Clarity in Leadership: Guiding Through Uncertainty
Summary
In today's message, we explored the theme of "Leading Through" with a focus on providing clarity amidst uncertainty. The past several months have been challenging for many, and as leaders, we are often looked to for direction, inspiration, and hope. While uncertainty is a constant in life, it is during these times that leadership becomes crucial. We discussed three essentials for leading through disruption and uncertainty, emphasizing that while we cannot provide certainty, we must provide clarity.
Leadership is about taking people on a journey, often to places we've never been ourselves. The current global situation, with its unique combination of challenges, is a prime example of this. As leaders, we may feel unprepared and overwhelmed, but we are not alone. People are looking to us for guidance, and while we cannot offer certainty, we can offer clarity. Clarity is perceived as leadership and creates influence and momentum, even in uncertain times.
We examined the story of Joshua from the Old Testament as a powerful example of providing clarity. Joshua, faced with the daunting task of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, was instructed by God to be strong and courageous. Despite the overwhelming uncertainty, Joshua provided clear instructions to his people, giving them something to do and a timeframe to do it. This clarity, even in the absence of certainty, established him as a leader.
In times of disruption, clarity is the next best thing to certainty. It equips those around us to navigate uncertainty and provides a sense of direction. As leaders, we must be honest and hopeful, realistic and reassuring, candid and clear. We must resist the temptation to pretend we know more than we do, as this erodes credibility. Instead, we should seek wise counsel and be open about what we don't know, while confidently pointing to the future.
Ultimately, our role as leaders is to ensure that those who follow us do not lose hope. By providing clarity, we can lead well and offer a sense of stability in uncertain times. As we continue this journey, let us remember that clarity is leadership, and it is enough to guide us through.
Key Takeaways:
1. Clarity Over Certainty: In times of uncertainty, clarity is more valuable than certainty. While we cannot predict the future, we can provide clear instructions and direction, which is perceived as leadership and creates influence. [06:50]
2. The Power of Clarity in Leadership: Clarity in leadership is about giving people something to do and a timeframe to do it. This approach, as demonstrated by Joshua, establishes leadership and provides a sense of direction amidst uncertainty. [14:39]
3. Honesty and Hopefulness: Being honest about what we don't know while remaining hopeful is crucial. Pretending to know more than we do erodes credibility, whereas admitting uncertainty and seeking wise counsel strengthens leadership. [17:36]
4. Facing the Brutal Facts: Leaders must face the reality of the situation and offer hope rooted in that reality. Balancing optimism with realism helps prevent disappointment and despair among those we lead. [20:54]
5. Seeking Wise Counsel: In times of uncertainty, seeking advice from those who may have insight is essential. While they may not have all the answers, their perspective can provide the clarity needed to move forward. [22:38]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Series
- [00:36] - The Challenge of Leadership
- [01:12] - The Need for Leaders
- [02:21] - Moral Authority
- [03:01] - Providing Clarity
- [04:17] - The Tension of Leadership
- [05:29] - The Temptation of Certainty
- [06:20] - The Importance of Clarity
- [07:43] - Clarity in Action
- [08:31] - Joshua's Leadership Example
- [11:18] - God's Command to Joshua
- [13:18] - Joshua's Clear Instructions
- [15:43] - The Role of Clarity in Leadership
- [19:52] - Balancing Hope and Reality
- [21:09] - Seeking Wise Counsel
- [23:47] - Jesus' Example of Clarity
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
2. Matthew 28:18-20 - "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions did God give to Joshua when he was feeling overwhelmed by his new leadership role? [11:18]
2. How did Joshua provide clarity to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land? [14:25]
3. What was the main message Jesus gave to His disciples after His resurrection, and how did it relate to clarity in leadership? [25:06]
4. According to the sermon, why is clarity perceived as leadership, especially in times of uncertainty? [06:50]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the command to "be strong and courageous" in Joshua 1:9 relate to the concept of providing clarity in leadership? [11:18]
2. In what ways does the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 demonstrate the importance of clarity in uncertain times? [25:06]
3. Why might admitting uncertainty and seeking wise counsel be considered a strength rather than a weakness in leadership? [21:09]
4. How can leaders balance being honest about what they don't know while still providing hope and direction? [17:11]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you were in a leadership position. How did you handle uncertainty, and what could you have done differently to provide clarity? [06:20]
2. Think about a current situation in your life where you feel uncertain. What steps can you take to provide clarity for yourself and those around you? [07:43]
3. How can you apply the principle of "being strong and courageous" in your personal life or leadership roles this week? [11:18]
4. Identify an area in your life where you might be pretending to know more than you do. How can you practice honesty and seek wise counsel in that area? [17:51]
5. Consider someone in your life who looks to you for guidance. What specific actions can you take to provide them with clarity and hope? [19:27]
6. How can you ensure that your leadership is rooted in reality while still offering hope to those you lead? [20:54]
7. What is one practical way you can implement the lesson of providing clarity over certainty in your family, workplace, or community this week? [23:22]
Devotional
Day 1: Clarity as a Guiding Light
In times of uncertainty, clarity becomes a beacon that guides us through the fog. While certainty is often elusive, clarity provides a sense of direction and purpose. It is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively that establishes leadership and creates influence. By offering clear instructions and a vision, leaders can inspire confidence and momentum, even when the future is uncertain. This approach is exemplified in the story of Joshua, who led the Israelites with clear guidance despite the overwhelming challenges he faced. [06:50]
Joshua 1:9 (ESV): "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you feel uncertain. How can you provide clarity to those around you, even if you don't have all the answers?
Day 2: The Influence of Clear Leadership
Leadership is not about having all the answers but about providing a clear path forward. In the face of uncertainty, leaders must give people something to do and a timeframe to do it. This clarity, as demonstrated by Joshua, establishes leadership and provides a sense of direction. By focusing on what can be done rather than what is unknown, leaders can create a sense of purpose and momentum. [14:39]
Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
Reflection: Identify a task or goal you can set for yourself and others this week. How can you communicate this clearly to inspire action and confidence?
Day 3: Honesty and Hope in Leadership
Being honest about what we don't know while remaining hopeful is crucial for effective leadership. Pretending to know more than we do erodes credibility, whereas admitting uncertainty and seeking wise counsel strengthens leadership. By balancing honesty with hope, leaders can maintain trust and inspire confidence in those they lead. This approach helps prevent disappointment and despair, offering a realistic yet hopeful perspective. [17:36]
James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."
Reflection: Consider an area where you feel uncertain. How can you be honest about this with those you lead while still offering hope and encouragement?
Day 4: Facing Reality with Hope
Leaders must face the reality of the situation and offer hope rooted in that reality. Balancing optimism with realism helps prevent disappointment and despair among those we lead. By acknowledging the challenges and providing a hopeful vision, leaders can inspire resilience and perseverance. This approach requires courage and wisdom, as it involves confronting difficult truths while maintaining a hopeful outlook. [20:54]
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV): "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen."
Reflection: Reflect on a challenge you are currently facing. How can you balance acknowledging the reality of the situation with maintaining a hopeful perspective?
Day 5: Seeking Wisdom in Uncertainty
In times of uncertainty, seeking advice from those who may have insight is essential. While they may not have all the answers, their perspective can provide the clarity needed to move forward. By seeking wise counsel, leaders can gain new insights and make informed decisions. This approach requires humility and openness, as it involves recognizing the limits of one's own understanding and valuing the input of others. [22:38]
Proverbs 11:14 (ESV): "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."
Reflection: Identify someone you trust who can offer wise counsel. How can you seek their advice this week to gain clarity in an area of uncertainty?
Quotes
"Leadership is about taking people on a journey but the challenge is that, most of the time, we're asking people to follow us to places we've never been. For example... Oh, I've got one. A pandemic combined with an economic shutdown that's left us teetering on economic meltdown while navigating social unrest during an election year." [00:03:12]
"Whereas you cannot provide certainty, you must provide clarity. Parents, leaders, influencers, mayors, senators, you can be uncertain! You can be uncertain but you cannot afford to be unclear. Our mandate, as leaders, is to be clear even when things are not certain. Clarity is honest and clarity, as we're gonna discover, is enough." [00:06:10]
"Clarity is actually perceived as leadership. Clarity is actually experienced as leadership. Clarity, in the midst of uncertainty, creates its own influence, its own momentum. In fact, and you've probably experienced this somewhere along the way, in any group, whether it's a family or a business, whoever paints the clearest picture of the future and then provides the clearest instructions on how to get there, they are ultimately viewed or perceived as the leader because clarity is perceived as leadership." [00:06:39]
"Clarity says, 'I don't know what the future holds but here's what we're gonna do in the meantime.' Clarity says, 'I don't know what's gonna happen but we're gonna prepare for whatever happens.' Clarity says, 'Here's the plan for now and we will adjust the plan as circumstances demand.' Uncertainty is not your enemy, it's your opportunity. It's our opportunity to lead well." [00:07:52]
"Joshua ordered the officers of the people, he said, 'Go through the camp and tell the people, "Get your provisions ready."' And then he anchored their attention to the next thing they would do and exactly where they would do it. 'Three days from now, you will cross the Jordan River right here to go in and to take possession of the land the Lord, your God, is giving you for your own.'" [00:14:13]
"Everybody knew their assignment, everybody knew the timeframe and everybody knew what to do next but nobody knew what was going to happen, including Joshua. Including you, right? It's like driving on a deserted road late at night and the only way to know what's up ahead is to keep driving. It's like driving on a deserted road at night with your headlights on and the only way to know what's up ahead is to keep moving forward." [00:15:39]
"Don't pretend you know more than you do. It's always tempting, as a leader, to pretend that we know more than we do, right? When people are looking to you for hope, it's always tempting to pretend. That's always a mistake. Don't pretend. You're not a leader because you know everything. Omniscience is not a prerequisite to leadership or parenting, although in parenting, it would certainly come in handy sometimes, right?" [00:16:36]
"Be honest and hopeful. Be honest and hopeful. You can be honest about what you don't know and clear at the same time. Besides, the sharp people around you, they're gonna know when you're bluffing. Pretend to know more than you do and you will lose credibility. And again, that's the last thing you wanna lose when trying to navigate your family, your community, the folks at work through a season of uncertainty." [00:17:09]
"Face the brutal facts and then give people something to do. Be clear even when you're not certain. And one last thing on this. Please, please do not be too proud to seek wise counsel. This is important. Leadership is not all about simply making decisions on your own. It's not about making decisions on your own. Leadership is about owning decisions once you make them." [00:20:57]
"So when you don't know, seek out some people who might know. They may not have answers but they may have insight. And often times, especially during disruption and uncertainty, insight is enough. It's enough to keep you moving forward and it's enough to keep you moving the people who are following you forward as well. Once again, you can't provide certainty but we can provide clarity." [00:22:31]
"Uncertainty will not be your undoing as a leader, as a father, as a mother. However, your inability or unwillingness to be clear and to give clear directives in the midst of uncertainty, that may very well be your undoing. So be clear. Be clear even when you are not certainty. Clarity is leadership. People will follow you in spite of a few bad decisions but people will not follow you if you are unclear." [00:23:07]
"You cannot provide certainty. Don't even try. What you can provide, what you must provide, especially in times like these, is clarity. In times like these, clarity is the next best thing to certainty so be clear even when you're not certain. And we'll pick it up there next time in part four of Leading Through." [00:26:19]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?