I am just back from leading an amazing team of Festival Angels at Download. This is the first of five festival teams this summer. The Google AI overview of leadership says:

"Leadership is the ability to guide and influence a group toward achieving a common goal. It involves motivating, directing, and empowering individuals to work together effectively. Leadership isn't solely tied to formal positions of authority; it can be demonstrated by anyone who can inspire and facilitate positive change."

Here are my post festival thoughts on leadership:

Leadership is about doing. The laborious and (often) boring jobs have to be done so that others can thrive! In my case the sorting of rotas, the buying and packing of items we will need, the welfare plans and health and safety documents, sorting of finances. The background stuff, all of which takes hours of time, allows the team and individuals to thrive at the actual role and purpose. A leader should be happy to clean the loos! 

Leadership is about letting go and letting others. As a leader I don't need to do it all. I should be about empowering, supporting and encouraging others to do even greater things than I could possibly do. Leadership is about becoming and building a team not a one person show. 

Leadership is not about position. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. Leadership is about allowing others to thrive. 

Leadership is about showing up. If we are invited to the table - show up. Don't go to the table just because it benefits you or your organisation and don't only go to tables they pay you to be at. Go to the table because it benefits the greater cause. Go to the table because your presence will encourage, bless, equip, support, stand alongside (in Christian terms this is Kingdom building not empire building). Leadership is walking a couple of miles across a hot festival field because someone has invited you to show up. 

Leadership is about fun. Seriously! I am a great believer in living life to the full - leadership should be about having fun and encouraging others to have fun. Fun and laughter is infectious! At a festival, yes, we are doing a serious and often challenging role, but we need to be full of fun, joy, energy whilst we do it (and yes there is a TikTok of me dancing!)

Leadership is about building people up. Speak words of life and encouragement. Thank people. Take an interest in who someone is and what makes them unique. 

I may not be the greatest or best in this leadership malarkey - but as a team we get flippin' close and that is the key!