers, but transformational leaders.

I’ve been fascinated for over a decade with the lessons that Jesus offers to leaders, whether believers, or just people of good will who are open to good advice. I’ve also established a pretty regular habit of praying with the rosary on the way to work. Usually, it’s mostly a matter of keeping all ten of my fingers on the steering wheel when people are driving like jerks, or focused upon some concern for my family, but I’ve recently begun praying more often for my workmates.

This morning, I thought back to Jesus as a Level 5 leader, and focused my prayer intention upon my own growth as a leader, and my desire to learn how to inspire others at work, at home, and in civic organizations. Realizing it was Thursday, I got rolling on the Luminous Mysteries, and was blown away.

These mysteries focus upon the public life and ministry of Jesus. Catholic or not, Christian or not, a person of faith or not, Jesus has something to teach us as leaders, and these topics of meditation offer more than food for thought.

So, without further ado – here’s the first mystery. I’ll commit to publishing one of these each Thursday at 3 for the next several weeks as I continue meditating upon how Jesus’s ministry as reflected in the Luminous mysteries applies to my role and growth as a leader.

The Baptism in the Jordan

The story, for those unfamiliar: John the Baptist is a fire and brimstone preacher going around telling people they’re doomed unless they repent of their evil and hypocritical ways. He calls on people, mostly religious leaders, to change their attitudes and behaviors, and to express their repentance with a ritual washing known as baptism. Jesus, John’s slightly younger cousin, comes along. John identifies him as the long-awaited messiah. Jesus demands John baptize him, and John awkwardly complies. Once the ritual washing is complete, there’s a voice from heaven indicating that Jesus is the well-loved and pleasing son of God.

Not rejecting what came before

Many new managers, or leaders new to a role or organization take the easy way out. They draw contrasts between what went before, and what they promise. Jesus comes along, the promised messiah, and not only does he not reject John the Baptist and his ministry calling for repentance, but he endorses it, by submitting himself to it, even though his own style is notably different.

John, likewise, demonstrates one of the qualities of a Level 5 leader. He does not cling to his position, but makes way for his successor, and encourages his followers to do the same. He not only welcomes Jesus, but he identifies himself as one who must diminish in order for Jesus to increase. He sends his disciples to Jesus to see for themselves, and encourages them to ask questions.

As I prepare to move on to a new role, how can I empower my successor to build upon the foundation I’ve laid, and preemptively support their efforts to make improvements upon it? How can I build upon the foundation my predecessors laid, rather than tear down their work or their person? What’s good there that I can reinforce?

Once I am established in my role, can I take responsibility for a mess I may have inherited, and focus on solving the problems, rather than assigning blame? If I do so, will it inspire my team to have a similar attitude and focus?

Example of Repentance

Theologically, Jesus had no need of repentance, but he submitted himself to a baptism of repentance for conversion and the forgiveness of sins. There are various mystical and theological opinions as to why he chose to do this, but there is near-universal agreement that at least a secondary purpose of his action was to provide an example for his followers.

A few years back, inspired by a proverb on feast and fasting for Lent, I gave up “defending myself” as a Lenten discipline. It was astonishingly difficult. I speak up in my own defense during nearly every conversation. I’ve made a (only slightly successful) effort ever since that time to carefully weigh whether or not it is necessary to clarify or defend my position. Most of the time it isn’t necessary… but I do anyway.

Is it more important that I’m right, or that I set a good example of how to behave when I’m (perceived to be) wrong? Can I inspire my team to fail-forward by setting an example of recognizing and admitting mistakes early? Can I encourage them to hold themselves and one another accountable by submitting to the same?

Humility

Ultimately, the baptism in the Jordan presents a lesson on humility. At this occasion, Jesus establishes a pattern in which he neither tears down his forerunners, nor speaks in his own defense. He positively affirms by example the value of admitting error and making a firm resolution to amend one’s course, even at the risk of inaccurately appearing to have erred himself. Modern leadership experts (check out the links… I’m not making this up) have repeatedly confirmed that humility is a key to not only effective leadership, but confident, empowering, engaging, and inspiring leadership. That’s what I want, so this is where I need to grow.

Cardinal Merry del Val describes humility in a beautiful litany of prayerful intentions that can be applied directly or adapted easily to a non-religious set of personal goals and intentions for someone wishing to grow in humility:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.

 

From the desire of being loved…
From the desire of being extolled …
From the desire of being honored …
From the desire of being praised …
From the desire of being preferred to others…
From the desire of being consulted …
From the desire of being approved …
From the fear of being humiliated …
From the fear of being despised…
From the fear of suffering rebukes …
From the fear of being calumniated …
From the fear of being forgotten …
From the fear of being ridiculed …
From the fear of being wronged …
From the fear of being suspected …

 

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

 

That others may be esteemed more than I …
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease …
That others may be chosen and I set aside …
That others may be praised and I unnoticed …
That others may be preferred to me in everything…
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…