Many years ago, I was asked to
become the Executive Director of a ministry that had only been run by men since
its inception.
The ministry tried and tried to
get someone from within the organization to step in and take the position, but no
one wanted it. They went to outside sources to find a man to take the position.
The ones who interviewed ghosted the opportunity.
After three months of interviews
and with a complete understanding of what I would be up against, I took the
position. Up against, you ask. Yes, I
was up against some men who did not think that a woman should be the head of
anything, especially a ministry.
This, of course, did not deter me
from taking the job. God had called me to it, and I obeyed.
My first task was to interview
the staff individually so I would get to know them. I wanted to learn about
their roles and give them space to learn a little about me.
I knew who my biggest opponent
was, and I couldn’t wait to talk to him. Before our meeting started, he
abruptly announced that we needed to talk about the elephant in the room. I
chuckled and assured him that I was not an elephant.
I let him have his say about
women and about their places and on and on. I listened without interrupting so
that he would feel that I had heard him. And I did. You see, his words did not
phase me; it wasn’t the first time in my career that a man tried to tell me
what I could be or not be.
When he was finished, I leaned
forward and told him I wasn’t there to prove that a woman could run a ministry.
I told him I was there to get a one million dollar building project completed
and up and running, that I was there to find $450 K in four months to finish
and match a grant, and that I was there to help the ministry move forward after
a devastating event that had happened right before I came on board.
Then I stared at him with all-purpose
and intent, and asked, “Are you a team player and are you on board or not?”
“For the sake of this ministry, will you help get these things accomplished?”
Suddenly, his defenses dropped,
and his attitude changed. He said that he would be a team player. Then I told
him, “Then let’s get to work!”
There is power in teamwork.
Everyone on the team must be unified for the work to get done. A team that is
challenged for the better and uplifted by a leader who looks out for the
interests of those on the team can do great things.
You see, I could have been
resentful of his thoughts and words. I could have dismissed him. But I chose to
hear him out, listen, and find a way to make it work with him.
Against all odds, even when most
of the office was against me being there, as a team, we made it happen.
Books: “It Is What It Is…But It Wasn’t A Tragedy” | “Making Wise Choices…the most important life skill to master”
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