Support groups are generally associated with some form of recovery. They exist for individuals recovering from addictions and their spouses. They exist for those who suffer grief in the loss of a loved one, or from divorce. They even exist for people who struggle with eating disorders.

Support groups exist for a number of reasons and they are beneficial to those who use them. At this point, a couple of questions should be considered for our leadership.

Who makes up the support group for leaders? Wisdom would suggest the potential of other leaders involved in a group. Put together a core group of others who will share and contribute to the group’s design.

What benefit will they provide? They serve as a reminder that others have and do experience the same challenges. They also establish a form of accountability.

A support system will make a difference in how we continue to grow and develop our leadership. Who makes up the group, the purpose of the group’s design, and what we apply to our own leadership is the determining factor to its success.

Leadership and learning are words that run parallel in the sphere of development. The greater our learning, the greater our leadership.

Leaders require resources that facilitate avenues through which learning occurs. But where can we find these resources? Resources exist in several arenas.

Educational Resources: These resources are primarily formal in nature. Leadership books, courses, and classroom training provide numerous resources from which we can learn. Opportunities to gain a stronger education furthers our leadership ability.

Experience Resources: Based on work, home, and community efforts, we gain the type of experience that enables practical leadership to develop. Experience provides some of the most difficult lessons to learn, yet here we find an incredible and invaluable resource.

Environmental Resources: Environment involves the surroundings and conditions in which we operate as leaders. Who we are surrounded by provides one of the greatest resources for learning. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn from others.

These three resources broaden opportunities for our growth in leadership and now is the time to focus 2017 on such opportunities.

While millions of people will make New Year’s Resolutions tomorrow night, the best part of a new year is the opportunity to fulfill our plans.

Yesterday we considered several questions that provide a foundation for the plans we intend to accomplish in 2017.

Once we recognize both the high and low points of leadership development from 2016, we can strategically plan to build on that foundation and improve our leadership in the new year.

Once we acknowledge the area we would change if we could start the year over, we can now plan to make that change as we move into the year, almost as if we reset the clock.

Once we consider the individual(s) in whom we could invest our time this coming year, we can develop a mentoring plan that allows us to give the most valuable gift, ourselves.

Once we know where we were, where we are, and where we want to be, everything we plan involves the changes necessary to achieve our goals.

Instead of “resolutions” for the new year, why not set goals and make plans to achieve them. The difference is incredible.

Numerous challenges exist when we consider the past. We cannot change the past, and we cannot go back and relive it, so why dwell on the events of it?

We have heard the thought expressed, “if we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.” Several versions of similar wording exist, but the thought is the same. We must allow the past to provide us with a tool by which we learn. The beauty of the past is represented when we learn from it and implement ways to prevent repeating failures and build on the success experienced.

As we approach the end of another year, leaders at every level should closely examine the past year and evaluate what can be learned from both the good and bad, successes and failures. Ultimately, the result produces a plan for the year ahead that ensures greater achievement and spiritual growth for each person connected.

A few remaining days in 2016 afford us an opportunity to bring in the new year with a renewed sense of purpose for the year ahead.

What is our center? A few years ago, a Christmas movie presented this question. Finding our center is about discovering who we are at the core of our life.

When our center as a leader is spiritually motivated, life becomes about demonstrating toward others the qualities of godliness, rather than simply developing ourselves.

However, determining our center is not as easy as it may sound. Such an undertaking may involve years of searching. Learning to be honest about what we seek in life will help us on this journey. Here are a few questions to consider.

1) Do we feel inconvenienced by others?

2) Are we motivated by self preservation more than an eternal destination?

3) Are times in prayer, study, and worship more difficult to work into our schedule? Do we see them as having little or no benefit?

4) Where do we find the most pleasure?

5) Are our words and actions driven by a core that is self-centered or others-directed?

Answering a few questions provides us with a genuine understanding that will help us find our center.