Kim Clark, the NAC distinguished professor of management at the Marriott School of Business, delivered Tuesday’s forum address on campus. He provided an in-depth look at the importance of becoming “disciple-leaders.”
He issued a call for everyone to “rise up and do better and become better than we have ever done or been.”
“You are not called to be a disciple-student, or a disciple-administrator or a disciple-worker. You are called to be a disciple-leader,” Clark admonished. “Jesus is our perfect example of leadership.”
It takes work to live in the Savior’s way, and even more to lead in the Savior’s way. Clark taught of three elements that embody the personal nature of leadership: 1) the soul, 2) the heart and 3) the mind.
“The soul, heart and mind of leadership are not independent of one another, but complementary — they work together,” Clark said.
The soul
The soul of leadership is seeking to influence those you interact with for good. Cultivating and leading with light is essential for following in the Savior’s footsteps.
This is embodied through “actions that generate organizational light like encouragement, accountability, love, trust, high standards and productive use of talent and capital flow from a supporting base of moral beliefs, values and attitudes,” Clark taught.
The heart
The heart of leadership is based on the two great commandments, emphasizing the one and creating an environment for each individual to reach for their hopes, dreams and potential. Lifting, strengthening and building personal relationships is at the core of the heart.
“People need to feel inspired in their work — inspired by their work, inspired to do their work and inspired to grow and develop through their work,” Clark said. “Disciple-leaders help people see the connection between their daily work and the organization’s higher purpose, and they give people a vision of who they can become and the path to get there.”
Clark shared an example of when Hubert Joly became CEO of Best Buy. At the time, the company was in severe trouble, so much so that people thought he was crazy for taking the job. However, Joly followed a framework that embodies the heart of leadership called LIVE, which turned the organization around from the inside out.
“This acronym stands for four important things people need to thrive in their lives and in their work: love, inspiration, vitality and expression,” Clark explained.
Best Buy went from barely scraping by to five years in a row of sales growth and profitability. This change was made through the disciple-leadership of Joly and his investment in human connection and unlocking the potential in each of his employees.
The mind
The mind of leadership is “the work of mobilizing people in a process of action, learning and change.”
Power is an essential element in this process and allows leaders to establish direction, opportunities, resources and solve problems. However, power can either be used in positive or detrimental ways.
“Leaders in positions of authority very often misuse power to control, coerce or compel people to comply with rules, or directives or orders,” Clark said.
There is no place in the mind of a disciple-leader for the misuse of power. Power must be used responsibly and only for the building up and unification of everyone involved.
Clark concluded by promising that “if you act with faith in Jesus Christ to become more and more like Him, His true disciple, He will bless you to do the work of leadership in your sphere of responsibility in His way, with His power.”
