Leading with a Limp

Guest Article by Steve Whitaker, Head of School at The First Academy

The email popped up between meetings. I looked at the screen and began to read what one person thought about me in the most unpleasant terms. I put my phone down, and the weight of those words washed over me.

What was written in the email was a personal attack. It was an opinion (albeit unpleasant), and that’s all. I knew the harsh accusations weren’t true. But they hurt anyway. I picked up my phone and reread the email. I know, that was a mistake.

You might think that someone in my position gets used to criticism and nasty emails, but that’s not true. I wish I were strong enough to let things like that roll off my back, but I’m not. It’s because I lead with a limp called self-doubt. I seldom feel I’ve done enough, lived up to the standard, or served as effectively as I ought. So when the attacks come, there’s always a little part of me that wonders if it’s deserved.

If you’re a leader who struggles like me, here’s a word of encouragement. Your limp is what God uses to keep you and me dependent on Him. It’s there to remind us that we can’t do it alone.

Max Lucado said, “Never trust a leader who doesn’t lead with a limp. Leadership is hard. It beats a person up. It exposes their flaws. It stresses their mind. It requires sacrifice. It humbles them. It makes them limp. So remember this, if a leader isn’t limping a little, they’re probably not leading anywhere meaningful.”

If you’re a limping leader, Jesus has an invitation for you in Matthew 11:28-29: “Come unto me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.”