The leadership style of every man and woman I ever worked for impacted me in some way. It is what I call their leadership legacy.
I suspect the same is true for you. Every leader you ever worked for impacted you in some way. Their leadership legacy shaped you, for good or bad, into the leader you are today.
When I was a young manager, I looked up in awe at some of the senior leaders in our company. In some ways, I suppose I idolized them. I wanted to be like them. I wanted their poise and their self-assurance because, at that age, I had neither!
What I discovered after a while, though, was each awe-inspiring leader had flaws. They were not the perfect leaders I thought they were. When I looked closely, I saw fewer admirable traits. They no doubt felt the example they set for younger employees was all positive. However, their leadership legacy was a mix of good and bad traits.
As a young manager, my leadership style was first influenced by my father’s leadership of me. Then, as an employee, those early bosses continued to influence my leadership style. As I grew in my career, my leadership style was further influenced by leaders in my industry and my church.
Now, looking back at my career in business and ministry, I realize, somewhat to my horror, that I have left a leadership legacy with people I led.
The question I asked myself recently and you should be asking yourself right now is, “What is my leadership legacy?” “What have I passed on to the next generation of leaders?”
If you have been following me for a while, you know I almost always look to the Bible to see what we can learn from the examples God provides us in His Word.
When it comes to the topic of leadership legacy, the one Bible character that stands out in my mind is Gideon.
Gideon’s Doubtful Beginning
The Israelites had turned away from God and instead, worshipped foreign gods. God allowed the Midianites to oppress the Israelites for several years.
Gideon’s father, Joash, was an Israelite who turned away from God and became a Baal worshipper.
When we first meet Gideon (Judges 6), he is hiding in a winepress threshing out some wheat, protecting it from the Midianite raiding parties. God calls Gideon and tells Gideon he is to save the Israelites.
Gideon is full of doubt. Twice Gideon says, “but Lord” resisting God’s call to save the Israelites. Then, still doubting, Gideon tests God with the fleece. Twice!
Eventually, Gideon summons enough courage to sneak near the Midianite camp at night. He overhears a soldier telling another soldier about his dream, where the Israelites crush the Midianites.
Gideon doubted God, but now he believes what God has been saying when he overhears an enemy soldier!
Joash’s Leadership Legacy
Joash was of a man who forgot all God did for the Israelites and even turned away from God. Joash’s lack of faith and his failure to lead his family, teaching them about God, was his leadership legacy to his son. Gideon’s lack of faith and trust in God is demonstrated by his initial doubting of God’s call.
Gideon’s Prideful Rise
Finally, Gideon tried to raise an army and prepare them to battle the Midianites. When it came time to charge the enemy, Gideon said: “For the Lord and for Gideon” (Judges 7:18, 20)! With this battle cry, Gideon pridefully placed himself at the same level as God.
When the Israelites defeated the Midianites, Gideon claimed the Midianite king’s gold ornaments for himself, then demanded tribute from his soldier’s spoils! Gideon melted some of the gold down to make an ephod for himself (only priests wore ephods). Then, all the Israelites turned away from God and worshipped Gideon’s golden ephod.
Gideon led the Israelite people and his own family into idolatry by making the golden ephod!
Gideon’s Fall
As his pride grew, Gideon married many wives. He even married a Canaanite woman, which was specifically prohibited by God (Deuteronomy 7:3).
At this point, his actions suggest he thought he was above God’s law! Because of his military success, Gideon became a selfish, prideful leader who felt he was owed tribute from the people and equal credit with God for the huge victory. He made a priest’s garment, the ephod, into a golden idol that turned the people and his family away from God. Then he took many wives, including wives from nations prohibited by God.
Gideon’s Leadership Legacy
Gideon’s leadership legacy was passed on to the people of Israel in general and specifically to his own family.
He was a leader called by God to rescue the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites, yet He turned the Israelites into idol worshippers.
Gideon’s son, Abimelech, attempted to install himself as king over the Israelites. First, Abimelech stole money from his mother after Gideon died. Disgracefully, he then hired a bunch of mercenary soldiers, returned home, and murdered 70 of his brothers.
Our Leadership Legacy
If you feel your leadership legacy is tarnished by poor decisions you made in the past, remember Gideon.
When you consider Gideon’s reluctant start, his initial success, followed by his turning away from God, I cannot imagine that Gideon is included in the book of Hebrews listed as a man of faith (Hebrews 11:32).
Yet Gideon is listed as a man of faith right alongside Samson, David, and Samuel.
Why is that? Perhaps it is because God recognized that while Gideon failed in certain aspects of his leadership, he nonetheless exhibited worthy traits. At various times in his life, Gideon was humble, cautious, spiritual, obedient, loyal to God, strategic, and even tactful.
Our leadership legacy is a unique blend of our strengths and weaknesses, and we all have both!
The fact God can and does still use us despite our flaws should be a great encouragement to us!
More Articles
I have written several articles on leader qualifications. You can find them by typing “leader qualifications” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are four of my favorites.
- #353: Is Your Ability to Influence Tied to Your Influenceability?
- #340: Is the Road to Ruin Paved with Pride?
- #338: How to Get Your Boss to Not Trust You
- #335: What Three Traits Does God Require Leaders to Have?
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. If someone wrote a story describing the impact of your leadership legacy, how would the story go?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Personal Development | Leader Qualifications
My administrative team and I often talked about how our strengths can be our weaknesses, and vice versa. My creative side sometimes became a distraction at work, but also enabled me to craft impactful speeches and entertain others with my cartoons. It’s interesting how we emulate the leaders we admired before us, and then see some of our leadership style in those we came after us (although so far I’ve been the only police chief who draws cartoons!)
I’m sure your creative side had a positive impact on how you led as a TO, as a sergeant, and all the way through your career as a chief! They may not have tried their hand at fine art, but I bet some of the officers in our command recognized and explored their creative side because of the example they saw in you!