The Leader Who Steps In
In my reading of Mere Christianity this week, I covered C. S. Lewis’ argument on The Perfect Penitent. Lewis explains that repentance is necessary for humanity, but there is a problem. The one person who could perfectly repent was the only person who did not need to.
Jesus stepped forward and paid a debt He did not owe for people who could not pay it themselves. Lewis calls Him “The Perfect Penitent.”
That idea stayed with me this week because leadership often requires something similar.
Recently, we had to let someone go from our organization. It was clear the decision had to be made. Everyone involved understood the facts. But the person was loved, and no one wanted to carry out the task. In a normal scenario, it would not have been my responsibility to execute that action. I could have easily asked someone else to handle it and been fully justified. But after speaking with everyone involved and hearing their perspectives, I realized something. This was one of those moments where the leader needed to step in and carry the weight. So, I did.
When the decision was announced, something interesting happened. There was relief in the room. People were grateful that someone had taken responsibility for the difficult moment instead of pushing it down the chain.
The sacrifice was worth it.
But then something else happened that I did not expect.
After the termination was delivered, the store was short staffed. My original plan had been simple. Deliver the message and leave. Instead, I stayed and worked as an attendant – the lowest position in the store – for the next four hours.
At first, I thought I was just helping fill a gap. But what I gained from those hours was far more valuable than the time I spent.
I talked with our attendants.
I spent time with customers.
I ran the systems our team uses every day.
I experienced the physical environment of the store.
I walked away with a level of understanding I would never have gained from a report or a meeting. The store became stronger because the team stayed steady during a difficult moment. And I became a better leader because I stepped into a task that was technically beneath my role.
Lewis might say this is the strange logic of leadership. Sometimes the path to strengthening your authority is not avoiding the lowest tasks but embracing them. Great leaders are not defined by the privileges they protect. They are defined by the burdens they are willing to carry for others.
We should be careful not to quickly dismiss responsibilities that appear to belong to someone else. Those moments are often invitations.
Invitations to protect the team.
Invitations to learn something new.
Invitations to lead with sacrifice.
The leader who steps in during hard moments builds something far stronger than authority. They build trust.
Stay steady.
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God Bless!
~ Schuyler Williamson