Red Umbrella
Back in the 1980s and 1990s, a
series of posters illustrated this idea.
The posters were black-and-white
photographs of smiling or playing
children. Uniquely, within the black-
and-white photo, one child, along
with whatever he or she was holding
or touching, was in color. Usually a
splash of red.
Life can grow and flourish only in
environments where the nutrients
and conditions are right. People will
not stay in places where growth and
abundance are absent. We have a
divine directive, remember? We are
called to create spaces in which life can
explode, where leaders can flourish.
When you look at these photos, your
eye is drawn straight to the color.
The photo could include one hundred
children, but only the child in color
catches your attention. The rest of the
picture blends into the background.
Life-giving leaders are the splash of
color in a monochrome organization.
Your attention goes to them. Your focus
finds the leaders who are bringing life
to the team. You notice life-giving
leaders because they go out of their
way to share an encouraging word or
celebrate a great decision made by
someone on the staff. When leaders
get intentional about bringing life into
the organization, it’s amazing the way
it makes other leaders feel.
Who Cares?
All this talk about beauty and art and
splashes of color . . . What does that
have to do with leadership?
Everything.
• What are you doing in staff meetings
to grow and help your team take deep
root?
• Does your organization have toxic
problems? What are you doing to
address them?
• What areas in your business are gray
right now and need color? What is your
next step to bring life to one of the
areas?
• Which leaders around you grab your
attention because they bring color?
How can you encourage them to do
even more along those lines?
Solutions • 63