You Were Born to Lead—Here's How to Start

Harness Your Unique Talents and Influence Your Academic Community

Oct 05, 2024

There’s something sacred about the early morning hours.

The sound of the alarm, though never entirely welcome, signals the start of another day of service. For me, that service begins at home. I wake up before the sun rises, get myself ready for work, and tiptoe through the house to get the kids up and ready for school.

Coaxing them out of bed, helping them get dressed, making sure they’ve eaten breakfast, and packing them into the car for the journey to school—these are moments of calm before the storms awaiting me at the university.

This morning ritual is more than just a routine drive.

It is a daily reminder of the responsibilities I carry, not just as a husband, co-parent, and teacher, but as someone who has chosen to serve in multiple roles—roles that don’t always fit neatly into boxes.

Balancing these commitments and keeping the machine of adulthood moving smoothly from place to place, day after day, is an art form. It’s also a welcome rhythm, within which I find many of the themes we’ll explore in this week’s newsletter.

Last month, The Tenure Track Newsletter focused on Vision and Purpose. As we settle into the rhythm of the fall semester, I’m excited to introduce this month’s theme:

Leadership and Influence

Isn’t it too soon to talk about leadership?

We often think of leadership as something reserved for those with formal titles—deans, department heads, prominent academics, and full professors. But what if leadership isn’t about titles or large followings, but rather about recognizing our innate potential and unique gifts?

What if I told you that each of us was born to be a leader?

In the complex landscape of higher education, I believe leadership begins when you understand one simple truth.

You don’t need a title to lead.

You simply need to cultivate what you already have within you.

That’s what this week’s newsletter is all about: recognizing and nurturing your leadership potential to enhance your academic journey and contribute to a more supportive, collaborative work environment.

And it’s never too early to start.

1. Redefining Leadership in Academia

When we think about leadership in academia, we often picture individuals in formal leadership roles: department chairs, deans, university presidents.

While these are certainly visible forms of leadership, true leadership extends far beyond titles and institutional hierarchies.

I’ve always admired Dr. Myles Munroe’s philosophy on leadership. He proposed that leadership is a fundamental aspect of human existence—that we are all born to lead.

This idea is especially powerful in academia, where leadership can take many forms, from the administrative office to the classroom podium.

Here are a few key aspects of Dr. Munroe’s philosophy:

Everyone has a unique area of gifting: Just as a mango seed holds the potential to become a fruit-bearing tree, each of us possesses innate talents, perspectives, and abilities waiting to be developed and shared.
Leadership is about service, not followers: True leadership isn’t measured by how many people follow you—especially on social media—but by the quality and impact of your contributions to your field and community.
We are all “leaders in disguise”: Even if you don’t see yourself as a traditional leader, you possess the potential to guide others toward their own greatness through your academic talents.
Leadership manifests in various ways:
- In the classroom, guiding students through complex ideas.
- In research, pioneering methodologies or mentoring junior researchers.
- In departmental service, shaping curricula or supporting colleagues.
- In professional organizations, offering expertise and enrichment.
- In public engagement, bridging academia and broader society.

The essence of academic leadership lies in identifying your unique “fruit”—your distinctive gifts and ideas—and sharing them generously to advance human knowledge and flourishing.

2. The Concept of Leading Through Service

Once we understand that leadership is not reserved for a select few, we can explore a powerful model for manifesting that potential: leading through service.

This approach, often referred to as servant leadership, focuses on leveraging your gifts to serve others rather than seeking personal recognition.

As Dr. Munroe and other leadership thinkers like Simon Sinek and Brené Brown remind us, effective leadership begins with recognizing that the gifts you’ve been given are not just for your benefit—they’re meant to be shared in the service of others.

The Essence of Servant Leadership in Academia

Leading through service shifts the focus from self-promotion to collective well-being. In academia, this means:

Identifying Your Unique Contributions: Like a fruit-bearing tree, your purpose as an academic is to develop and share your unique insights and knowledge.
Prioritizing Impact Over Influence: Focus on the depth of your impact—on students, colleagues, and the academic community—rather than seeking prestige or position.
Cultivating a Supportive Environment: Foster growth and collaboration in your academic spaces, helping others discover and share their gifts.
Embracing Humility: True leadership is about using your talents to serve the broader good, not asserting dominance over others through debate or self-promotion.

Leading Through Service in Academic Contexts

Servant leadership manifests in many forms in academia. Here are some practical ways it can show up in your day-to-day obligations:

In Teaching: Shift your focus from delivering content to inspiring curiosity and fostering critical thinking. Create opportunities for students to discover and express their unique talents, viewing yourself as a co-creator of knowledge alongside your students.
In Research: Go beyond advancing your career. Mentor younger scholars, engage in interdisciplinary projects, and focus on research that addresses societal challenges. Use your research to empower communities in need.
In Departmental Service: Approach service commitments as opportunities to shape the culture and trajectory of your department, benefiting colleagues, students, and the institution.
In Peer Relationships: Rather than seeing colleagues as competitors, build supportive networks and collaborative partnerships that allow everyone to succeed. Celebrate the success of your peers and share opportunities that serve their goals.
In Public Engagement: Use your academic expertise to contribute to society through accessible scholarship, public partnerships, or community-engaged policy work that bridges the gap between theory and practice.

We will explore many of these strategies in more depth in future newsletters. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it.

3. Discovering Your Academic “Fruit”

What if you’re unsure whether you have what it takes to lead at this stage of your career?

Having explored servant leadership, let’s turn inward to discover the unique gifts you have to offer—the distinctive “fruit” you bring to the academic community.

Just as a mango tree’s purpose is to bear fruit, your purpose in academia is to share your insights, research, and methodologies in ways that benefit others.

Understanding Your Academic Fruit

Your academic fruit is the sum of:

Your Expertise: The specialized knowledge you’ve gained in your field.
Your Perspective: The unique way you approach your discipline, often informed by your personal background, prior career, and life experiences.
Your Skills: The specific abilities you’ve developed in research, teaching, mentoring, or service.
Your Passions: The aspects of your work that energize and inspire you.

These elements combine to form your unique contribution to academia—your gift to the academic world.

Strategies for Identifying Your Academic Fruit

Uncovering your academic fruit can sometimes be challenging. Here are strategies to guide you:

Reflect on Your Journey: What initially drew you to your field, what problems or questions have consistently intrigued you, and which aspects of your work do you find most fulfilling?
Analyze Your Strengths: What do your colleagues or students frequently commend you for? In what areas do you consistently excel?
Identify Patterns in Your Work: Are there recurring themes, methods, or approaches in your research or teaching that make your work distinct?
Seek Feedback: What insights do trusted colleagues, mentors, or students have about your strengths and contributions, and what do they perceive as your defining qualities?
Explore Interdisciplinary Connections: How does your work intersect with other fields, and in what ways does your perspective contribute to interdisciplinary dialogue?
Consider Your Impact: What influence have your contributions had on students, colleagues, or your field?

Once you’ve identified your academic fruit, the next step is nurturing it.

4. Nurturing Your Leadership Potential

Now that we’ve identified the unique gifts you bring to academia, it’s time to cultivate your leadership potential.

True leadership isn’t about how many followers you have—it’s about maximizing your ability to serve others through your strengths.

Embrace Continuous Growth

Adopt a Growth Mindset: See challenges as opportunities to develop new skills. Leadership grows through learning and resilience.
Seek Feedback Regularly: Use feedback from colleagues, students, and mentors to refine your approach.

Develop Your Communication Skills

Hone Your Writing: Improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing. Consider workshops to enhance your ability to articulate ideas.
Practice Public Speaking: Seek opportunities to present your work to other scholars and communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

Build Meaningful Relationships

Network Purposefully: Build genuine, supportive connections at conferences and within professional organizations. Focus on service, which builds trust and deepens connections.
Mentor and Be Mentored: Relationships built on trust and growth can enhance your development as a leader.

Lead by Example

Maintain High Ethical Standards: Demonstrate integrity and empathy in all of your academic work and relationships.
Promote Diversity and Inclusion: Advocate for inclusivity in your department and classrooms, valuing diverse perspectives.

Embracing Leadership: Your Path Forward

Leadership in academia isn’t about attaining a title or wielding power—it’s about serving with purpose and using your unique gifts to uplift others.

As we move through this series on leadership and influence, take time to reflect on your contributions and the potential leader within you. You don’t need to be “in charge” to have a significant impact.

You simply need to lead with purpose and intention, using the gifts you already possess.

In the coming weeks, we’ll dive deeper into strategies for honing your leadership style, navigating institutional dynamics, and positioning yourself as a leader who empowers others.

Next week, we will discuss the reason why true leaders never search for followers.

Until then, remember, you were born to lead.

Becoming Full,

P.S. Know someone who could benefit from this journey? Share this newsletter today and let’s grow this supportive academic community together!

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