Recently I went through a period of time where I had the opportunity to meet with several community and church leaders in a very short window of time. I noticed something about the meetings. Something that really has caused me some discomfort. I observed there are at least two different kinds of leaders.
The first kind of leaders are draining leaders. Whether I spent five minutes with them or an hour I came away feeling the same. I came away feeling sucked dry emotionally, professionally, and creatively. At best I left our meetings feeling like I needed to take a shower. At worst I felt like a complete failure of a person.
The second kind of leader was a filler. These people had the ability to leave me feeling empowered and charged. I came away from my meetings, however brief, feeling like a better person.
Identifying the two types does not explain my discomfort. My discomfort comes because I am not sure why the difference exists. In both styles of leader are highly successful people. Individuals who are building large teams, amassing great profits, and coordinating significant impactful initiatives.
As I try to figure this out, I am turning to you for help. First, have you observed these differences? Second, if you have, why do you think fill people up and others drain?
Pastor Stephen
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