Dr. Krish Kandiah: VIP Leadership

The following are notes from Dr. Krish Kandiah’s talk at #GLS19. Use them to help you apply the content you learned at the Summit.

Story of the six-year-old: Krish and his wife are foster parents. All he wanted to do was continue watching the Marie Kondo series on Netflix, and the six-year-old boy standing on his door wasn’t sparking joy after his long, rough day at work.

The Principles of VIP leadership:

Vision

Inclusion

Proximity

1. Vision

• Leadership is about having vision to see things differently than everyone else
• When other people see problems, you see opportunity
• When other people see chaos, you see a way through

The difference between a manager and a leader:

• Managers like to keep things together in a neat, tidy and systematized way
• Leaders are managers’ worst nightmare
• Leaders see disruptive change

The difference between a visionary and a visionary leader:

• Visionaries see things differently
• Visionary leaders help other people to see things differently and take people on the journey

Story of Robert: A foster child with delayed speech who is looking for a home. Adopting parents see a disruptive 5-year-old with problems. Krish’s job is to help adoptive parents see a child who needs someone to take a chance on him and love him instead of writing off his future.

Jonathan Swift quote: “Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”

• The film industry, authors, poets, etc. see children differently
• Limitations and vulnerable children are not seen as an issue or potential danger but as worthwhile and able to change the world
• Examples: Harry Potter, Batman, Star Wars, Tarzan
• The entertainment and literary world see difficult starts as treasure, not trouble

Leaders are called to see things differently

• To see the potential in people when others see problems
• To see hope when others only see chaos
• To see opportunities when others only see obstacles

Who on your team is a diamond in the rough who needs guidance?

2. Inclusion

We are more than the worst thing than we’ve ever done or the worst thing that’s ever been done to us.

• Every human being has intrinsic value and is needed in our life
• Leadership is not exclusion
• Jesus did not come to be served but came to serve

The opposite of prejudice is hospitality.

• Prejudice shuts people out
• Hospitality opens doors and welcomes people in

What would it look like if our homes and leadership teams were more hospitable?

• Focus on kindness and love and watch the profit follow
• It will be returned by loyalty and bravery

How is your company? How is your team doing on redemptive inclusion? Do they have the same social and economic background as you?

Story of the kitchen: In Krish’s house, the kitchen table is the most prized possession because it is where children from all backgrounds and locations gather and rewrite their story and form relationships.

3. Proximity

• Do not be a bang the table leader, be a set the table leader
• Invite people onto the teams, into our homes and set the tone for the organization

What kind of company, church, organization, etc. do you want to lead? Set the agenda and show people what grace and hospitality really look like.

Story of the six-year-old: Now, Krish stands on the other side of the door with the same little boy from his doorstep. This time he’s bringing the boy to his new home and is sad to let the boy go. This child taught Krish the importance of seeing people for who they truly are, not what others label them as and seeing people for who they can be.

• The power of radical inclusion shows what it means to get proximate with someone that needs you and see how they can, in turn, bless you.

Foster a new approach to leadership.