Did that headline get your attention? No, I haven’t decided to dabble in financial advising. Trust me; that would not be a good thing. My idea of successful financial planning is to have enough in the bank to cover the last check I write before death. Maybe someone else will leave a generous inheritance to my kids. I just don’t want to leave them with unpaid bills.
The investment portfolio I am talking about has little to do with money, though some may be required. I’m talking about investing in the next generation of leaders. I was kidding about someone else leaving an inheritance to my kids, but too often I think we hope someone else is developing leadership for the future.
I read an interesting article this morning from Leadership Education at Duke University, referencing the way churches and institutions have traditionally identified new leaders. Here’s a quote:
“In the Industrial Age, American Protestant congregations and related institutions all too often adopted a mechanical view of their employees. Leaders could afford to hire more people and push ineffective or inefficient employees to the side. With labor plentiful, it was far easier to bring in someone new than to cultivate talent within the current employee ranks. Everyone was replaceable. Today, the distinction between leaders and followers is increasingly complicated in most organizations.”
Whether we are talking about the church, the Rotary Club, the Little League, or the neighborhood Home Owners’ Association, the days of having the luxury of “hiring” everything done are gone. Not only do we not have unlimited financial resources, but we are suffering the consequences of a generation of “hiring leaders” rather than “developing leadership potential.”
Here’s an important truth: Everyone is leading someone.
No matter how insignificant or incognito you think you are, someone is watching you; taking cues from how you live your life. You can hire someone to mow your yard, but you cannot hire someone to influence on your behalf. So, here are two investment opportunities you mustn’t miss:
- Develop your full leadership potential. Embrace the reality that someone is watching you and make the most of every opportunity. Dan Miller, in his book, 48 Days to the Work You Love, says that we should work where we are strongest 80% of the time; where we are learning 15%; where we are weak 5%. Imagine what we might accomplish with that kind of intentional focus. Imagine what our churches and organizations might accomplish if every member was taking that approach.
- Over-invest in the next generation. Find someone to mentor. Invest your time and talent in helping them to develop their potential. Leadership is often “caught” as much as it is “taught.”
“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2, New American Standard Bible). Future generations matter to God. How will we invest in them?
Question: What are some things that hinder us from investing in future generations?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to learn from your perspective.
