There are leaders who lose interest in the company they lead. For many entrepreneurs, they lose interest because the day to day mundane tasks become like handcuffs and imprison the creative and ambitious soul. The daily drudge drains the dream tank and they lose the desire to develop any further.
A leader who wants to lead well, however, has to keep his eye on the operations to ensure that things are progressing in the right direction. When a leader is entrenched with the team, looking at the inner workings, spending time strategizing, and working through issues with their team, they are doing well.
In Proverbs it says, “know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” (Proverbs 27:23-24)
Leaders are encouraged, even commanded here, to know the conditions of their flocks. You may not be a shepherd with actual sheep, but as a leader you do oversee staff, customers, vendors, and more. You need to know the condition of your company. You are to pay attention to the health of your organization and cannot ignore the issues affecting it.
A leader cannot know the condition of their organization if they are absent all of the time. Your presence is not only required, it is often necessary to bring about a sense of peace to the organization.
The idea of people being like sheep is prevalent in the Old and New Testament. In Psalm 23 it says that the Lord is my shepherd and will have everything I need. Jesus said that sheep can hear and know the voice of their shepherd. The idea that the shepherd was with his flock, which was his business, is crucial to the success and health of the flock itself.
Your presence and knowledge of your business is crucial to its success. Stay entrenched. I didn’t say do everything yourself (go back and visit my blog post on delegation) for that is a recipe for stifling growth. Instead, stay informed, stay present, stay close, so that you can lead well.
