* Leadership–Banyan vs. Banana trees?

I was blessed to be able to sit at the feet of Dr. Paul Hiebert several times in my life. He was an MK from an India (born there) who became a pastor, missionary (back to India) and eventually anthropologist and then missiologist. One of the topics he shared one of the times I heard him speak was on leadership.

Many leaders, he said, are more like banyan trees in the leadership they provide. While providing their leadership, they may accomplish great things, much like an ever expanding banyan tree which can provide much needed shade over a very large area. While they’re alive. However, when a banyan tree dies and its leaves are gone, it leaves a barren spot where it was.

On the other hand, he said other leaders are much more like banana trees. Not nearly as large or impressive to look at, but they are oh, so productive, with new banana trees sprouting out from where the original banana tree started.

In the leadership you provide, be like banana trees, he said.