It's Their Time

I’m Not Going

I couldn’t believe my eyes… though my body was in agreement.

102 degrees.

That was the temperature I had, the day before we were about to attend the basketball tournament.

The one that we attended four years ago.  

The one where we had only scored four points in our first game.

And I was not going.

That was the hardest text and phone call to make. All I could think about was how my boys were going to do? And what was going to happen? Would they remember everything? Would they be nervous, and the big one… will they fail without me?

One of the things that has kept me going through this whole experience was my faith.

And I remember in that moment God whispering in my ear, “Trust Me. I got them.” This was a similar scene to when Moses couldn’t go into the promise land. I felt like I couldn’t go.

But the news flew in…

Win after win after win after win.

These boys were killing it! And even though I wasn’t there they had an amazing coach. Coach Mom (Sharee) who was going to take them through the finish line.

It filled me with so much joy when I heard it.

“We are going to be playing in the championship game Saturday night.”

Even I was in disbelief. What? Seriously? Talk about a journey of a lifetime. An experience these boys will never forget. And hearing them chant God is good all the time brought tears to my eyes!

I always thought true leadership was the ability to lead a team into greatness.

And sometimes it’s more about getting them to the door.

I thought it was about being there for the glory!

But I have come to learn what true leadership is.

True leadership is fostering an environment for a team to win, both with and without you. When you leave are people better? Or worse?

Did you empower people to lead? OR did you micromanage to the point where people are lost without you? Did you keep all the secrets for yourself, or did you share as much as you could so that with or without you, they will win?

We want people to need us. But does that really empower them, or empower us?

Giving power away is the greatest version of great leadership.

Coach mom took over in the most important way, and the truth, she was ready for it. The boys stepped up with confidence, and the truth, they were ready for that.

Why? Because they had a coach who trusted their wisdom and gave them space to bloom.

To be honest I was sad I couldn’t go, but it seems not going taught me and them the best lesson ever.

They are all leaders.

I broke me but showed me that any time I leave a position I want to make sure that I leave that group or organization in a position where they can prosper with or without me.

What about you?

Do you find yourself holding on to leadership? Do you feel like everything has to go through you? Do you sense people will fail if you are not around? How can you learn to share leadership? How can you start today to trust your team more and give them space to figure it out?

Everything that has been shared thus far gives you ways to build this kind of leadership.

The goal is to just walk in it.

Fear might arise. Insecurity might try to make it’s way through. Ego might want different.

But this too must be surrendered.

Let go.

Allow room for new leaders.

It’s their time.