Column Title: Leadership Life Stories: Communicating and Leading through Your Story
Column Entry: “From the Valley to the Summit”
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.
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Leadership life stories remind us of who Jesus is and who we are IN Jesus.
I was reminded of this truth recently during a church conference and the truth developed almost 35 years ago in the mountains of Colorado.
I grew up in Colorado Springs with the Rocky Mountains as my backyard. As a young-teen and into my 20’s, every weekend there was a new trail to discover or another 14,000-foot mountain to conquer. By the time I moved to Michigan after college, I had hiked almost half of the officially recognized 58 mountain peaks at this height.
One specific summer weekend, I remember crawling out of the tent at 8,000 feet to the cool air, frost on the ground, and a hot chocolate breakfast. The night before we camped in a valley with Mt. Columbia, Mt. Lincoln, and Mt. Bross towering above us. As the dawn started to light up the summits, in the shadow of the valley we mapped out our plan to hike all three of the peaks. The morning was still cold enough that we could see our breath as we took the first steps. The memory that sticks is our start of the hike in the shadow of the valley and step by step getting higher up the mountain and minute by minute the sunlight coming down the slope.
This vision flashed in my memory during a ministry conference with my church and our walk through the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms120-135). In my mind I see the three steps of leadership life stories to DISCOVER, DEVELOP, and to DELIVER. My intent here today is to offer a few thoughts from Psalms and a practical step forward in your leadership life stories.
DISCOVER: In the soil of the valley
Specifically in Psalms 126, the first verse I went to was “The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy” (v. 3). Interesting to me when I look back, I can see the seeds of renewal and how these continue to play out for the future. Leadership life stories of victory or loss, success or stumbles shape us into who we are today. When I first started dating Dawnette in my late 40’s I remember saying that I would never get rid of the bumps and bruises of life because these are the situations that made me into the person I am today.
How about you? What specific memory pops into your mind of the good or the challenges of life?
DEVELOP: Rooted in the present
While we do want to look back to remember, we can get lost in the memories. In this specific Psalm of Ascent, the next verse helps me pay attention to the present. “Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams of the Negev” (v. 4). This part of the leadership life story journey is about listening to the stories in our lives and the stories around us in our communities.
To me, one of the most important characteristics of great communicators is not talking, it is listening well. Listening asks questions and then pays attention in body, mind, and soul to the response. Being vulnerable for a moment, my son did not graduate high school this past May. While I certainly have many things to say and advice to give, how am I listening to him and his heart moving forward?
How about you? As your leadership life stories continue to develop, where are you now? Today? In this moment? What are you longing for? Who in your life may need a moment for someone to just listen?
DELIVER: Taking the next step
The final verse of this short Psalm says: “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” (v. 5).
These final verses are a reminder that what is planted eventually blooms. During the conference I was thinking back to a very hard three years for me in my personal life. There were many frustrations, anger, late nights and tears. I realize the tears shed then watered the leadership life story that is blossoming right now. Foundational ideas of leadership life stories burped up and written down then continue to be developed now.
Wrap Up and Next Steps
As we wrap up, let me take you back to the mountains of Colorado. I’m struck by the thought that the sun slowly came down the slope to where I was faithfully taking small steps up. Let me be clear, I’m certainly not finished. I’m know the faithfulness and goodness of Jesus and who I am in Christ.
My challenge to you is simple, take your own step in one of your leadership life stories. Reflect on a story that has shaped who you are in Christ, consider how this informs your present, and find the joy and how this reflects 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.