Leadership with a Mindset of Growth

What We Can Learn About Extraordinary Leadership from Successful Leaders

When it comes to leadership, true greatness often arises from moments of struggle, faith, and commitment to service.  These moments don’t just happen in the business community.  They happen in education, too.  To take it one step deeper, in Christian Education.  What we can learn from the business community, as far as growth, navigating change, and even customer service in the form of servant leadership, is immense.  In today's uncharted territory, these leadership aspects are crucial to keep Christian Education a thriving option for today's generation. 

Recently, Dr. Cy Smith, host of the Clearly Christian podcast and Superintendent at Mansfield Christian School, talked with Dr. Michael Lindsay, the President of Taylor University, about excellence in leadership.  As it turns out, exceptional leaders are not born, they’re shaped through experiences that challenge their faith, convictions, and resilience.

Chalkboard Points :

As he does in every episode, Dr. Smith suggests topics to guide the conversation.  He calls them “chalkboard points”.  Here are two for consideration on this topic:

1.        Successful leaders have an owner’s mindset—they look at their organizations through a lens of improvement rather than simply growth. Effective leaders understand the need for courage, clarity, and vision as they navigate change, ensuring they’re not just riding the wave of culture but actively shaping it.

2.        Extraordinary leadership is complex and often messy—but leaders who anticipate what they can't control and use these moments as opportunities to move forward will set themselves apart. Leaders, especially in difficult times, can use those moments of uncertainty and challenge to push their organizations and teams to new heights.

Leadership with an Owner’s Mindset

In the Clearly Christian podcast “Leadership with a Growth Mindset in Christian Education”, Dr. Smith emphasized that successful leaders have an owner’s mindset—a crucial trait for anyone in a position of influence. "The best organizations are not just getting bigger, they're getting better," he remarked. This mindset involves a holistic view of leadership, where growth is not merely measured by size but by the impact and effectiveness of the organization. Leaders with this perspective recognize that they must courageously navigate change rather than wait for it to come to them.

Dr. Smith adds, "Leaders do things that help them see the big picture, and then they move courageously through change." These aren’t just buzzwords—this philosophy drives the very fabric of effective leadership. By constantly anticipating and embracing change, leaders pave the way for innovation and continuous improvement, creating environments that encourage growth and inspire others to follow.

Servant Leadership: A Key to Lasting Impact

One of the core themes from Dr. Lindsay’s research, as reflected in his books Faith in the Halls of Power and View from the Top, is the idea of servant leadership. Great leaders, he explains, are those who serve others, focusing less on their own needs and more on the welfare of their teams, organizations, and communities. "Jesus made that very clear in his example," Lindsay said. "We can point to scores of examples of people who thought of themselves less and thought about others more."

This leadership style is rooted in faith.   Reflecting on a pivotal career decision, Dr. Lindsay recounted how he felt called to give up a job he loved, a move that would ultimately lead to deeper joy and fulfillment. "If you're willing to say, Lord, I'm your servant, I'm here to do your leading... He will lead you to really great places," Lindsay assured.

The Power of Hinge Moments

Both Dr. Lindsay and Dr. Smith touched on the transformative power of "hinge moments"—those pivotal events in a leader’s life that shape their future. These moments, often born out of challenge or adversity, become opportunities for growth and deepening faith.

Dr. Lindsay shared an example from his own life, saying, "The most powerful crucibles of change in my life have typically come through moments of great setback, disappointment, or challenge." It's in these difficult moments that we often find clarity and are forced to reexamine our purpose.

Dr. Smith echoed, “Extraordinary leadership is not found in simple steps. It can be complex and even messy because human behavior is so varied. Yet, there are patterns in leadership research that give us reliable insight.” These patterns, according to Dr. Smith, are invaluable for understanding how leaders can move forward, even when circumstances seem uncertain.

The Role of Faith in Leadership

What sets extraordinary leaders apart, as both Dr. Lindsay and Dr. Smith highlighted, is their ability to rely on faith to guide their leadership decisions. Dr. Lindsay's research and personal experiences continually show that great leaders don’t merely operate on strategy and skills—they operate on a foundation of deep faith and trust in God’s direction. In fact, Lindsay frequently references Psalms and Isaiah, which remind us that, "Whether you turn to the left or the right, there will be a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it.'"

The stories of leaders like Karen Hughes, who Dr. Lindsay interviewed for his book, underscore how faith can guide individuals in leadership positions, even in the most unpredictable circumstances. "I'm always 10 minutes away from normal," Hughes famously remarked, illustrating how leadership often feels like a series of unpredictable turns, but with faith as a guide, leaders can navigate through any situation.

The leadership insights shared by Dr. Michael Lindsay and Dr. Cy Smith offer a compelling look at what it means to lead with purpose, resilience, and faith. Whether in education, business, or any other field, true leaders understand that, while leadership can be complex, those who remain grounded in faith, who listen to the still voice of God, and who embrace the challenges along the way, will always find themselves in a position to lead well.

"We have to get ourselves quiet enough to listen to that voice and be prepared to follow the direction of the Lord”, says Dr. Lindsay, even if it's not our first choice.

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For more information about Dr. Cy Smith, Mansfield Christian School, and/or the Clearly Christian Education movement, click on ClearlyChristianEducation.com.