Less goal driven, more God-driven

Goals.

They’re such an established part of leadership culture. Built into coaching conversations, performance reviews, and planning frameworks – they’re often how we set direction, maintain momentum and define success.

But this year I’ve been taking a different approach. After 18 months of being excessively goal-driven, I found myself worn out, disenchanted, at the end of myself. That’s when I made the decision to be less goal-driven, and more God-driven.

Here’s what I’ve discovered…

Leadership is an adventure

Goals are great for focus. But sometimes we can become so focused on the goal, we lose sight of everything else. The journey becomes something to get through, to get to the other side.

Adventures, on the other hand – are always about the journey. The highs, the lows, the people we meet – and the people we become along the way.

Adventures are also full of uncertainty. Think about it – an adventure where we know everything would be a very boring one indeed.

So often, goals focus us on what we know. We seek our answers, solutions and resources within the realms of the known. But God’s horizons are so much more expansive – beyond our understanding, beyond our imagination.

When I look back on my career so far – the leadership and business-building journey God’s been taking me on – I realise that every pivotal moment has come not from the precision of a goal, but from a conversation, a step of faith, a nudge from Holy Spirit.

In fact, a lot of where I am now, I wouldn’t have chosen as a goal. What I’ve discovered to be strengths, I wouldn’t have identified from the outset.

What adventure has God been taking you on?
What adventure is He calling you into?

Leadership is about presence

Goals are inherently future-focused. How does this help me get there?

Being more God-driven invites me to ask different questions: What’s God doing here? How do I join in with that? Who is God putting in front of me – and how do I serve them well?

There’s trust involved, as it often feels less strategic. But with that trust comes freedom. It’s liberating to be fully present, to pay attention.

It makes me a better listener, a better speaker and a better leader. The work I do is better – and I enjoy it so much more.

And the best thing is, when I stop judging the strategic value of whether something is moving me forwards, I see what God is doing right here, right now – and I get to be part of that.

It becomes the thing I’m doing – not just the thing I’m working towards.

Leadership as community

One particular adventure God’s been taking me on lately – a podcast project – has had me connecting with some really interesting people.

Through one of these conversations, I came across a definition of leadership I really love, in David McQueen’s book The BRAVE Leader, where leadership is described as “how a community shapes what happens next.”

So many of our leadership stories are centred on the lone visionary – the individual with a compelling vision who rallies others around them.

But being less goal driven has shifted that for me.

Without the driving power of a goal, I’ve had to listen more. Pay attention to God at work in the people around me. Be open to learning, collaborating, partnering and growing together.

I’m learning that the God-driven adventure is not a solo mission. It’s full of community and co-creation, and it’s so much bigger than just me and my goals.

This is what being more God-driven and less goal-driven is teaching me:

• That God has a bigger, bolder, richer picture than any goal I could imagine.
• That it’s not just about getting there – it’s happening right here, right now.
• And we’re not meant to do it alone. Leadership is community.