Category: Daily Leadership

Responsibility

We live in a culture much like other cultures in generations before us. People desire greatness, but avoid responsibility. Yet, we find several unavoidable applications to this idea of responsibility. Sir Winston Churchill said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.”

Responsibility involves duty over someone or something.

Responsibility brings accountability.

Responsibility indicates an obligation.

Responsibility provides an opportunity to act independently and make decisions.

Responsibility determines greatness.

When leaders are responsible, and willing to take responsibility, it inspires others to follow.

Responsibility is the price to be paid. Greatness is the prize.

Perpetual Learners

Leaders must be perpetual learners.

Donald Norris, president of Strategic Initiatives, identifies perpetual learning as “much more than lifelong learning on steroids. It is different from lifelong learning in every way.” He clarifies by stating that it involves learning every day, viewing growth in knowledge as a way of life rather than an activity of life.

This type of learning produces three benefits:

…a better understanding of leading people.
…a better vision of the future.
…a better love for life.

When driven to learn from every person we meet, book we read, and experience in life, we grow as leaders.

Succession Planning

Christianity is a learned, taught system. This duplication process is how Christianity grows.

The same is true for leaders, especially spiritual leaders.

John Maxwell calls this the “Law of Reproduction.” He says, “If you want to grow, lead followers. If you want to multiply, lead leaders.”

Are we planning, grooming, and mentoring someone to lead when we are gone?

Too often, we find a lack of qualified men to lead God’s people. Why? There are several reasons, but one falls on the need for leaders to reproduce themselves.

Let us rise up and change the future by preparing others to lead today.

Successful Leaders

Leaders do not succeed alone. Although the author is unknown, perhaps one of the most significant thoughts on successful leaders claims, “Successful leadership is your ability to direct and challenge the very best that is in those whom you lead.”

Since leadership depends on followers, it only makes sense to understand the need to draw out the best in others.

Adjustments may be required for leaders to achieve this goal. However, the ability to do so makes the difference between success and failure.

The Right Plan

Planning is vital to achieving goals. The challenge before leaders is developing the right plan.

A few questions that must be answered include:

What goal are we trying to reach?
Why is this goal important to the overall program, or is it?
Who will carry out the plan?
Are adequate resources available for each step? If not, can they be obtained?
When will we evaluate the progress?
How can we achieve maximum involvement?
Once the goal is reached, where do we go from that point?

Answering these questions provides the proper foundation for the right plans.

Creativity

Creativity can be frightening. Creativity brings change, and change makes people uncomfortable. 

While change is Biblical, people do not always understand it. Thus, creativity is stifled.

Can leaders encourage creativity without the fear of change? Yes.

Create a “safe” environment. People need to know it is okay to discuss, and even disagree, where there is no violation of Scripture.

Equip people with the right tools. When the right tools are provided, creativity soars.

Give heed to personal advice. Be cautious when promoting your own ideas. 

Remember, you are trying to help others achieve success. Creativity can make the difference. 

Encourage it!

The Time is Now

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Now is the acceptable time.

It is time…

It is time for leaders to stand up and lead.
It is time to be men and women of God.
It is time to fulfill your role and responsibility in the home.
It is time for Christians to speak up about their faith.

All you have is right now, and it is time. Do not waste what God has given you. Take advantage of the time you are given and begin now!

It is time to make a difference.

Try Again

We’ve all heard, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

The idea is to persevere, never give up.

Regardless of the goal, or task to reach the goal, facing difficulty or defeat can dishearten anyone from running the race with endurance.

If the goal is worth the effort, then we need to persevere.

If we have the needed resources to succeed, then try again.

If there is an opportunity, then keep working at it.

When we think we have reached the end of the line, perhaps giving it one more try will change it all.

Important or Urgent?

In spiritual leadership, matters of importance are usually set aside for what appears urgent. It is often referred to as the “tyranny of the urgent.”

These matters become a distraction, often in the form of emails, texts, phone calls, PMs, and more.

We place immediacy, a sense of urgency, prioritizing these less important matters when, in reality, they are not important.

When we examine our spiritual leadership, what is important or urgent? What requires our immediate attention and action? Do these matters distract or aid us in what is most important?

We need to take what is truly important and make it urgent!

Seeing the Unseen

This statement deals with more than just “seeing” God. What exactly is involved? Consider a little background.

We must consider where we have been. Consider the past year. What mistakes were made? What successes were enjoyed? Was God part of the equation?

We must also consider where we are right now. Are we where we need to be at this time? Will this place provide a basis for where we need to go? Is God part of the equation?

Now we can formulate plans on where to go from here. Seeing God’s part in our past and present allows us to see His hand in our future.

If God is not part of the equation, we do not have a clear vision!