The Power of A Woman Who Leads, an excerpt

By Gail Hayes –

If you want to see what eagles see, you must be willing
to do what eagles do. You must embrace bravery and
soar while understanding the risk. You must have
no fear of heights, no fear of flying, no fear of peril or
of the hunt. You must be willing to swoop down into
danger’s valley and capture your prey. You must become
a warrior-leader. You must also understand that warrior
leaders, like eagles, get to keep what they capture.

From the beginning of time, men have always known that they have the power to make decisions. Even as far back as the Garden of Eden, people were making decisions that would influence the future of all humanity. When God put Adam in the garden, He made a decision so critical to the survival of mankind that without it, no one would exist. He knew that it was not good for man to be alone and that he needed help to live out his purpose and fulfill his destiny. So the Creator of the universe made a powerful decision to create a helper for Adam who could handle monumental projects and become known as the master multitasker.

This helper could make snap decisions without hesitation and carry heavy loads without complaining. This helper could have a child in the morning, prepare lunch at noon, and work in the fields at night. This helper could sense danger before it arrived and wrestle it to the ground once it appeared while nursing her infant. This helper could go without food or sleep for days and yet still have the energy to defeat a nation. This helper could cross a desert on foot and, with the sand still clinging to the bottoms of her feet, enter a throne room with the presence of a queen. She could do all these things and still be vulnerable enough to need Adam’s protection, all while watching his back better than the fiercest of warriors.

But God created this helper so complex and so multifaceted that even today, her thoughts and actions still befuddle the mind of man. Yet without her influence, man would be lost. God created this helper and everything on earth changed. The identity of this helper is easy for us to see. God called her good. I call her sister. She is me. She is you. She is woman.

Leading from the Beginning

“You’re doing a great job, Adam. I’m proud of you,” God said as He and Adam walked through the garden. The wind tickled his cheeks with its soft fingers and Adam relaxed as his feet swept through the thick, green carpet of grass. The cherry blossom perfume was intoxicating, and Adam breathed in the fragrance as he stuck his chest out with pride.

“Yes, and thanks goes to You, Lord. You’ve taught me everything I know, and I love working here,” said Adam. But God knew that it was just a matter of time before Adam would become lonely. He knew that His daily visits would not always be enough, and before long Adam would be yearning for something more. God knew because He placed that need within Adam when He created him. Adam would soon become lonely and long for something he did not yet know about. He would still need his daily walk with God, but this second need would complete his life.

“Adam, I need you to do something for me,” God said as the cool breeze of the day danced around them.

“What is it, Lord? Anything You ask, I will do,” said Adam as he slowed his pace and turned to face God.

“Well, Adam,” God said. Everything in the garden grew silent, holding its breath, waiting for Him to speak again. “I need you to name all the animals here in the garden.” He continued walking.

“I can do that, Lord! When do we start?” Adam asked as he ran to catch up with God. He was so excited that he nearly tripped over a giant ruby embedded in the garden pathway.

“Let’s start now,” said God, and He turned and motioned for the first animal to come before Adam.

When Adam saw the animal, it was as if everything God had taught him leaked out through his ears. His mind went completely blank. This was a strange-looking creature, and he realized that this was going to be more difficult than he had originally thought. As hard as he tried, all the words seemed trapped in a vault bolted shut with this project’s newness.

Adam stood before this creature and lost the ability to even think. He did not want to disappoint God and felt helpless to do what He had asked him to do. Adam began to question whether or not he could perform this task. This was different from anything God had asked him to do in the past.

He dropped his head and rounded his shoulders. He became unsteady on his feet. Then, suddenly, he experienced something he did not understand. He felt the veil of discouragement drape its chilly arms around him. This chilly veil began a slow descent over his spirit and Adam, for the first time in his life, was at a loss for words. All he could do was stand before God with his head bowed while trying to keep his balance. He felt a strange tingly sensation stinging his cheeks. He wiped his face and felt an unfamiliar wetness. He wept.

As God looked into his eyes something miraculous happened. Adam’s rib cage began to vibrate. It shook with such force that it nearly threw him to the ground.

And then Adam heard something he had never heard before. He heard a voice so sweet that it nearly took his breath away. This voice caused such a stirring in Adam that he almost forgot what he was supposed to be doing. He could focus on nothing but this marvelous voice. Then the voice did something that surprised Adam. It began giving Adam instructions.

“That creature looks like its name should be monkey, sweetheart,” the voice said, sending tremors through Adam’s ribs.

“Monkey, Lord!” Adam shouted to the Lord with a voice filled with authority.

“And this one looks like a giraffe. Oh, and there’s a pig, and look at the donkey, and that must be a dog. I like the sound of that. What do you think? Oh, and look at the cat and the bird. Yippee! Look at that cow and chicken. That one is hopping so we can call him kangaroo. This is so much fun I can hardly stand it! I just love helping you name these creatures,” said the voice, hardly taking a breath as the animals continued to come before Adam. As each animal approached the voice gave Adam a name. Adam in turn announced the name to God. They developed a rhythm that appeared as natural as the marriage of the clouds and the rain.

After days of naming animals and all the creatures he could see, Adam could barely stand. Fatigue embraced him and caused his knees to weaken. As he sat on the ground, sleep called his name and the weight of his eyelids nearly blinded him. His rib cage was so sore that he dared not open his eyes to see another animal for fear the voice would give him another command. He could hear the voice giggling and talking at full force, but all he wanted to do was sleep.

God is a God of mercy. He could see what was happening and He took pity on Adam. He allowed a deep sleep to fall upon him. It was so deep that nothing could have woken him except God. With the voice still talking and Adam’s rib cage still vibrating, God knew that it was time to unveil His next creation to the garden.

With sleep’s arms embracing him, Adam had no idea what was about to unfold. As slumber had her way with Adam, God gently opened his rib cage, released the voice, and gave it a new home. He gave it a body that was comparable to Adam’s body. He knew that it was now time to present Adam with a gift. All the elements of creation were now present to see the beauty of this gift. God waited until He knew that Adam and the voice could work well together before unveiling her to the world. He waited until Adam and the voice proved that by naming the Animals together, they could lead together.

The voice that so mesmerized Adam was someone we all know. Her name resounds through the corridors of our feminine spirits and ignites our hearts. She was our sister. She was and is woman. She was a natural-born leader and her name was Eve. She was the first leader and she knew something that many of us are just discovering. She understood who she was and she understood her power. She was born to lead!

Leading Is a Part of Who We Are

Even in biblical days, women held leadership positions. They were rulers. They managed large households. They judged. They saved their families from death. They led armies. They lobbied and changed laws. They loved. They married. They had children. They trained rulers. They imparted wisdom. They did everything imaginable to run a society and craft civilization.

They stepped into history and wore the mantle of leadership with grace, dignity, and strength. They understood that they had authority to do what appeared to be the impossible. They understood that when given the opportunity to act, they could act. They were unafraid and stood in the burning path of leadership and allowed it to have its way with their lives.

Now it’s your turn. As a woman today, you can also do great things that will shake nations and change lives. But the challenge is to be unafraid and step into your destiny without hesitation. Timing is critical, for most situations require decisive action. The question is—what will you do when leadership calls your name? How will you respond when it arrives and holds up the mirror of purpose, waiting for you to acknowledge that the one whose reflection is staring back at you is the one uniquely called to the task at hand?

Will you run and hide? Will you question it? Will you dissect and inspect the components and then snub the opportunity? Or will you willingly embrace its fire and accept all that comes with it? How you respond to these questions will determine whether or not you will live with the frustration of missed opportunities. Your answers will either catapult you to destiny or cause you to live with regret.

Many of our sisters understood that they had authority granted by God to do what appeared to be impossible, and they did it well. Now, their stories echo through the halls of history, reminding us of who we are and what we’ve been called to do. They remind us that decisions made eons ago prepared the way for our coming. Through the telling of their stories and whispering of their memories, they remind us that we stand on shoulders bigger than our own and we too must step up and make decisions to set the stage for future generations.

They remind us that were born to lead.

Power

Many women seem uncomfortable with the word. Although we use it freely in our everyday lives, many women would rather say that they use influence. Why does the word power seem to frighten most women? Most of us have no problem exercising our power, especially when it comes to protecting our families and assets, but we do face challenges when others call us powerful.

We would rather be called influential. Influence is as intangible as wind but just as powerful as any tornado. Until we come face-to face with our God-given power and embrace it, it will not embrace us. We must make the first move.

In order for us to walk in power, we must first become comfortable with power. In other words, it is okay for a woman to have power. It okay for us to exercise that power. We do it every day and don’t even realize it. When we give our children instructions, we use power. When we let our husbands know our needs, we use power. When we give our friends counsel, we use our power. We are powerful and it is time we accepted that.

In the next chapter you will take the Leadership Style Inventory. It will help you discover your leadership style and show you how beautifully you use your power. It is a tool designed to help you walk in liberty and see that you were born to lead!

Natural Leaders

Women are natural leaders. Take a look at almost any aspect of our society and you can see feminine fingerprints. Anyone can see the impact of femininity in the lives of our families, our friends, and our relationships. There is not another creature on the face of the earth that touches, loves, changes, or influences like a woman. It may be difficult to grasp, but we are just that powerful and just that fabulous. And just think—God did this by design!

But we have an enemy who does not want us to walk in destiny. He understands that we are powerful and this is one of reasons that he hates us. He understands that once we set our minds on something, it becomes our focus. Once it becomes our focus, it becomes our mission. Once it becomes our mission, we go on the hunt. We will not relinquish the hunt until we capture our prey, until we complete our mission.

So what force does our enemy use to keep us from understanding the power of our focus? He is the master of distractions. He knows that if we become distracted, we become discouraged. If we become discouraged, we become disarmed. If we become disarmed, we become disconnected. When we feel disconnected, isolation’s icy darts sting us. When we become isolated, we are vulnerable to attacks. These attacks infuse the core of our femininity with toxicity. They make us question our very purpose. Once the attacks begin, we strike out and attack other women, many of whom are innocent of any wrongdoing. We make them blameless victims of our pain. We abandon our wounded and leave them defenseless against the next wave of the enemy’s attack. All this results from being caught in isolation’s web.

Many of us are also performance-driven and love the feeling of accomplishment. Once we start a project and see it through to its completion, we experience an inner glow that ignites our well-being. Distraction knows that if we tap into this God-given power surge we regain our focus. This inner glow causes us to look around for other projects left unfinished. This is the time he sets in motion his distraction machine.

His machine has no power if we understand the Identity, Purpose, Destiny principle. Once we discover our identity, we can grasp our purpose. Once we grasp our purpose, we can step into our destiny. Nothing can change how God sees us. Nothing can remove us from His love, acceptance, or power—not what people say about us, not what we think of ourselves, and not even our enemy and his tactics. The only thing that separates us from God is sin. But because of His love for us, He even forgives us of sin when we ask. He created us for greatness and to rule and reign. He created us to have a huge impact on the world. He created us to lead.

Let’s Begin the Journey

Close your eyes and imagine that parked in front of you is the car of your dreams. This car has called your name for years and yet you’ve never had the nerve to even do a test drive. It is your favorite model and color and although you have not touched it, you know that to drive it would be a life-changing experience.

You see a document taped to the driver’s window. As you examine it, you can hardly believe what you see. It is the title stating that the vehicle is paid in full and it is yours. You cannot imagine anyone giving you such an extravagant gift but somehow, as a leader, you understand that if you accept it there must be a cost of some kind involved.

Pushing surprise aside, you decide to open the door. Your fingertips caress the handle like a classical guitarist strokes the strings on his favorite instrument. With one smooth click, the door glides open. Perhaps one little ride won’t hurt. You can always give the car back, right?

Your thoughts buzz like bees near a hive. Excitement lets you know that you are about to experience what you once thought impossible. You lean inside and inhale the scent of the vehicle’s interior. Your thoughts stop their buzzing in response to the new car smell and the sight of luxury.

In the midst of all of your personal excitement, you notice that there are several other vehicles parked on the lot. You watch as smiling, nodding people surround the cars. But there are also several people who appear to be reluctant. They walk around the cars shaking their heads with arms folded across their chests, as if to say that this opportunity is not for them. It’s as if they believe that this is all too good to be true and they will not be caught in a trap set for destruction.

But as a woman on a mission you have a different mindset. You are unafraid of the unknown and you are looking for something different from your normal activities. You believe that this presentation may be a part of what you seek. Your focus guides you back to your reason for being in the lot. You do not have time to wonder about what others may or may not be thinking or feeling. Before you is something you call a mission. And your mission is to drive this car!

Now, imagine sliding into a leather seat so supple that it conforms to the shape of your body. It is soft but it is sturdy enough to hold your body weight. It is also so sensitive to you and your environment that it automatically heats when you feel cold and cools when the air around you becomes warm. It is a delicious extravagance and like nothing you have ever experienced.

While adjusting to the opulence, you touch a button on the control panel and music embraces you. The sound caresses your eardrums as the system weaves the volume and tone into the fabric of melody. It fills the vehicle and beckons you to relax and enjoy the coming journey.

You survey the control panel and see the ignition button. When you push it, you can hear the engine purr like a giant cat that has just devoured a savory meal. With your foot on the brake, you shift into drive and feel the engine and gears begin a magical waltz as you pull out onto the open road. This is beyond driving. This is a lyrical voyage that soothes a longing that you have felt for some time. It reminds you of how you feel when you finish an important project. You relax and let the music take control.

Driving this high-performance vehicle is more than an experience. It is a calling. Although everyone on the lot was invited to take a test drive, not everyone was willing. Not everyone was prepared to take the risk. Most people appeared to be afraid of the power, speed, and, contrary to what some might tell you, the luxury. Many people walked away thinking that this type of driving experience was just not for them.

Still others lingered while taking a more detailed look at the car and hoped they could gather enough courage to take possession of it. What they soon came to realize was that if they hesitated, they would miss their opportunity. By the time they decided to participate, another had taken their place and their car. They learned that this was not a drive for those plagued by fear and indecision.

But you are different. You were unafraid when the opportunity came your way because you knew that this was the right vehicle. You also believed that you could drive it with precision. This opportunity ignited something within you that you cannot explain. This vehicle had every feature that you imagined and above all else, it captured you.

From the moment you touched the ignition switch, you understood that this would be a ride like no other you had taken. You knew without being told that you were about to experience something different and that life as you knew it would never be the same. You readied yourself for adventure. You and your vehicle found a rhythm that can only be described as musical. You are the conductor of a finely tuned orchestra of mechanical genius that plays your personal theme song.

But there are still questions lingering in your mind. Where are you going and what are you supposed to do when you get there? These questions would usually cause someone to stop and investigate, but you have a different mindset. The unknown is not unfamiliar to you. You have conquered many unknown territories before.

The engine purrs as you and the accelerator move in harmony. You accelerate and this purr becomes a growl and your giant cat moves with immense power over the open plain of the roadway. The tires hug the curves and then release them again to the chase as you turn into each straightaway. It’s a feeling one finds difficult to explain. It can only be described as euphoric, especially when you drive the right vehicle the right way.

The road flows beneath you like melted chocolate. You can see it winding like a dark ribbon as it cuts a wavy trail through the landscape. You have no idea where you are headed. You only know that the journey is one you must take and that this is the vehicle designed to get you there. You understand the power of having the right equipment to get the job done.

After riding for a while, you notice that the fuel gauge is nearly empty. Fingers point and eyes stare as you pull into the gas station and step out to fill the tank. You attract attention and soon learn that the stares and finger pointing come with the territory. A smile overtakes you and pulls the corners of your mouth upward as you adjust your sunglasses. You did not ask to be in the spotlight. The spotlight has chosen you.

As you finish pumping your gas, you see a long line of cars that resemble your own pulling into the station. It seems odd that there would be so many cars of the same model and color at one location but instead of taking time to investigate, you dismiss the scene. Your main focus is getting back into your car because you don’t want to miss a moment of driving time. You get on the road without noticing that the line of cars has followed you.

You decide to take the scenic route near the ocean. The breeze dancing across the waves sends a peaceful flow through the car—so strong that you slow down just to take in the view. Looking in the rearview mirror, you spot the same line of cars you saw earlier driving just behind you. As you take the exit for the ocean view roadway, you notice that the cars follow you.

Every turn you take, they take. Every curve you overtake, they overtake. Every movement you make, they seem to make. Their behavior is disturbing because they all appear to have vehicles similar to your own but you did not see anyone else take ownership of a vehicle while at the lot. Concern sweeps his cloudy mist over your spirit because you know that something about this situation is just not right.

Frustrated with the mystery, you pull onto the side of the road. All the other cars do the same. You hesitate before getting out of your car but decide not to allow fear to rule your existence. The circumstances are alarming but you have had enough. You must confront these drivers.

When you get out of your car, all the other drivers do the same. They approach and encircle you before you’ve had the chance to speak. You want to run but that same inner peace that led you to take possession of your vehicle touches you. You can see their confused looks and you can hear the alarm in their voices. During the conversation you also discover that they have been following you because they believe you have answers to all their questions.

They all saw that you were the first driver to accept your car and the first to leave the lot and get out onto the open road. They all watched as you navigated the landscape and hugged the curves without fear. Like a symphony in motion, because they saw how easy it looked for you, they followed your actions.

These drivers all appear to be confident, competent, and stable people. They all appear to have a strong sense of purpose. But there is a missing element. None of them know where they are going. They are all looking for direction in this adventure.

There is only one explanation for their actions. They can see something that you may have missed during this exercise in courage. They can all see that leadership has placed her mantle upon your shoulders and it now rests there without wavering. This team of courageous, skillful drivers can see qualities they all admire. They see courage. They see vision. They see that extraordinary attribute that led you to open the car door and take this uncharted quest.

They can see that you have a sense of destiny and they are willing to follow without question. They can see that you were born to lead.

Many Are Called

Many are called but few are chosen. Everyone receives a call at some point in her life. The problem is that many do not recognize the call when they receive it.

A call is when you have a knowing within you that you must do something for a specific reason. You feel compelled to do something. It becomes an almost overwhelming urge or hunger within you to act.

Once you accept the call, you must then decide how you are going to respond. Those who hesitate miss their opportunity to step into the realm of the chosen.

What is the difference between the called and the chosen? When a call for action comes, the called make one of the following choices: They stop and question the validity of the call, they make excuses for not responding, or they just ignore it.

The chosen respond differently. They hear the call and it is as if they’ve been waiting to hear it all their lives. The call fills them with energy and passion. The call becomes their focus and even if they can no longer hear it, they keep advancing. When they can no longer hear it, they go on a focused search until they regain direction.

They become so ignited with passion that they will not rest until they reach their destination. The called then become transformed and driven to lead.

Have you ever had a burning or a desire for something that never seemed to subside? There is a burning that can only be extinguished by responding to destiny’s call. Our response is what sets us apart. Our response is what makes us born to lead.

Everyone is invited but not everyone can handle the speed. It takes a special kind of courage to sit in the seat, step on the accelerator, and take the journey. Everyone is called but not everyone answers the call. But you answered. You acted. You are now in the driver’s seat.

The Drive to Lead

Most of us drive. We use our cars to get to work, to run our errands and accomplish what needs to get done. Because of our way of life, we believe that driving is a necessity. But it’s not—it’s a privilege. In many countries women still are not allowed to drive. So if you are reading this and you live in the United States or Europe, you have access to this privilege just for the asking and the doing.

Leading and driving have much in common. Leading is a privilege. When someone selects you to lead, they honor you. When you elect to accept, you step into a place that can only be described as honorable. Without risk, there can be no honor. Honor is only gained when you take up a cause greater than yourself.

You have the honor and privilege of being in command of a mission. Your mission may be running your home, your office, or even a business. As a driver, you have the privilege of being in command of a vehicle. That vehicle could be the family van, a jeep, a luxury vehicle, or that car that keeps leaking oil. It doesn’t matter because whatever it is, it belongs to you and you are responsible for it. The bottom line is that you are the commander of your mission and your mode of transportation.

A mission has critical elements that you must execute with precision for it to be successful. In driving, the vehicle must be handled with precision or the end result can be an accident or even death.

There are five principles that describe the operation of both driving and leadership. Those called to lead rise to their best when all principles, or facets, are operating together.

Leadership Facet 1: Activation/Ignition (Facing Challenges)

Activation is finding the ignition switch and looking for opportunities to experience something new and make changes. Activation also involves facing challenges or discovering new processes. Mission activates leadership. Leaders perform at their best when faced with a challenge. When confronted by a mission, those who are born to lead choose to act.

When a leader sees a need and then accepts the responsibility of meeting that need, activation occurs. When a driver gets into a vehicle, they start the car through the ignition system. Much like a rocket, the ignition process signals that the vehicle will soon be moving. Mission does the same for a leader.

Leadership Facet 2: Shifting into Gear/Direction (Inspiring Others to Share a Vision)

When a driver shifts a car into gear, they are the singular force deciding where the car will go. After a leader accepts a mission, they too become a force. This leadership force, unlike a car, is usually accompanied by a team. The leader decides on a course of action. Those who are born to lead believe that things do not have to stay the same. They believe they can make a difference and will pursue that goal with passion.

Like driving a car, they shift into gear and decide how best to execute their plans and operations. They decide if they need to advance or retreat from a position and how to gain an advantage over any threats. They then decide how best to move into the next facet of leadership. They also help others to see the possibilities of something new and exciting for the future.

Leadership Facet 3: Inspiration (Motivation)/Acceleration (Empowering Others to Act)

All drivers know where to locate the accelerator pedal in their cars. It controls the speed of movement and how fast or how slowly they move towards their objective. It is the same with inspiration. True leaders inspire and empower others by creating an atmosphere of respect and shared vision. They foster mutual respect and help others to treat one another with dignity. This ability to work together with respect directly influences the mission.

They inspire and motivate their teams to move to the next level and take ownership of a mission. They do this by strengthening and empowering their team members to use their gifts. If this facet is not executed with precision and enthusiasm, the leader could lose their team and the mission could be lost.

Leadership Facet 4: Training and Development/Fueling (Showing Others How to Act)

Much like a car needs fuel in order to move, a team needs training. This also includes putting policies and procedures into action. Leaders understand that not all policies and procedures work, so they set in motion training scenarios to test them, ensuring that they are workable for mission success.

Leaders understand that training is a critical part of mission as much as drivers understand the need to fuel their vehicles. If a car does not receive fuel, then it will not move. If a team does not receive training, then they will fail to be mission-ready. Leaders set short-term goals and then model the desired behavior so that team members can see small victories while working towards the larger mission. This encourages team members to better see where they need to go and to work toward the larger group goals.

Leadership Facet 5: Rewards and Recognition/Maintenance (Rewarding and Encouraging Others) – As any good leader knows, recognition for a job well done is a critical element for keeping the team motivated. When a team reaches a remarkable goal, it is time for celebration! When leaders celebrate team members for a job well done, it infuses the team with hope and they are more willing to take ownership of the team mission.

If team members do not have ownership of a mission or they feel unappreciated, then they will lack the passion to work toward goals. Having a “shared heart” is essential to the success of any mission. In other words, people must feel important if they are to function at their best.

If a driver does not perform regular maintenance on their vehicle, engine failure could result. The care and feeding of a team is much like the care and feeding of a car. Both ensure that the car and team stay ready to meet challenges.

As you read through this book, you will see the five leadership facets woven throughout the fabric of each leadership style. The end result will be the same but each journey will display the colors and textures of the leadership style.

Where Do We Go from Here?

It still may not be easy to see how these leadership facets impact your life. Right now, you may still believe that you are not called to be a leader. But the fact is that every person who exists is called into some sort of leadership position. That includes you.

To assist you in seeing how these facets look when operating in your life, take the Leadership Style Inventory. It is a simple instrument which will help you discover your leadership style and how to use it. It’s like trying on a new dress. Just try and see how it fits. It won’t hurt, but it could be one of the most fabulous things you ever experience. It is also helpful to know who you are before you fully operate in your style.

Isn’t it exciting to know that God did not forget you when He passed out the leadership gifts? If you don’t feel the excitement yet, you will. Watching God’s power flow through you to influence the lives of others is nothing short of miraculous. Excitement is a natural result of that experience.

As you begin this journey, remember that it is an honor to lead others, and those who are lost are waiting for you to show them the way to destiny. Each person you touch is called to lead, and God has chosen you to help with this mission. So let’s get started!