Leadership is Stewardship
A friend and client asked me what I’ve learned about stewardship. I wish there was more interest in stewardship because leaders are stewards.
I shifted the language from ‘learned’ to ‘learning’ when I texted back. People who think they’ve learned haven’t. We’re always learning and relearning.
Stewardship and the merger:
A leader in the financial sector told me she knew the merger was benefiting a few. The few receiving benefit are jerk-holes, not stewards. Self-interest is secondary to stewards.
5 things I’m learning about stewardship:
#1. Care.
Exploitation, short-term advantage, and abusing people are repulsive to stewards. Sustainable advantage takes priority over short-term personal advantage.
Self-care is the means to caring for others.
#2. Entrusted.
People aren’t tools. Stewards are entrusted with people. Steward-leaders obsess about maximizing talent. You can’t control results but you can control how you treat people.
#3. Trust.
At the least, you keep learning to trust people. When you trust people, they dare to trust you. In a deeper sense, you learn to trust God with yourself and others. When you don’t believe in God, you still learn to trust people.
#4. Behaviors.
Identity determines behavior. Define stewardship and you discover the way ethical leaders act.
#5. Honor.
The success of others is the steward’s honor. The light shines on others.
Stewardship and confidence:
This post is longer than the text I sent my friend, but my text included another item. I told him I’m learning, “My way of seeing is relevant. I have a place.”
Stewards come to believe in their own relevance. A steward’s place in the world is helping others see their place. You don’t need glory. You show up to serve.
What are you learning about stewardship?
Still curious:
The 12 Assets That Elevate and Expand Every Leader’s Influence – This post explains 12 assets stewards manage.
Stewardship Definition & Meaning
Stewardship implies accountability. Owners are only accountable to themselves. Stewards are accountable to others – usually the owner who entrusted the stewardship in the first place. Practice stewardship as one who will give account.
Thanks Pete. The more I reflect on the term ‘stewardship’ the powerful it feels. Your insight adds some serious weight to the term.
Reminds me of…
“Whoever wants to be first must be a servant to all.”
Mark 9:35/Matthew 20:26
Thanks for jumping in SB. Cheers.
“People who think they’ve learned haven’t. We’re always learning and relearning.”
– and unlearning!
Great add, John. Unlearning is the hardest one. Thank you.
Stewardship is understanding that we are in a space or position for finite period of time. When we are serving in that space, it’s critical to realize we are a steward for that time and that’s it’s important to set things up for success both today and in the future.
Love your focus on sustainability, Gayle. You also give me a feeling of holding things with a loose grip.