Leadership Wednesday 06 - Dancing David

This past weekend in church the biblical focus of the sermon was 2 Samuel 6. In that passage David brings the Ark to Jerusalem and worships God by dancing before the Ark with all of his might, mostly in his underwear. (How awesome would it have been if one of the Nazis from Raiders of the Lost Ark danced in his underwear while they carried the Ark through the desert?) The scene with David is interesting because he is the leader of the country; God’s chosen king is the one at the front of the procession, celebrating the most and dancing the hardest. Obviously David was a great leader; he was Israel’s greatest king and his reign became associated with the coming reign of the Messiah. David was a great warrior who expanded Israel’s boundaries, in most situations he was a man of strong character and he is called a man after God’s own heart. And, along with that sparkling résumé, he used his leadership and influence to inspire those he led to worship God. His excitement became their excitement; he set the tone for their worship.

As leaders that is something we need to think about: our ability to set the tone for those we lead. David was excited about worshiping God and the Ark’s presence in Jerusalem. He was at the forefront of the worship and his people saw and responded in the same manner. So whatever attitude we choose for ourselves, that is the attitude that will be transferred to those we lead.

If we’re excited and passionate, those we lead will be excited and passionate.

If we’re distracted and aloof, those we lead will be distracted and aloof.

If we’re cynical and negative, those we lead will be cynical and negative.

For years at summer camp, at our first counselor meeting, we were told to have an “Oh Boy!” attitude. An “Oh Boy!” attitude meant that whatever happened at camp, whatever we were doing, needed to be met with a vocal “Oh Boy!” and actual excitement. We needed to have that kind of attitude and excitement because the students would take their cues from us, their counselors. If the counselors were excited about recreation, then the students would be excited about recreation. Conversely, if the counselors complained about having to be at breakfast at 8:30 in the morning, the students would follow suit and complain about the early breakfast.

I have seen this concept very clearly in recent years as I’ve led a small group for college students. So much of my attitude dictates how the group goes. Some nights I’m very tired, which leads me to being very off topic and prone to tangents. On those nights, I set the tone and most everyone in the group follows suit; they get off topic more often and follow me on my tangents or start their very own. On those nights I still have an “Oh Boy!” attitude, unfortunately it’s an “Oh Boy!” attitude for being off topic and following every rabbit trail that comes up. Luckily that doesn’t happen too often and, when the group can see it coming, there are people willing to lead up and keep the group on track. They seize the opportunity to lead, set the tone and have some influence.

As John C. Maxwell says, leadership is influence. We have the opportunity to use that influence well or poorly. We set the tone and our attitude dictates whether or not that will be a positive or negative tone. Honestly, that is a huge responsibility. It’s also a little scary to think that, as a leader, my personal attitude can have such an impact; but it’s just another part of leadership. And, whether we’ve been groomed for leadership or had it thrust upon us, we need to take that responsibility seriously and act accordingly.

The story from 2 Samuel 6 would have fallen flat had David just been sitting in his palace when the Ark was brought up to Jerusalem. We are moved and we like the story because of David’s unbridled passion and excitement, which invited the people to participate with just as much fervor. I’m not saying that as leaders we need to dance in our underwear but if that’s what it takes to get excited and set that tone for those we lead, then we’d better make sure the underwear is clean and hole-free.

When have you seen another leader set the tone with his or her attitude?