Leadership lessons from Queen Elizabeth II

I decided I wanted out. It was 2015. I was the chairman of High Tech Ministries.

It was stressful for me, and I was impatient. Although our iconic initiative, the annual High Tech Prayer Breakfast, was on stable ground, there were disagreements about leadership and expansion.

Over a period of seventeen years, I served as president and then chairman. I concluded that it was time for me to move on. I justified this decision by arguing a change in leadership was best for the organization.

My true motivation was less noble. I didn't want to be in leadership anymore. I judged my life was too complicated with too much going on, and I didn't have the patience or commitment necessary to lead the ministry.

I made a selfish decision.

I quit. I regret my decision to this day. But in spite of my wrongly motivated decision, God raised up a great leader in Matt McConnell to lead the ministry forward in a terrific direction.

I bring all this up because the regret came back anew today. I was reading various articles about Queen Elizabeth II's recent death at ninety-six years old. She represented the United Kingdom for seventy years. Wherever she traveled, whatever palace she entered, whatever balcony she stood on and gave her iconic wave, she was Britain. This is what she signed up for in 1952.

Peggy Noonan, whom I believe to be one of the most insightful editorialists of our day, published her WSJ article entitled "Queen Elizabeth's Old-School Virtues."

She outlined seven old-school virtues practiced by the late queen. Five of them reminded me of the mistake I made by stepping out of leadership back in 2012.

1. She accepted her life with grace.

2. She did what she said she'd do.

3. She gave it everything she had.

4. It wasn't about her.

5. She was a woman of faith.

She accepted her life with grace.

I knew I was called by God to lead High Tech Ministries at the time. I knew it. How else would I have been handed this important leadership position? I didn't earn it. I wasn't next in line for it. I was judged by my peers and the ministry supporters, through prayer, to be the next leader of the ministry.

Elizabeth in 1952, after her father's death, knew she was it. She was next in line. She accepted her role as the new Queen of England without question, without qualifiers.

She did what she said she would do.

I agreed to lead the ministry as chairman. To keep the ministry focused on its mission. To lead in times of plenty and in times of difficulty. To be prayerful and trust God. But when times got tough, I quit.

Elizabeth said just after her coronation, "I shall always work, as my father did throughout his reign, to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples…I pray that God will help me to discharge worthily this heavy task that has been lain upon me so early in my life.” And she did it unto her death.

She gave it everything she had.

I had a lot to give at that time. I just didn't want to give it. It was getting too hard and the rest of my life was hard too. I made the decision to be all about me while claiming it was all about the health and welfare of the ministry.

Queen Elizabeth worked every day on her country's affairs except for Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. No matter her age, capabilities, or family and business stresses, she took the trip, gave the speech, shook the hand, and loved the people she served.

It wasn't about her.

But it was about me. I hate to admit it now, as I hated to admit it to myself then. But yes, my decision to leave my leadership position was about me. Back then I rationalized the decision and convinced others it was best for the ministry, but the truth be told, I abdicated my responsibility to serve and made it about me.

Queen Elizabeth always put the monarchy first. This was captured so well in the Netflix series called The Queen. I believe this show is the best leadership training I have read or watched on this subject. As queen, it was never about her.

She was a woman of faith.

And I am a man of faith. I mentioned earlier that I knew I was chosen by God to lead this ministry. Any other explanation for how I became chairman does not make sense. And being a man of faith means trusting God and being obedient to His calling on my life at that time. To honor Him by leading as a steward of all He entrusted to me.

Elizabeth knew. Kings and queens are appointed by God. Why her at twenty-five? Because God chose her to be born in the royal line. And to be the next leader.

This is my last year as chairman of High Tech Ministries.

Yes, surprisingly, God gave me a second chance. This time I did my duty. I served God and the constituents of the ministry faithfully. I asked God to raise up next-generation leaders to take this ministry through the remainder of this decade. And He did it.

I thank God for this second chance at getting my leadership right and for making my exit right. I thank God for sending His Son to save me from my sins and giving me a second chance. I thank God for being a God of second chances.

I also thank God for raising up iconic leaders like Queen Elizabeth II. She was a wonderful example for all of us leaders to follow. She truly practiced old-school virtues. God's virtues.