Being a Divine-Centered Leader of Leaders

In what ways am I a leader of leaders?


Leadership has been defined as “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task." However, I don't believe that this definition fully encapsulates what exactly it means to be a leader. To me, leadership is more all encompassing. It is not simply the to get people to do things but it is any influence one exerts over others that helps them become something. 


Therefore, in a very real sense, everyone with even a modicum of social influence is a leader with his or her own sphere. 


By taking this definition of leadership, it is obvious that we, as executive directors are leaders of leaders. Not only do we directly influence our program directors, we have influence of other executive directors, committee members and and volunteers.

How can the love which I reflect, reflect to volunteers?


President Thomas S. Monson is a prime, modern-day example of letting the love he reflects reflect to those he leads. Using Thomas S. Monson as a model, there are three ways in which President Monson accomplishes this:

1. He demonstrates moral authority: It is very apparent to all that know President Monson that he lives that he teaches. He is an example in word and deed of the love that he so eloquently teaches, advocates, and inspires us to have.
2. The organization which he leads is closely aligned with the values he espouses: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints not only teaches love but it puts it into action in many different ways. If this were not the case, it would be difficult for us to truly know that President Monson loved us. But because the organization he leads embodies the principles that he declares, it is apparent and transparent that love is the guiding motivation of President Monson. This criterion is also directly applicable to BYUSA.
3. He has the image of Christ in his countenance: I love the words of Alma that speak of the importance of having the image of Christ in your coutencance. Christ taught a similar concept when he taught "he light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness." It is often easy to see someone's heart by the look of their countenance. 

As I seek to emulate these three things, I believe that the love I have will be reflected to the volunteers within BYUSA.

How can I be more divine centered leader of leaders?


There are many ways in which I can become a better divine centered leader of leaders but I will focus on three:

• By studying the life of Christ--the supreme example, in fact, the very essence of divine centered leadership--in the holy scriptures.
• By supplicating the Lord for direction from the Spirit in my leadership decisions and for divine assistance in my capacities.
• By consistently evaluating my progress and making SMART goals to improve in areas where it is deemed that I am not performing to the standards that I have set for myself.

While these are three specific actions that I can do to become a better divine centered leader, the most important thing is having the desire to become a divine centered leader and having the Faith that I can, with the Lord's help, become one.