The way of the Shepherd

One leadership book which has had a profound influence on me was 'The Way of the Shepherd' by Kevin Leman. It describes how to be a leader by drawing parallels to keeping a flock of sheep. I know, it doesn't sound like there are parallels to make... but read on. Here are the principles from the book and the studied lives of shepherds. I think what really gets to me is that Shepherd Leadership promotes the notion that leaders are actually servants to their constituents. Now that's counter-intuitive....

Enjoy, and may it bring out the shepherd leader in you.

Know the condition of your flock
- Follow the status of your people as well as the status of the work
- Get to know your flock, one sheep at a time
- Engage your people on a regular basis
- Keep your eyes and ears open, question and follow through

Discover the shape of your sheep
- Your choice of sheep can make flock management easier of harder
- Start with healthy sheep, or you'll inherit someone else's problem
- Know the SHAPE of your sheep to make sure they're in the right fold
-- Strengths
-- Heart
-- Attitude
-- Personality
-- Experiences

Help your sheep identify with you
- Build trust with your followers by modeling authenticity, integrity, and compassion
- Set higher standards of performance
- Relentlessly communicate your values and sense of mission
- Define the cause for your people and tell them where they fit in
- Remember that great leadership isn't just professional; it's personal

Make your pasture a safe place
- Keep your people well informed
- Infuse every position with importance
- Cull chronic instigators from the flock
- Regularly rotate the sheep to fresh pasture
- Reassure the sheep by staying visible
- Don't give problems time to fester

The staff of direction
- Know where you're going, get out in front, and keep your flock on the move
- When directing, use persuasion rather than coercion
- Give your people freedom of movement, but make sure they know where the fence is. Don't confuse boundaries with bridles
When your people get in trouble, go and get them out
- Remind your people that failure isn't fatal

The rod of correction
- Protect: stand in the gap and fight for your sheep
- Correct: approach discipline as a teaching opportunity
- Inspect: regularly inquire about your people's progress

The heart of the shepherd
- Great leadership is a lifestyle, not a technique
- Every day you have to decide who's going to pay for your leadership - you or your people
- Most of all, have a heart for your sheep