FROM 'ME' TO 'WE'

Every January, we feel it, don't we? That pressure to be more. More visionary, more decisive, more capable. We look at the year ahead and we unconsciously slip into hero mode. We start believing that great leadership means having all the answers, carrying all the weight, being the smartest person in the room.

If I don't do it, it won't get done right. How many times have you thought that?

But what if everything we've been taught about leadership has it completely backward?

I've watched countless leaders burn out trying to be the hero their organization needs. The leader who can't find anyone else to get it right. The one who answers every email personally because no one else knows our people like I do. The leader who can't take a day off because my team isn't ready. The one who plans everything, trains everyone, shows up early because someone has to hold it all together.

They're exhausted. Their teams are underutilized. And the organization just isn't growing the way it could.

There's a better way. And it starts with a radical mindset shift.

Host: Rodney Cox

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Transcript

00:00:21:09 - 00:00:44:11

Every January. We feel it, don't we? That pressure to be more, more visionary, more decisive, more capable. We look at the year ahead and we unconsciously slip into hero mode. We start believing that great leadership means having all the answers, carrying all the weight. Being the smartest person in the room.

00:00:44:11 - 00:00:48:22

If I don't do it, it won't get done right. How many times have you thought that?

00:00:48:22 - 00:00:53:09

But what if everything we've been taught about leadership has it completely backward?

00:00:53:09 - 00:01:14:14

I've watched countless leaders burn out trying to be the hero their organization needs. The leader who can't find anyone else to get it right. The one who answers every email personally because no one else knows our people like I do. The leader who can't take a day off because my team isn't ready. The one who plans everything trains.

00:01:14:14 - 00:01:18:13

Everyone shows up early because someone has to hold it all together.

00:01:18:13 - 00:01:26:00

They're exhausted. Their teams are underutilized, and the organization just isn't growing the way it could.

00:01:26:00 - 00:01:30:06

There's a better way. And it starts with a radical mindset shift.

00:01:30:06 - 00:01:37:22

So let me take you to Scripture because this isn't just leadership advice. This is God's design for how we're supposed to lead.

00:01:37:22 - 00:01:54:16

Paul writes in Philippians chapter two, verses three and four do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.

00:01:54:16 - 00:02:10:06

Think about that for a second. We're called to not see ourselves too highly. We're called to esteem others higher than ourselves. Now, this isn't just nice religious language. This is a profound truth about how Kingdom leadership actually works.

00:02:10:06 - 00:02:29:05

Jesus modeled this perfectly. He said, the greatest among you shall be your servant. He came not to be served, but to serve. The Son of God, the one person in all of history who actually could do everything perfectly, chose to empower others instead.

00:02:29:05 - 00:02:45:00

Why? Because God's design has never been about solo superheroes. It's about the body of Christ, where every part matters, every gift is needed, and every person has something unique to contribute.

00:02:45:00 - 00:02:54:22

Here's the truth it should reshape how we lead. God gave you a team, and leadership is more about them than you.

00:02:54:22 - 00:03:03:03

When we lead from a mean mindset, we become bottlenecks. When we lead from a mindset. We become multipliers.

00:03:03:03 - 00:03:10:03

So let me give you three counterintuitive mindset shifts that will transform how you lead in 2026.

00:03:10:03 - 00:03:14:17

The first shift is this. Let go to multiply.

00:03:14:17 - 00:03:23:07

Most leaders hold on to tasks and decisions because they believe letting go means losing control. But the opposite is true.

00:03:23:07 - 00:03:39:10

Maybe you're the one who insists on approving every piece of communication, or you personally process every application. Or you can't let anyone else handle key relationships, or you have to review every piece of work before it goes out.

00:03:39:10 - 00:03:59:07

But here's what happens when you delegate. Based on others strengths. Not just to lighten your load, but to genuinely empower them. Your impact multiplies. One person can only do so much, but a team of people operating in their God given strengths. That's exponential impact.

00:03:59:07 - 00:04:03:19

Letting go isn't about you doing less. It's about the mission accomplishing more.

00:04:03:19 - 00:04:13:22

So the question isn't can I do this task? The question is who on my team is wired by God to do this better than me?

00:04:13:22 - 00:04:18:15

The second shift. I think we before me.

00:04:18:15 - 00:04:26:13

Here's a diagnostic question for you. When you think about success in your area of leadership, what picture comes to mind?

00:04:26:13 - 00:04:40:23

Be honest with yourself. Is it about you being recognized? Are you being impressive? Are you getting the credit? Or is it about your team thriving, your people growing, and the collective impact you're making together?

00:04:40:23 - 00:04:45:17

Is success about my program or about the team discovering their gifts?

00:04:45:17 - 00:04:51:20

Is success about your next promotion or about developing leadership capacity in others?

00:04:51:20 - 00:04:59:17

Is success about being known in your field, or about your people flourishing in their roles?

00:04:59:17 - 00:05:11:14

Thinking higher in leadership doesn't mean elevating yourself. It means elevating your team. It means shifting your attention from how do I look to how is my team flourishing?

00:05:11:14 - 00:05:19:23

Success in kingdom leadership is measured by how well your people are using their gifts, not by how indispensable you've made yourself.

00:05:19:23 - 00:05:23:15

The third shift, no less. Discover more.

00:05:23:15 - 00:05:30:23

Now. This one feels risky, doesn't it? We've been conditioned to believe that leaders need to have all the answers.

00:05:30:23 - 00:05:44:01

You think you have to know every detail. You think you have to have the vision for every initiative. You think you have to solve every problem. You think you have to guide every discussion.

00:05:44:01 - 00:05:50:06

But what if curiosity about other strengths is more valuable than confidence in your own abilities?

00:05:50:06 - 00:06:05:12

When you don't have to be the expert on everything. You create space for others to step up. When you ask questions instead of giving directives, you discover capabilities in your team you never knew existed.

00:06:05:12 - 00:06:23:08

The person who's quite in meetings might be brilliant at behind the scenes systems. The team member, who seems to lack initiative, might be waiting for permission to lead in their area of strength. The person who seems disengaged might be waiting for the right question to unleash their strategic thinking.

00:06:23:08 - 00:06:35:10

You don't need all the answers when you have a team full of gifted, spirit led people. Your job isn't to know everything. Your job is to create an environment where everyone can contribute what God gave them.

00:06:35:10 - 00:06:45:13

So here's where the rubber meets the road. You might be thinking, okay, I get it. Leadership is about we, not me. But how do I actually make that shift?

00:06:45:13 - 00:06:47:11

It starts with honest self-awareness and.

00:06:47:11 - 00:06:53:23

Before you can lead a we focus team, you need to know yourself, both your strengths and your weaknesses.

00:06:53:23 - 00:07:08:23

Now I know weaknesses is an uncomfortable word. We've been taught to minimize them, compensate for them, or pretend they don't exist. But here's a liberating truth. Your weaknesses aren't a problem to fix. They're an invitation to invite others in.

00:07:08:23 - 00:07:22:17

God chose not to give you certain gifts because he wants you to need your team. That's not a design flaw. That's the design. You're incomplete by divine intention. So the body of Christ can function the way God intended.

00:07:22:17 - 00:07:41:01

Maybe you're great at vision, but terrible at details. Maybe you excel at relationships, but struggle with data. Maybe you love strategy, but avoid difficult conversations. Maybe you're incredible at execution, but freeze when asked to innovate.

00:07:41:01 - 00:07:49:21

Without knowing what you don't have. How can you invite others, or hire others, or recruit the right people to step into what God chose not to give you?

00:07:49:21 - 00:08:05:00

This is why I'm inviting you to start 2026 by taking the leading from Your Strengths assessment. This assessment will give you a comprehensive picture of both sides, what you bring to the table and what you need from others.

00:08:05:00 - 00:08:22:07

And because we're starting this new year with a not me but we mindset, I want to offer you a discount. Use code not me. But we that's in OTM. But all caps. No spaces to receive 20% off your assessment.

00:08:22:07 - 00:08:31:17

Discover your complete profile. Understand your God given wiring and see clearly where you need to invite others into your leadership.

00:08:31:17 - 00:08:40:20

Now, once you've done that personal discovery work, you're ready to bring your team along. And here's the exciting part. It's easier than you think.

00:08:40:20 - 00:09:00:11

The strong team starter pack gives you everything you need to facilitate three powerful 90 minute team sessions. Everything is included. Facilitator guides. Participant workbooks the whole process mapped out for you as it's complete. Turnkey.

00:09:00:11 - 00:09:10:04

Here's what makes this so accessible. You don't need to be the expert. The materials guide you through the entire process. You just show up, follow the plan,

00:09:10:04 - 00:09:11:18

and watch your team

00:09:11:18 - 00:09:13:00

transform.

00:09:13:00 - 00:09:31:19

In just three sessions, your team will understand how each person's strengths complement the others. They'll learn to communicate in ways that actually connect. They'll see conflicts in a completely new light as strengths and tension, not personal attacks. And they'll discover who's wired for which roles and responsibilities.

00:09:31:19 - 00:09:53:04

And here's our New Year's gift to you. That same not me, but we coupon works on the Strong Team Starter pack to use it as many times as you need for yourself, for your team, for multiple teams in your organization. This is our way of helping you make 2026 the year your entire team moves from me to we.

00:09:53:04 - 00:10:11:07

You'll see your team with new eyes. They'll see each other and you differently. Tasks that felt like burdens. We'll find their ride home with the person wired to excel at them. And your team will start operating like the body of Christ it was designed to be.

00:10:11:07 - 00:10:13:22

Let me pray with you as we close.

00:10:13:22 - 00:10:34:16

Father, thank you for creating us in complete. Thank you for giving us strengths that reflect your image, and for withholding gifts that would make us self-sufficient. Thank you for placing us in community where we need each other, where we're better together than we could ever be. Alone.

00:10:34:16 - 00:10:49:13

Help us to lead the way. Jesus led, not grasping for recognition but serving others, not protecting our position, but empowering our people, not building our own kingdoms, but multiplying your kingdom impact.

00:10:49:13 - 00:10:59:11

Give us the humility to know ourselves honestly, and the wisdom to steward the team you've entrusted to us. May we move from May to we in every decision we make this year.

00:10:59:11 - 00:11:11:11

So this January, I want to challenge you to choose a different kind of New Year's resolution instead of resolving to do more, work harder, or be better resolved to lead differently.

00:11:11:11 - 00:11:16:09

Resolve to see your weaknesses as invitations, not inadequacies.

00:11:16:09 - 00:11:27:08

Because God didn't call you to be a hero. He called you to be a servant leader who multiplies kingdom impact by empowering others to step into everything he created them to be.

00:11:27:08 - 00:11:30:09

Let's make 2026 the year of we.