Present, Attuned, and Changed By Andrea Leigh Capuyan

A Steward Leader Experiences Being Present, Attuned, and Changed

I have been thinking deeply about being a steward leader and what it means to be present, attuned, and changed.

On any given Monday morning, I often find myself sitting at my desk reviewing my calendar, preparing a report for the board, and tweaking my objectives for the week. I can easily fall into a rabbit hole of tasks and projects. Yet, the challenge I face as a leader is prioritizing my growth and transformation as a steward first. We’ve heard it before – stewardship is the proper management of resources. And it’s more than that. A steward leader is meant to focus on people… on SOULS – the mission of a steward leader is about the “WHO,” not the “WHAT.”

Moreover, we don’t just focus on those we wish to reach, help, or serve. Our primary gaze should be on those who work alongside us because they are entrusted to our care.

How do we properly steward the souls around us who matter most? How do we practice soul care in the workplace as steward leaders?

Present

Steward leadership requires us to pay attention and to be present. When I pause with a teammate, am I listening or simply responding? Steward leaders submit their desires and lay aside their agenda for the sake of another person. When I am present, I listen to a story God is telling in someone else’s life.

It is tempting, especially as a leader, to minimize the power of presence. Instead, we become hooked on the power of persuasion, which can distract us from being truly helpful. In a post for worshipleader.com, Rick Lee James provides an excellent definition of presence. He invites leaders to offer a calm, non-judgmental space where others feel they can share and are heard. When focusing on the importance of another person, we set aside our desires and agendas. We dispel anxiety with a welcoming approach. Wisdom and discernment are unshackled from condemnation and blanketed with understanding and compassion.

When I am present and curious about another soul’s story, they will guide me down the inward path to unearth more of their own heart. Together, we help one another discover and acknowledge the hidden motives that drive our habits and actions. I am intent and fully present with them as they explore and reflect on their story. Their reflection cultivates insight, which is the seed of their transformation. This process is not just about understanding, it’s about growth and change.

Attuned

Auto-pilot is the easy route.  Too often, work and ministry can become a whirlwind of demands and urgency. Pausing is the opposite of our current way of life. To truly attune to our community, we must learn to stop, look around, actively listen, and engage. Shifting from ‘Tuning out’ the business of ministry to ‘tuning in’ requires intention and focus. One of our most important tasks as a steward leader is to pause and pay attention. More importantly, we create a culture that encourages everyone to pause, pay attention, and reflect. Awareness is a mindset that can liberate us and our teams because we make space for crucial conversations. It is no longer about goals, activities, or deadlines. Rather, we give attention to inner longings and motivations. We share desires and even our demands. Conversations become deeper, richer, and more substantive.

The story we tell ourselves about our mission, our community, and ourselves is spoken and revealed. This allows misunderstandings and misalignment to be identified. Even more profoundly, it exposes shame and lies that hold sway. Evil wants us to operate in isolation and unawareness. Evil loses its power when we attune to fear—what do we believe? What is fear doing for us? Whose approval are we seeking? We pay attention to the fear and share it; then, fear is no longer hidden, and we experience the freedom to move in different directions.

Soul care begins with a steward leader being attuned to the heart. We must be attuned to a team member’s needs and our own. We must also be attuned to our environment. Are we in a season of contemplation or a season of grief? A steward leader will deliberately create time and space for grief and reflection. Finally, we must be attuned to God. Where is He convicting us? How is He moving us? What is He resurrecting in us? 

Changed

I have a colleague whose goal is to learn something new each day. That’s a refreshing thought – leadership is defined by a willingness to learn instead of proving what we know.I expect to learn something new from every conversation. Steward leaders empower others to teach. We don’t just tell others what to do. When we are present and attuned, we invite God to show us something that we cannot see on our own. God wishes to change me as much as He is changing someone else with each conversation and relationship. Steward leaders welcome the lessons we’ve yet to learn. To flourish, we must first prune and fertilize. Growth will soon follow. Steward leaders are open to change, feedback, and adaptation. We expect it, and we seek it.  God does not expect me to be perfect or to have all the answers, but He does expect me always to be willing to be taught.  

What is inviting your response today?

• Think about your teammates and colleagues. How are they doing? Are you paying attention to them – their heart and soul? Ask them to share one of their dreams with you today. Ask them about one of their heartaches.
• Think about the ministry where you serve. When are you creating opportunities for shared reflection and deeper conversations? I invite you to make it a priority this month.
• What area is your growing edge? What are you learning? When was the last time that you discovered something new – about yourself and others?

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Andrea Leigh Capuyan serves on the Center for Steward Leader Studies board and is executive director for the LPC – a local ministry helping individuals impacted by unintended pregnancy, reproductive loss, and post-abortion recovery. Andrea also provides coaching and consultation, assisting others in experiencing abundance as a leader. She is a Credentialed Christian Nonprofit Leader (CCNL) with the Christian Leadership Alliance. She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from York University.

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