Although the author is unknown, the thought is significant. “The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s about what you’re made of, not the circumstances.”

Leaders often face physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual circumstances that drain them of energy.

Interestingly, the circumstances (boiling water) provide benefit; the potato softens and the egg hardens making them palatable, thus beneficial to eat.

Our circumstances may soften or harden us, but we should always benefit for the betterment of our leadership.

Fear is common. The apostles demonstrated fear. The parents of a blind man were afraid. Paul addressed fear when writing Timothy.

How do we overcome fear?

A few suggestions:

Know God. He gives a spirit of love and power and discipline.

Believe in Christ. If Jesus endured for us, we can overcome for Him.

Study the book. The more we know of God’s word, the greater our confidence in fearful situations.

Fight the good fight. Paul knew the challenges of the work. He also knew he had to fight.

Let us commit ourselves to overcome and lead with passion.

Leaders cast a vision and map the direction to a specific destination. Unless they know where they are going, no one can finish the journey.

Consider:

1) We must never take our eyes off the destination.

2) Remember the map is found in the greatest atlas.

3) When necessary, stop and ask for help if we lose our sense of direction.

4) Make the proper preparation before starting the journey.

Remember, there is purpose in leading others. We need to know where we are going and what we need to take to get there. The results are worth it!

What does it take to get our attention and move us into action for the Lord?

Will the majority of seven billion people in the world who are lost?

Perhaps there is the decline in morality that surrounds us.

Maybe it is the spread of error on unknowing hearts.

Could it be the grace of God given in the Savior who came to die for the world?

Whatever it is, our attention is needed and we must move into action to lead others to the only hope given to the human race.

Think Souls!

We cannot emphasize enough the necessity of servant-leadership. In an effort to emphasize the point, Victor Cousin said, “Men are governed only by serving them; the rule is without exception.”

While there are many leadership styles, spiritual leadership succeeds by service.

Jesus said; “by this all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” In the context, Jesus taught the necessity of being a servant.

If we understand the true definition of Biblical love, we cannot fulfill the new command given by Christ without being a servant.

There are powerful relationships between life and leadership.

The mindset of trying to do things on our own will ultimately fail. We need one another. There is a minimum of twenty-four “one another” passages throughout scripture. These passages teach us about the spiritual relationship and responsibility we have to each other.

When leadership engages these thoughts to strengthen relationships, the result brings a powerful boost to our leadership.

When we fulfill the responsibilities outlined by the New Testament writers, the church grows stronger.

Isn’t it time we built the kind of relationships to accomplish both?

A culture all its own has been created through the internet and it connects people around the world.

Google search leaders being connected. Within seconds you will discover millions of articles on the subject.

Leaders must be connected, but how? Here are 5 suggestions.

1) Get involved in people’s lives.

2) Be more transparent.

3) Give others something to believe in.

4) Relate individually.

5) Give genuine complements.

It is not easy to connect with others. However, when we connect, growth soon follows.

Businesses offer a raincheck for out-of-stock merchandise. The benefit helps build loyalty between the customer and business.

Loyalty is one of the most vital characteristics of leadership. How do we build the kind of loyalty needed as leaders?

Demonstrate trust: We must trust in God and also learn to trust in others.

Develop consistency and integrity: Without these, loyalty will be impossible.

Dedicate ourselves: We must be dedicated to God, others, and reaching the goal.

These are only a few steps, but if we will take them we can build a solid foundation for loyalty.

Every golf tournament has a leader board. Whoever has the best score sits on top of the leader board. Other sports use a similar practice with a score board. Why? It is about winning!

We tell children it is not about winning, but about playing the game. If this is true, why do we keep score? Interesting!

Paul adjusted specific areas of his life “so that he might win” souls for Christ. He wanted to win the Christian race and receive the eternal reward.

Are we living in a way that we might win? Are we leading in a way that others might win? 

Think Souls.

The world thinks of leadership as forcing others to do what leaders say. However, Marian Anderson said, “Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.”

Spiritual leaders must consider others. When leading someone to Christ, our efforts will never be successful if we attempt to force God’s word upon them.

We must also guard against attempts to create undue guilt.

We must understand others and lead in ways that create an awareness of the need, teach how and why, and allow God’s word to work to bring Biblical change.