I look forward to the production of the 2024 Annual Report which will capture the heart and soul of the great year we have had and upon which we intend, by God’s grace, to build for 2025. As the topic of leadership has organically grown at The WellHouse, I have been nudged toward not only writing this end of the year newsletter article on leadership, but also continuing to do so on a monthly basis in 2025.

Now that I am a sage in this work, according to a wise friend, the notion of leadership has caused me to offer a few thoughts on defining the tremendous task of leadership. A true and effective leader displays several key attributes, but none more important than love. A person who believes that being a leader means being in charge without being challenged and believes he/she owes accountability to no one is anything but a leader and displays a character that fails to love. I am especially grateful this year for how we have chosen to grow in the scriptural commands of loving God and loving people. Leaders are being developed, have the space to grow, and the willingness to be obedient to the commandment to love, as simple as it sounds, demonstrates the very essence of success.

There is a cost to being a leader, to equip without imposing one’s views, to put oneself at risk for the best interests of another, and to be ready to catch the people being led before they fall. This and much more is how a leader leads well and displays a love for the team of people in his/her care. It’s hard work that requires immense self-awareness, a willingness to be humble while not shrinking from hard decisions and conversations, and standing in the shadows to allow the team, as a group and individually, to receive well deserved credit.

Love can also be misunderstood. Think about our children. We steer them along paths they don’t always want to go, we withhold what has potential to be harmful, and we discipline. These are not the fun, warm, preferred sides of love, but they are equally important. As the leader, there is a tremendous responsibility to lead in casting a vision and to bring the team together to achieve the vision, so it is essential to the best interests of the staff as well as the organization that love is manifested well during the difficulties. If the relationship has been built on and rooted in love, the hard conversations will be much easier.

Practically speaking, how do we love and lead a team well? There are countless ways, but here are a few tips that, while they have not been perfected at The WellHouse, are becoming a part of our culture:

Check in regularly with individuals. Ask them what they are working on, how they are feeling about their work, what they love about their roles, what gives them life, and what do they need.

Seek to meet the needs.

Create an environment where they can thrive without control through micro-management thus allowing for great ideas, new ways, recognition of hard work, and mistakes.

Consistency will bring results, per Simon Sinek, an expert on leadership.

Lead by example. And, when words are necessary, we must determine to remember that it is not so much what we say, but how we say it! Tone can be the key to building up or tearing down. Our love can be a reflection of the greater love of God – something that so many are missing but desperately crave.

Letter from the CEO: Winter 2024