The army’s slogan is one of the most significant for leadership development. We will struggle in life if we constantly compare ourselves with others. Sadly, we tend to lean to the extremes.

On one hand, we compare ourselves with people below us in an attempt to feel better about ourselves. We begin to develop a bit of arrogance in thinking we are better than others.

On the other hand, we compare ourselves with people above us and our mountain of pride crumbles. We can never measure up. Our esteem is crushed and we feel as though we will never amount to anything.

Both sides are equally dangerous. Years ago, someone said it this way, “You will never fully believe in yourself if you keep comparing yourself to everyone else.”

God made us individually unique. He does not expect, nor does He want, us to be someone else. He simply asks us to follow the example left by our Savior, an example not built on comparing ourselves with others, but one built on elevating others above ourselves.

This is the foundation of the leadership slogan, “Be all you can be.”

Character is critical to leadership, and nothing is more critical to the development of our leadership skills than consistency of character.

While perfection is ideal and something we all strive to attain, we know it is improbable and most likely impossible. Lets be realistic.

We can, however, develop a greater level of consistency. We need to be consistent with our most private moments, which should then be consistent with the words and actions of our life.

When we understand the purpose that drives our life, then we align our words and actions with that purpose. From this point, we develop greater consistency because there is a purpose behind our thoughts, which become our words, which influence our actions.

Whether we consider the environment of our homes, job, neighborhood, or anywhere we go, people recognize consistency.

From a spiritual perspective, nothing holds greater influence.

Consider the definition: “an attribute of a logical system that is so constituted that none of the propositions deducible from the axioms contradict one another.”

I thought you might like to ponder on that thought for a while 🙂

Change often meets resistance. Once we are comfortable with the status quo, settled into our comfort zone, and content with the “way it has always been” we must consider how to move forward.

George Bernard Shaw once said, “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” As much as the thought of change ruffles feathers, change is the price of progress. Why must we remind ourselves that change is biblical?

This post is not designed to deal with how the introduction of change led individuals and congregations away from the Lord. Perhaps we will address that subject another time.

The intent of this post is an effort to exhort us to consider how our fear of the negative side of change has stifled our need for change.

The proper use of technology, the introduction of new methodologies for teaching, and a general openness to evaluating what has and has not worked in the past would serve leadership well.

If the church desires to grow, spiritually and numerically, we need to be a bit more comfortable with change because growth does not occur without it.

Numerous courses and books on leadership point to understanding leadership development as a lifelong process. Among the ideas expressed several are worth considering, such as the following:

Leadership is developed over time. Becoming a leader is not accomplished by simply taking a course or reading a book. God works throughout our lifetime to train us and give us the experience needed to develop our leadership.

Developing a leader can involve periods of suffering. Voluntary and involuntary events occur throughout life that cause us to step back and reflect on who and where we are in relationship to God and others. These times may involve isolation used to help us reflect and prepare us for greater leadership.

Proper perspective is the goal of leadership development. As challenging as periods of suffering can be, they help us better understand God and His guidance, if our perspective is one that sees God’s hand in the events of our life.

If we can learn to trust in God’s working, we can grow into the masterpiece He makes of us. Consider Paul’s thought on the workmanship of God (Ephesians 2:10).

Our world is competitive. In nearly every area of life we find competition. Children learn early how to compete. They compete for the attention of parents, with siblings, school-mates, and in athletics.

Sadly, when we reach adulthood competition does not change. In fact, it usually increases. We become so competitive we lose sight of everything except winning. And, far too often we are willing to do whatever it takes to win.

We see this in sports, the political arena, educational realm, and religious circles. We become consumed with proving we are better than anyone else; we are right and it leads us to assume others naturally want to be like us.

I received an interesting quote recently, which seems to be appropriate, ”I am in competition with no one. I run my own race. I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone, in any way, shape or form. I just aim to improve, to be better than I was before.” Unknown

Imagine the difference if leadership was built on this mindset, especially if coupled with the character of helping others improve themselves.