Being a mission-derived leader is a unique distinction of leadership. The ways of being, thinking and acting of mission-derived leaders are sourced (arise) from their mission, not from their personalities, egos, hopes, fears, wishes, etc.
This world is entirely different from the world of mission- driven people. The word “driven” means, “having a compulsive or urgent quality, a driven sense of obligation.” Mission-derived people are committed to realizing their mission with velocity but they are not compulsive or obligated. Their ways of being, thinking and acting arise naturally from their mission. They are never going toward their mission; they are always coming from their mission.
Metaphorically, you can think of “mission-derived” like a river the source of which is a huge mountain lake. The river flows from its source and it never stops flowing. At times it flows as rapids. At times it flows as gentle pools.
At times it flows around bends. At times it encounters rocks but it never stops, it flows right on. At times other rivers flow into it or it flows into them.
No matter what the flow of the river encounters, it continues to flow. The fundamental character of the river. . . that it is composed of water...remains unchanged. Mission-derived people are their mission. Like the river, they are always flowing.