At first glance, you may think that you have a great advantage in leadership if you are an alpha. You may have some personal charm, may be magnetic and you are skilled at holding your vision, making it a reality among the masses. An Alpha dominates and is proud to do so.
Our Former church had a commitment to servant leadership. This is where those who lead would be entirely led to serve others. They would not make themself special, but rather humble themself before the Lord and in so doing serve both God’s children and those who might seek the community and love and join God’s children.
I have been thinking about alpha people because 2 of my 3 children are at present time alpha in their nature. For example, my daughter misread the clock and thought she wasn’t going to be the first child in her summer play program. She stood by the bed where I was sleepily feeding Herbert his morning bottle of warm milk, while she screamed to get up Mom over and over told me I was ruining her life and that she was late she had to go. I did after 10 minutes of this get-up, put a sweater over my pajamas, and load the boys in the car, One of them I realized as I buckled him in had just pooed his pants and it was on his pajamas, and on my hand now. But rather than wash my hand my girls were angrily directing us to just goooo mom. So we drove to school. At that moment I look at the clock on my dashboard. 6:20 am. The school was not yet open. We drove there and waited in the dark parking lot till Miss Jennifer the staff member who opens the door, came up. Out jumped my girl and away she went.
Ok, to be fair this is a child alpha, but she is a good example of what an alpha can do. They know what ‘THEY’ want and they will do whatever it takes to create that reality.
I was thinking about how I lead. I have rejected the alpha model, as it does not work for me. I am not for the most part forceful and pushy. I do have a strong direction for purity and truth, but I also recognize the many ways each one journeys to find their way to that place.
I like to think of myself as. Mentor, a person who has gone before the mentee and learned important elements of the unfolding journey to share. I love when my followers say with me for years, not because I have withheld anything from them, but just the opposite, that I am joyfully sharing everything I can with them about the road ahead. My leadership is a quiet one. When people do realize who I am they say, but you are so humble, I would never have guessed the power you wield. And that is where the true power lies. It is not in domination, but in collaborating and sharing the journey, knowing each person is a child of God, no matter how things may seem to appear at the time.