My all time favourite TV series is M*A*S*H, a comedy/drama centred around the doctors and nurses of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit during the Korean War. The series was so popular that it outlasted the duration of the 3 year war, spanning 11 seasons and 251 episodes.

The strong characterisation and story lines presented thought provoking themes that provide an ideal platform for lessons on life and leadership. Whether you are a fan of the show or not, I'm sure you will connect with my leadership insights from M*A*S*H.

LEADING FROM THE TRENCHES features bite-sized, candid insights that speak into the gritty space of leadership through the eyes of a fellow leader seeking to "lead with all diligence" (Romans 12:8).

Monday, June 12, 2017

Letting Off Steam

Episode 64:  Bulletin Board

Trapper: [standing at the camp bulletin board] See this Henry?
Hawkeye: [reading notice] “First annual Polly Adler birthday 
         cookout, picnic and barbeque.  All proceeds to go to    
         Sister Theresa’s Korean orphans’ fund.”
Henry:   Forget it!
Hawkeye: Henry, you did everything you could.
Trapper: Yeah.  Come on Henry, loosen up.  You’ll have a ball.
Henry:   Yeah, that’s just it.  Everybody unwinds, has a good time, 
         then the war comes back and it’s a real belly drop.
Hawkeye: Look, we need this.  If we don’t go crazy once in a while 
         we’ll all go crazy.

A Shirley Temple movie, a sex lecture by Henry, and a cookout provide welcome, if hilarious, relief for the busy and stressed out personnel of the 4077.

Coming off the end of a very busy fundraising campaign in my leadership context, it has been good to just stop and unwind.  The past few weeks have demanded and deserved an ‘above and beyond’ effort to mobilize an army of volunteers to maximize collecting opportunities.  Leading any cause or campaign with a high level of energy for an extended period of time to get the job done requires the willingness to wind down and relax when the job is done. Leaders by nature have a bias towards action that is driven by a desire to succeed.  But if this intuitive drive is not accompanied by intentional down time, leaders will not have the physical and emotional reserves to sustain their success.  Even Jesus, Master leader and Messiah, knew when to withdraw from the crowd and coached His followers to do so as well, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31).  The demands and expectations of your leadership role will still be there when you return but you will be restored and ready to go another round.