Urgency in Leadership
by Mike Killebrew
Occasionally, history will remember a great moment of oration. Those speeches of passion and urgency often inspire action and bring about much needed change. I suspect everyone reading this can finish the title of this famous speech shared by Martin Luther King Jr., “I have a _______.” He was speaking to a large crowd in 1963 when he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech and many lines from that famous moment have been echoed by those fighting for civil rights ever since. This is one of the most famous speeches in American history. I’m sure that as Marin Luther King Jr. stepped up to the podium on that hot August day at the Lincoln Memorial almost 60 years ago, he had no idea the profound impact his words would have and the actions that they would inspire. History has given us several examples of speeches of urgency. The lines “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender” have been quoted repeatedly since Winston Churchill first spoke to them. Those words of urgency first shared in 1940 in England’s House of Commons became the rallying cry for Britain and beyond. There are many examples of famous words spoken with urgency that have inspired significant actions. These leaders and many others throughout history have exemplified urgency and their words declared it and moved others towards it.
Most of the human population, spanning all of history, will likely never be remembered for anything said in quotable form, but that doesn’t need to be the goal, does it? I can think of some important words of urgency that I’ve had the opportunity to hear, words that have stuck with me for years. To clarify, these are not famous words that history will remember, but rather words spoken directly to me. I have heard them in meetings, received them in a card written to me, or sometimes they have been delivered through a simple conversation over a cup of coffee with a friend or mentor. I have also heard some great sermons bring to life Scriptures that have had a profound impact to inspire me to action and create urgency within me. I’m grateful to the Lord for some of those words shared that have had created forward movement and spiritual growth in my life.
I have started to pray with more frequency that in all the ways I move about in relationship with other people that my words will be intentional and that I would say something with enough urgency that it would inspire action, considering eternity. In a nutshell, that’s not a bad definition of leadership. All I’m really saying is, I want to be a better leader and that is going to require increased urgency. Leaders set direction and help themselves and the many others around them move forward. When I think about all the many different types of relationships that I have with people around me, I need to consider how urgently I’m investing in growth and forward momentum. How urgently am I leading at home with my wife and four children? How urgently am I pursuing the ministry opportunities the Lord has given me? How urgently am I leading as elder and as a student ministry volunteer with several young men in my tutelage? These are some big questions that I need to be continually asking myself.
As we each consider our own leadership responsibilities, we should also carefully measure our urgency levels. If we want to lead people to greater forward movement, we must consider the need, as a leader, to create a greater sense of urgency.
Here are three things to consider when attempting to create a sense of urgency for both self and those we lead.
Consider reality
Carefully considering current leadership realities is an important first step to creating a sense of urgency. Sometimes examining the present will provide the motivation to not stay in the same place for the future. A simple reality check will bring recognition to the need for forward movement. What is the state of health of oneself, those around us, or the organizations we lead? I’ve often heard Gary encourage church leaders to continually “take your vital signs.” One additional reality to consider is that time is limited. We read in James 4:14 that, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
Contrast current reality with BIBLICAL truth
Identifying and overlaying a biblical vision in comparison to reality can be a powerful motivator for urgency. Are there sharp contrasts between the reality of current state and that which is biblical?
Create a Compelling preferred future
What is the preferred future? What is the compelling goal that we need to move toward? Leaders need to develop a clear picture of God’s preferred future and make it clear that is better than the current situation. A longing to move from “here” to “there” is often created by the leader casting that picture of the preferred future. There is a lot of reality to the often-used phrase that “more is caught, than taught.” I’m often reminded of this when I watch my kids mimic my wife and I’s behavior. A crucial part of making a preferred future is that of leading by example, we can only take people to places where we ourselves have been.
The most influential and most quoted leader in history who has not only inspired actions but made it possible for each of us to have eyes on eternity also speaks candidly with urgency and about urgency. Jesus said that “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work” (John 9:4). Jesus knew his time was short and God had sent Him to do works of healing to show His glory. Jesus had focused diligence on doing God’s work, He was on-mission from His heavenly Father. Time was a precious gift from God, and he had three years to accomplish his mission.
What does the next three years look like for you? If Jesus accomplished His mission in three years, what would it look like for us to think about how to get done what needs to happen in just the next three years? What areas of leadership do we need push the accelerator on? Where can we consider reality, contrast it with biblical truth and create a more compelling future?
