Mac and Cheese Leadership Please

Bob Evans macaroni and cheese is one of the best things going! Rarely do I make it through a grocery run without picking up a package or two. It completes a quick meal or suffices for a late-night snack. It’s so good that it can almost trick you into thinking it’s homemade until you experience the real thing. Everything can’t be duplicated with an instant version.

I was thinking about leadership recently as food spun and hissed in the microwave. It’s nice to have an instant version of a thing when we’re in a pinch. Popcorn, bologna, and Ramen all have wonderful microwave versions. I thought how nice it would be if leadership were microwaveable. 

I often hear leaders express the need for more leaders. I often find myself expressing this need. It’s not that leadership is non-existent, but the demand for leadership outpaces the supply. Organizations seem to expand at a higher rate than leadership development. An instant version of leadership would be nice but that’s not how it works.

A concise definition of leadership can be found in the word “influence.” Several high-profile leadership experts use this definition, and it’s a good one! Leadership is influencing those around us toward a common goal. It’s not coercing others or someone who “gets the job done”. It’s the exercise of influencing others to accomplish more together. If influence is the currency of leadership, how do we gain influence? Through a combination of character, experience/skill, and time. There is no such thing as instant leadership.

The strongest leaders I know didn’t develop their leadership because of a position. Their influence isn’t even something they willfully exert. Leadership doesn’t begin with influencing others; it begins with influencing ourselves. That’s the kicker on instant leadership. Influence is gained through character, experience/ skill, and time.

Character is the foundation of true leadership. Character maintains our convictions even when others aren’t watching. Character is developed as we hold true to these convictions over time and with consistency. If we fail to lead ourselves in this capacity, then we become like a leaf in the wind. We get influenced by the circumstances. Leaders hold true to their convictions especially in the face of outside pressure.

On a foundation of character, the experiences and skills we acquire give us something to invest in others. We all have something to give and someone to give it to. My primary area of investment this season is my children. I have time to do many things, but my time with my children living at home is limited. I’ve learned many lessons through experience, and I desire to impart those lessons to my children. God can use me to do many things, but if I fail to invest in my children, I have failed at the one responsibility only I can do. The 3 E’s only have one dad, and that’s me.

Both character and experience/skill take time to develop. That’s why the currency of leadership and influence doesn’t happen automatically. We want it to, but there are no shortcuts. We define leadership with the word influence but perhaps influence is the result of truly leading oneself.

Some things don’t have an instant version. Leadership certainly doesn’t. But instant isn’t always better. Leadership is a gift, and influence is on the table. Are we willing to do the hard work of leading ourselves first.