Dispatches from the Global Leadership Summit 2021

by Doug Cushing

For years I have been interested in attending the Global Leadership Summit (GLS). Originally launched by the Willow Creek Community Church, GLS is sponsored by The Global Leadership Network - a community of curious, growth-minded, change-driven people committed to developing their leadership skills to maximize their influence for the purpose of igniting positive transformation wherever they live and work.

GLS hosts the world’s largest annual leadership event, which reaches hundreds of thousands of leaders in more than 123 countries and 60+ languages each year. I was able to stream the GLS from the comfort of my home office. What follows is the first in a series of articles that share some of the leadership lessons gleaned from the 2021 GSL – along with some personal reflections.

Perhaps the unspoken theme of this years GLS was how to lead through the adversity of the pandemic. Most speakers crafted their remarks in response to the challenges leaders are facing because of the pandemic. The first speaker, Craig Groeschel’s address was a perfect example. His talk was titled: Growing In Your Leadership Capacity For PUC.

Groeschel used an anacronym PUC to describe the challenging but fertile conditions that allow for leadership breakthroughs. PUC stands for pain, uncertainty and chaos. Wise leaders embrace PUC and see it as an opportunity to relinquish control in order to grow.

“In order to have grown we need to endure chaos. Avoiding chaos limits growth. You can have control or you can have growth. You can’t have both.” Groeschel stressed the importance of getting comfortable with chaos rather than trying to control it. Among the best ways to let go of our control of things in the church, is by simply getting out of the way and by trusting and empowering other leaders. “The best leaders don’t obsess about controlling outcomes. The best leaders obsess about empowering leaders.”

Uncertainty is not an indication of poor leadership the speaker stressed. Its underscores the need for leadership. Wherever there is uncertainty there is opportunity. Groeschel said: “There is uncertainty for bad things and for good things. Let’s make space for the good uncertainties.”

Finally, Groeschel suggested that “there is no pain like leadership pain…the difference between where you are and where you could be is often the painful decision you are unwilling to make.” Pain, therefore, is an essential part of the leadership struggles that lead to breakthroughs.

Summary: Your capacity to lead toward the future is determined by your ability to endure PUC today.

Questions to Consider:

Question #1: What are you controlling that you need to let go?

Question #2: What risks do you need to take?

Question #3: What painful decision have you been avoiding that a good and wise leader would make?