Catalyst Track: How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge // Day Three

This week’s 3-day track comes from the book, How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge, written by Clay Scroggins.

No man or woman is ever fully acquitted of all responsibility. Just as there are inalienable rights, there is such a thing as inalienable responsibility. What this means is that everyone leads something. Everyone is in charge of something—even if it’s just you. Each one of us is responsible for the choices and decisions we make. We must all learn to rightly influence ourselves.

In this 3-day track, Clay challenges us to identify the ways in which we lead, even when we don’t think we are in a position of leadership. He reminds us that we are all always leaders - we are always in charge of our emotions, thoughts, reactions, and decisions.

Perhaps you’ve blamed your boss for poor leadership, or resisted your own leadership capabilities. Regardless of your circumstance, take the next few days to recognize your flourishing leadership. Complete the challenges at the end of the day to help guide your reflection.

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DAY 3: WHERE THE BUCK STOPS

 

Here’s the truth you need to know: Your boss is not in charge of you. You are in charge of you.

A few years ago, our humorous son, Jake, came home from preschool and dropped a truth-bomb in our kitchen—one that is still reverberating in my ears today. It was around 5:00 p.m., and I had just walked in the house from work.

I asked him, “Hey buddy, how was school?”

He answered, “Good.” After all, he’s a male. What else is he supposed to say?

He then went on to offer a little more detail. “Hey Daddy, you know what?”

“No, I don’t. What’s up?”

“I’m in charge of me.”

Instinctively, I cut my eyes at my wife. My look basically said, “Who is teaching him this garbage?”

I have recalled that conversation so many times because the implication of that truth is so powerful for every one of us. It’s not just true for three-year-olds; it’s true for thirty-one-year-olds. You are in charge of you. You are in charge of your emotions, your thoughts, your reactions, and your decisions. It’s the law of personal responsibility, because everyone is responsible for leading something, even if that something is just you.

When you’re not in charge, the most common temptation you’ll face is to abdicate responsibility. “If they had wanted me to take responsibility, they would have put me in charge. And since I’m not in charge of everything, I’m in charge of nothing.” But this is dangerous. This attitude is not evidence of a lack of leadership; it’s a sign of bad leadership. Remember, we’re all leaders.

You have leadership in you, and if you find yourself abdicating responsibility because you’re not in charge, step one is to recognize it. Step two is to fix it. And that leads us to the second truth you need to know as a leader: When you’re not in charge, you can still take charge.

CHALLENGE:

Find an opportunity this week to take charge when you feel you are least worthy of it. How is God calling you to be a leader? How will you make that a reality this week?