Column Title: Leadership Life Stories: Communicating and Leading through Your Story
Column Entry: “Looking UP: Rediscovering Leadership Through Story and Stillness”
By Chris Hamstra, PhD, Davenport University
Description: There is a power when people come together to share stories. As people of faith, the practice and process of storytelling helps us understand ourselves, our communities, and our organizations. When combined with leadership, stories provide examples of how to serve authentically. This column brings people around the virtual campfire to explore the concept of leadership life stories and how to learn to engage people in the classroom and boardroom with wit and wisdom.
January 2025 | August 2024 | June – July 2024 | May 2024 |April 2024 | March 2024
I just returned from a month overseas in Europe during a Study Abroad experience. My first at the institution and an intentional step for me to reflect on leadership life stories and plan the next steps forward.
It has been a year, almost 365 days since my last post. I started the writing with CCSN with the intent to gather folks around the virtual campfire of how communication and leadership can come together.
This past month I have been renewed hearing the power of stories to create shared meaning and vision for individuals, groups and communities. The intent today is to clarify the difference between a life story and a leadership life story and offer a brief thought for you in your life.
New Year, New Focus
This past year, life continues to move faster than ever. The blessings are many and I’m glad to wrestle with the challenges. One of my big professional steps is the final touches on the book about leadership and storytelling.
This has been a tough process. For me, it seemed like each step I took was a mistake. One review turned into a re-write which then turned into another review and the final edits. I allowed the revisions to overwhelm me and question whether any of this work is valuable or really “worth it” in the end.
In a simple statement, “Yes.” The work continues to be important and I’m going to step out in faith. Even if few read and the writing just clarifies thoughts for me. To fulfill this goal, let me clarify the difference between life stories and leadership life stories.
Communication First, Leadership Second
Leadership life stories are not simply personal reflections of events but intentional stories that are shaped by the ongoing practice and process of communication. At the heart of communication is faithful listening and speaking.
Leadership life stories are different than ordinary life stories because they are not focused solely on personal achievement. This is a leadership first focus. Leadership life stories are co-created with others. Each conversation, and especially each moment of listening and interacting with others offers a small glimpse of shalom and the possibility of God’s wholeness and reconciliation that we hope for. To me, an important distinction that offers a communication first focus.
Communication leadership becomes an act of authentic service, inviting others into a process of cultivating purpose, community, and shalom. Yes, leadership life stories are the big moments and grand gestures. Leadership life stories are also the small moments and day-to-day life that provide new insights and direction.
Let me provide a quick story. During the Study Abroad my student Martin and I walked by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. I’m trying to play it cool because I never thought I would ever see this landmark in person. Martin sighed and made the observation that most walking along the path looked down at their phone. Very few looked up to take in this grand moment.
Martin went on to share a quick story from his High School teacher and the advice be present and enjoy the moment. Being honest, I slipped my phone back in my pocket and stopped taking pictures! Through the weeks together I saw Martin lag behind the group, stop at various places and look up. A simple, yet profound leadership moment for me as I tried to “lead” the group through the experience.
Building on the insights from lead author Boaz Shamir, leadership life stories help individuals construct meaning out of their experiences in ways that inspire and can guide themselves and others. Leadership life stories are oriented outward, grounded in a process of shared meaning-making. A leader takes the fragments of personal experience and, through faithful communication, interprets the experiences in ways that offer insight, direction, and purpose.
Action Step: Reply with Your Thoughts
When we frame leadership life stories through an understanding of Servant or Authentic leadership, we can engage self-awareness and community. Leadership life stories move beyond just an exciting moment and become a living, ongoing testimony of Jesus’ work in our lives.
Take a moment right now and look up. I’m writing this on my back porch in Michigan with the heat of the summer day and a breeze whispering through the trees. I’m watching the birds gather their food and the squirrels play with each other. I know that the Lord has a plan for them, I’m trusting that the Lord has a path for me as well.
My hope is that this small and seemingly insignificant story that develops on the back porch reflects back to the greatest leadership story of Jesus Christ.
* The views of any CCSN columnists are their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of the CCSN. We invite and embrace a wide range of views and critiques on important communication and cultural issues from a Christian perspective. The CCSN is a community of Jesus followers who study communication. We do not support or promote a particular social, political, or denominational agenda.