My good friend, Art Roxby, wrote, “The first rule of fishing…fish where the fish are.” I’m not a fisherman. Art is a very engaged fisherman. I have to believe he is correct on this. It does make perfect sense. If it’s fish you are after, then it seems quite logical, and understandable, you’d go where they are.
Reflecting on this statement, I note a few things that are applicable to leadership.
Leadership has rules, guidelines, and principles. These rules have been forged by experience. Rules tend to have cross-cultural play. Rules apply to many situations. Rules help a leader navigate the terrain. Rules provide field-tested helps. Rules can, and often do, change. Leaders need these rules. Each acts as a template from which you can begin. You may adapt the rules, but you need to begin somewhere. A first rule of leadership for me: Earn your leadership.
Know what you are looking for. What is your mission? What is your vision? Why does your organization exist? Once settling on what you are wanting to achieve lead toward that. When you know you are looking for fish, it will keep you from wandering through the forest looking for deer.
Determine where you need to be to achieve what you want. Go to where the fish are. Do your due diligence. Discover where you need to be to gain what you are after.
Art shared one more insight to fishing. He said, “You need to drop a marker buoy (as to where the fish are) so if you drift you know where to return”
Organizations and leaders need ‘marker buoys.’ You need touchstones that you can return to. Missional drift is one of the greatest challenges for effective leadership. A leader moves away from the original focus. A leader gets enamored with another part of the lake. She drifts losing focus and effectiveness.
Pastors and churches can easily do this. The ‘marker buoy’ of the church is Matthew 28:19-20. It is the Great Commission. The church ought to be about helping people find and follow Jesus seven days a week. If you are drifting from this, relocate the ‘marker buoy’ and return.