“Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.” Donald Rumsfeld

I search for various quotes on leadership to find thoughts to consider each week. One particular website lists 100 of the most famous quotes by leaders.
I did something random and scrolled to the middle of the list to see what came up. Well, you read it above.

I could not help but think how significant this thought is regarding our leadership. Often times we go to great lengths to avoid areas in our life we would consider “sharp edges.”

I am not one who supports searching for those challenges, nor do I recommend someone looking for those edges.

As well, I do not like dealing with them. However, I have learned how valuable those edges can be to developing me as a leader.

We know the sharp edges exist and we are going to face them at different times and in several ways. While we are not looking for them, we should not avoid them, but learn from them and allow God to work through them to help shape us as His leaders.

One week ago today our daughter-in-law went into labor and gave birth on Friday to our 8th grandchild. As this child was born into the world a number of leadership thoughts came to mind.

First, his name is Nehemiah. If you are unfamiliar with this Old Testament leader, please read the book. Enough said.

Second, seeing a second generation within the family reminds me of my own leadership of the father who will lead this child to maturity and eternity.

Third, I have prayed every day from the time we knew our daughter-in-law would have a boy that Nehemiah would live up to his Biblical namesake.

Fourth, there is just something special about knowing a child is being born into a Christian home that will provide a spiritual and godly foundation. From this foundation Nehemiah will lead.

I am constantly amazed how God has created and given life to us. I am also in awe of the opportunities we have to lead within our families and I look forward to watching our son and daughter-in-law grow as parents of their first child.

Being a “pa-pa” has its advantages!

A few months ago I listened to an instructor on leadership talk about the position of a futurist. The questions were raised more than once: how does one get this position and what do they actually do?

I am not here to provide an answer to these questions. However, the idea raised one primary question followed by several additional questions concerning leadership.

What does the future look like for leadership where we serve?

Is there an understanding of why this is important for the future?

Are plans being made for the next generation of leaders and how they will lead?

Will the legacy left behind be one of strong leadership.

Who is going to take the role of preparing these leaders for the time they are needed?

When will the plans be enacted?

These are only a few questions to consider, but the answers are vital to knowing the future of God’s kingdom. Are we ready?

The power of uniformity is based on developing the consistency, invariability, stability and regularity that characterizes leadership.

These four words are the defining qualities of uniformity.

Our leadership must demonstrate the consistency of a life lived according to the message believed and proclaimed. Hypocrisy destroys leadership more quickly than anything else.

The invariability of leading without fail and without exception is critical to the success of strong leadership. No matter what the cost, invariably, leaders must show up.

Of all the qualities that describe uniformity, followers need leaders with stability. There is something significant about having a rock solid foundation. Stability provides followers with security.

The quality of regularity is demonstrated by a leadership that is fixed, unchanging and unvarying. There is power when leaders provide regularity. When others can count on their leader they will follow…anywhere.

Uniformity is key to leading as God would have us lead today. While there may be challenges to developing and fulfilling these qualities, when we do, our leadership grows stronger and lasts longer.

Guarding the faith of Christians is difficult for any age, and our current culture is no exception.

Leaders must be on the alert concerning the working of Satan to destroy the faith of God’s people. We need to rise up to guard, protect, and overcome his attacks. Sadly, we find these attacks from the world and within the church.

Another area where Satan works from within the church is with the use of the tongue.

Scripture speaks of the powerful nature of the tongue, both positive and negative. The tongue can be used to build up and encourage, but it is also said to be an “unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Keep in mind James was writing to Christians.

When Christians participate in gossip, ridicule, speaking against brothers and sisters in Christ, then we allow ourselves to become a tool of Satan, destroying the faith of others.

Leaders need conviction to prevent Satan from using Christians in this way. Whether through Facebook, texting, face to face, talking to someone else, or some other means, the use of the tongue in such ways should not only be discouraged, but stopped.

“The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men, the conviction and the will to carry on.” Walter Lippman

We have discussed the importance of legacy in previous posts. However, this quote has a small twist worth our consideration.

First, consider the importance of leaving others with a conviction. The thrust of being able to do so depends on the convictions of our own life and how those convictions are seen by others. The task is nearly insurmountable to leave others with a conviction we are not consumed with ourselves.

Second, consider the necessity of leaving others with the will to carry on. Followers often remain true to the conviction of their leader, but only as long as the leader carries the torch. This was the case with Joshua in the Old Testament. We must learn how to instill in others the desire to continue carrying on the conviction that drives our purpose.

This test is one that will not be easily passed, but when we do, the result ensures the success of our efforts as spiritual leaders for the cause of Christ.

While examining a few leadership websites, I came across an interesting statement, “The Seven Most Important Words In Leadership.”

The idea is part of Terry Starbucker’s e-book Leadership From A Glass Half-Full: The 5 Lessons You Need To Learn Before You Jump Into The Pool.

The phrase is simply this, “I don’t know and I’ll find out.”

The sad reality is we do not like the appearance of being unable to give an answer. After all, we are the leader, right? Leaders are supposed to know all the answers.

Worse still is the attempt of too many of us who try to bluff our way through areas we know nothing about. Somehow we convince ourselves we can smooth talk our way through the discussion. Wrong!

The transparency of acknowledging when we do not know something and the willingness to find the answer is critical to great leadership.

First, others already know we do not have all the information, plus they know when we are bluffing. Second, greater credibility and trust is established when we are are honest with others.

Learn these seven words and live by them.

What does being “in sync” have to do with leadership and why is it important enough to write about?

The idea of being in sync means something is working well together. There is harmony or agreement when a leader is in sync. We do not have to look far to understand why leaders need to be in sync with followers.

As a leader, how can we determine when we are in sync?

First, and the most obvious, when leaders and followers are working well together to reach a common goal, they are in sync.

Second, when there is understanding of objectives and harmony demonstrated in achieving them, they are in sync.

Third, even though there will be times when we are standing on opposite sides of a position, our love for each other helps us remain in sync.

A brief summary will show that our action, coupled with the right attitude and motives, will always provide the basis for harmony and agreement. We will be in sync.

Essential involves what is absolutely necessary. The importance factor of what is essential moves leadership to a new level.

However, the challenge is determining what is essential and what is not. Spiritually speaking, there are a number of components that play a key role in the area of essentiality.

1) Character: The late General Schwarzkoph said, “Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without strategy.” Character is essential to successful leadership.

2) Passion: Although we often think of passion as enthusiasm or excitement, the origination of the word involves suffering and sacrifice. Passion (willingness to sacrifice) is essential when considering leadership.

3) Vision: Vision is not about what is seen, but seeing what is unseen, about insight. Faith is the factor necessary for the development of leadership vision and vision is essential to spiritual leadership.

4) Goals: David Swartz said, “Goals are as essential to success as air is to life.” Without goals we have no way of knowing where we are going.

These are only four areas that are essential to our leadership.

As mentioned last week, there is a need for leaders to guard and protect the faith of Christians. Leaders of the faith must understand the appeal to Timothy, guarding what has been entrusted to us.

To guard and protect faith, we should first consider what we are guarding and protecting it from. We know Satan works from outside and inside the church to rob people of their faith.

Paul warned the elders at Ephesus that savage wolves would arise among them with the purpose of leading Christians astray. The very description indicates an element within the church whose working will bring destruction.

What is this element? How can we identify it?  What can be done?

The problem exists when leaders loose where God has not loosed and bind where He has not bound.

The greatest challenge is no one believes they are unrightfully loosing or binding. Whether recreation, homeschooling, kitchens in a church building, dating, Powerpoint songs, Bible translations, Life groups, etc., claiming matters of opinion as matters of doctrine, and drawing lines of fellowship we create destruction within the church, whether we see it as such or not.

More next week…