“You are the books you read, the films you watch, the music you listen to, the people you meet, the dreams you have, the conversations you engage in. You are what you take from these. You are the sound of the ocean, the breath of fresh air, the brightest light and the darkest corner. You are a collective of every experience you have had in your life. You are every single second of every single day. So drown yourself in a sea of knowledge and existence. Let the words run through your veins and let the colors fill your mind until there is nothing left to do but explode. There are no wrong answers. Inspiration is everything. Sit back, relax, and take it all in. Now, go out and create something.” Jac Vanek

Sometimes, a thought is strong enough that very little comment or discussion is needed. Today’s thought is one of those.

The idea expressed years ago is that leaders make things happen. Considering the whole of one’s influences in life can provide a foundation for leadership development that makes great things happen.

How many times have we heard someone say, “check this out.” In other words, something is exciting, interesting, or just bizarre enough that it is worth our time and attention.

When was the last time we checked out our leadership? Rest assured, others are checking out our leadership, but the self-evaluation of our own leadership development often goes unchecked.

Here are two tips for accomplishing this task.

1) Several use the terminology of a “character audit,” referring to an examination of our core values and how they align with the actual practice of our daily life over the last 30 days. If there are areas that do not measure up, do not make excuses or seek to justify the behavior. Instead, commit to change it.

2) Ask those closest to us, including family, what they see as the priority in our life. We might be surprised by those who have the courage to be honest with us. Generally, the way we see ourselves is not how others see us, and their perspective needs to be heard if we are to develop in our leadership.

This common phrase speaks to numerous possibilities. The idea is that after the dust settles a measure of clarity exists that enables leaders to make appropriate decisions and / or provide direction.

The general tendency is to use or think of “dust” figuratively in reference to turmoil or difficulty.

The implication of this phrase plays a key role in how leaders impact the lives of those within their sphere of influence. How?

After the dust settles…

…next-step decisions can be made for moving forward with greater confidence,

…the learning curve on accomplishments and challenges comes into full view,

…resolutions to problems are more easily reached because turmoil has passed,

…opportunities to adjust course direction are made more easily.

We could go a hundred different directions considering all the ways to apply this thought. The main thought for leaders is one that directs our attention to allowing the dust to settle before making rash decisions that impact the lives of everyone around us.

A consequence, effect, or outcome of something, generally defines this week’s word. We understand that when application is made of specific principles or designs, we expect results. We want to receive something for the effort generated.

Nothing seems more important to the credibility of leadership than their results. People want to know that a leader has a proven track record of getting results from their leadership.

The caution for Christian leadership is how to define the type of results that are expected and qualify those results in any context.

The danger is often seen when quantity becomes the defining characteristic for results, e.g. baptisms, restorations, church plants, etc.

The greater difficulty, however, is quantifying faithfulness, spiritual growth, or leadership development. Yet, these are results that are just as significant as the others.

When leaders recognize the need for results and learn how to qualify those results in ways that help generate enthusiasm for followers, the results will far exceed expectations.

The task is not easy, but in the final analysis, replication will generate extensive growth.

A rare breed, according to Oxford Dictionary, is often used in connection to a variety of animals, especially livestock or poultry that are not associated with large-scale commercial farming.

The idea is also associated with a person or thing that possesses uncommon characteristics. From this perspective we find tremendous implication for leaders today.

There are people who believe that a leader is a rare breed in of themselves. Leaders, however, need to be represented as a rare breed because they are Christians.

The priorities established by Christian leaders in every area of life contribute to a breed of leaders that know who they are and where they are going.

The character demonstrated by Christian leaders in their daily lives sets them apart as a rare breed influencing others toward the goal of heaven.

The inspiration promoted by Christians leaders becomes the lifeblood for exciting others to take their faith into the lives of people they know.

Christian leaders are a rare breed and a breed that is needed in our world today. With the right priorities, character, and inspiration, the future is an incredible sight to see.

“Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.” Bernard Baruch

Talking is so much easier. When we are talking, we do not have to listen to the blah, blah, blah of people’s lives. We never get sucked into the vortex of people’s problems. There is no need to become vulnerable to our own inadequacies.

Worse still, when others are talking, we do not really listen. Instead, we think about what we want to say and we wait just long enough for the other person to draw breath so we can start talking.

Perhaps this is why people are more comfortable with talking.

The idea of today’s thought presents an interesting dichotomy because success is the outcome for those who do more listening. What is needed to help us become better listeners?

Remember, someone came to us because it was important and they trust us.

Remove distractions that prevent us from focusing on the other person.

Repeat what was heard to verify the accuracy of the message communicated.

These three steps will help make listening a successful adventure.

An old Chinese proverb claims that “limitations are the boundaries we place in our minds.” What do we consider impossible? Certainly, what is impossible for one person may not always be for another.

Added to this complexity is the inclusion or exclusion of God. While we claim that all things are possible with God, do we really believe it?

We say we have faith, then turn around and place limitations on what we hope to accomplish because it has not been done before. Do we really believe?

We quote Scripture regarding God’s ability “to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works within us,” yet stop short of great achievement because we cannot figure out how to do it in our minds. Do we really believe?

Since God is our strength and He made us fellow-workers in His kingdom, we need to stop thinking in the realm of impossibility. Either God is able or He is not. We are simply a tool. Maybe if we stopped talking and moved out of the way, God would do some incredible things.

Numerous books share a common thread when considering the subject of “spiritual formation.” Ecology, social justice, human dignity, community awareness, liberation, and tons of issues often come to the forefront of this discussion.

While these are important issues and worthy of our consideration as Christians, the light of the world; our participation in these issues alone does not result in spiritual formation.

Spiritual formation must involve the following:

1) God: Is it possible to have spiritual formation without God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the Giver of life?

2) Holy Spirit: We are limited in knowing the depths of the Holy Spirit’s role and activity, but what we find in Scripture is rich for spiritual development.

3) Jesus: He is the cornerstone of our building, without whom our growth into a spiritual house – built on this foundation – could not occur.

4) The Word: All of the above come together in perfect harmony to provide one book to guide us in the kind of spiritual formation needed to complete and perfect us for every task.

These four components are unequivocally essential to spiritual formation.

Whether written or spoken, this week’s word involves brevity and clarity. The ability to speak or write succinctly is learned, yet challenging.

Students often express a love for essay questions because of the opportunity to write enough “fluff” to possibly get the right answer. Sadly, our approach to leadership can be the same.

Uncertainty and a lack of clarity is often the result of focusing on the minutia of the trivial and an unwillingness to be direct. When we finish, no one seems to know what was communicated.

Here are a few suggestions to strengthen our succinctness in communication.

Think deeply. We are masters at allowing our words to flow with nothing to stop the thought developed in the mind and the formation on the tongue.

Write it down. This applies to written communication, but how beneficial would it be to write down our thoughts before we say them?

Edit. If there was ever a key word to succinct communication, this is it. Good communication is the result of writing and rewriting and rewriting until we are succinct.

These ideas lay the foundation for a key component to our leadership.

As we enter the last week of January, resolutions are a distant memory for most. By their influence, leaders share a perspective that needs to be considered when looking at resolutions worth keeping.

A recent Forbes article provides a final resolution to consider: get in touch with newer and emerging technologies.

Being a great leader is not contingent upon using or keeping up with emerging technology. There may be many leaders who never use current technology, past or present. This post is not for this leader.

We cannot deny, however, the incredible opportunities we have to use technology for developing and enhancing our leadership. Tools are available to provide training, mentoring, guidance, and encouragement that change the direction of leadership around the world.

If we remain complacent to these tools and opportunities, doing things the way they were done 50-75 years ago, the fact is we may have some influence.

However, if we have the opportunity to utilize the tools of technology to influence thousands, if not millions more, will God not hold us accountable for such? Something to think about!