Defining strategic involves long-term aims and interests and the means of achieving them.

Last week I had the privilege of interviewing the Director of Strategic Leadership at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Kate Atchley.

During the interview Dr. Atchley related the questions each student must answer coming into the program as part of the entrance assessment.

Where are you as a leader?

What kind of leader do you want to be?

What is the gap between these two points?

What kind of plan needs to be developed to bridge the gap?

This type of self evaluation is essential for advancing a strategic plan for leadership development. Each leader must consider where they are and where they want to be, and only when leaders understand the specifics of what separates these two points can a strategy be developed to narrow the gap and become the leader desired.

While the assessment is part of a business leadership model, the spiritual application also has powerful implications.

The relevant question to consider is, “Are we bridging the gap between where we are and where we want (or perhaps need) to be?”

Visiting any retail store reveals the multiple choices available. Very little is as simple as only one choice.

Consider something as simple as soap. There are hundreds of soaps available: laundry, bath, dish, liquid, antibiotic, foam, etc.

Along with these choices, there are innumerable name and generic brands. Plus, the purpose of the cleansing agent needed influences the type of soap to look for and the amount.

The issue of choice is not only found in the area of soap. Go to any store and consider the choices available on any product. At times, it becomes overwhelming to determine exactly what is needed. Sadly, the same ideas affect people’s thoughts about religion.

A study of leadership also reveals the challenge of making choices. The choice made by leaders can make the difference in success or failure, so what choice(s) should be made?

Sadly, many choices must be made by trial and error. Only after the results of the choice are seen can another decision be made concerning the appropriate direction to take.

Nothing is more significant than leading others to make the choice about their eternal destiny. Think Souls!

“It’s not who you are that holds you back. It’s who you think you’re not.” Denis Waitley

The power of the mind in leadership is immeasurable. An old Chinese proverb says, “Limitations are but the boundaries we place in our minds.”

The idea is demonstrated in the Old Testament as ten of the spies sent into the land of Canaan delivered a bad report to the people of Israel. Their claim indicates the limitation in their thinking. They saw themselves as grasshoppers in the eyes of the people of the land, and in their own.

They could not see themselves conquering the land, nor God doing so through them.

The same is true today of leaders who are held back; not because they do not have the ability, but because they do not see themselves as able to accomplish the task.

We must recognize who God is and all He can do through the power that works within us.

Stop considering who we are not. Start thinking about who God is and what He can do if we allow Him to rule in our lives.

A key thought expressed throughout the Psalms is the idea of thirsting for God. Several analogies are used, but the one most common is also a song often sung today. “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for You, O God.”

The various qualities, principles, axioms, and requirements for good leadership all carry a significant weight in leadership development.

However, in the arena of spiritual leadership, considering everything stated above, the key to true leadership is based on thirsting for God.

The idea of thirsting involves a need, want, craving, an insatiable desire. We understand the idea when applied to a drink of water when dehydration exists.

However, do we also understand the application when considering a spiritual application?

When we examine our attitude toward worship; obtaining the necessary tools to grow in our study of God’s word; visiting those who are no longer faithful; and reaching out to those without Christ, what word would we be the right description?

When a relationship with God is characterized by thirsting, leaders are strengthening every area of their leadership.

No matter what sporting event on television, there is 100% certainty that at some point there will be an instant replay.

Action is slowed down to carefully examine every angle of a tackle or pass, the pitch or batter’s swing, three point shot or a gliding slam dunk, and the same is true with all other sports.

Several interesting questions are raised when considering instant replay in leadership.

Has there been a time when we said or did something we wish we could rewind and do over?

How would it affect our leadership if we reviewed our words and actions through instant replay?

What would the future look like if we were able to slow down and carefully examine events of the past?

We know it is impossible to rewind time and change the words or actions of the past. What can be done to help implement the appropriate changes?

1) Learn from mistakes of the past.

2) Recognize the warning signs.

3) Think before speaking and acting, especially if anger is present.

More could be said, but this is a starting point for leaders considering an instant replay.

Two of the most unused, yet the most needed and powerful, words are “thank you.” To be thankful and express appreciation are descriptions of the leadership word of the week.

The primary purpose is not to spend the entire post focused on areas for which leaders should be thankful, but rather to consider why leaders should be thankful.

Leaders should be thankful because…

1) God has placed them in this position to glorify Him as a leader.

2) The opportunity to influence others for the Lord is the greatest work on earth.

3) Hope is the message provided through godly leaders.

4) Others are trusting in leaders to show them the way.

5) Leadership is making a difference on an eternal scale.

More answers could be provided if space and time allowed, but suffice it to say that leaders must recognize why they should be thankful as much as understanding the need to show gratitude.

Our God is great and He has given us leaders!

Randy Reese and Robert Loane, authors of this book, provide a guide to developing leaders.

Several sections of this book resonate powerfully with how to prepare future leaders. Four elements lay the groundwork for developing leaders: 1) a deepening work, 2) a particularizing work, 3) a hospitable work, and 4) a patient work.

One specific element, especially noteworthy, involves a deepening work that focuses on growing leaders.

Leadership development must dig below the surface to honor people by listening to how they talk about their lives, contexts, and future dreams.

Appropriate questions must be asked to determine how to assist people on their journey to a mature relationship with Christ.

Above all, people need to know there is hope. People must know there is something beyond the physical plight of life. Without hope, people lose the desire to develop as leaders.

The ideas presented by Reese and Loane are paralleled with biblical examples left by Jesus and the apostles for developing leaders.

What are we doing today to develop leadership for the future?

Reese, Randy D. and Robert Loane. 2012. Deep Mentoring: Guiding Others on Their Leadership Journey. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.

“The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going.” Napoleon Hill

If we assigned one word to describe the quote by Napoleon, it would probably be “confidence.”

However, the level of confidence illustrated is connected to both words and actions by the individual described. Thus, there must also be a strong consistency in the character of the individual.

The lesson for leaders is not anything new.

For leaders to build the type of relationship with followers where trust exists, their character must be defined by consistency which lays the foundation for their confidence to lead.

This may be one of the truest approaches to defining integrity for spiritual leaders.

The take away is an encouragement to position our words and actions in such a way that where we are leading portrays the confidence of someone whose life is consistent.

Ultimately, both should be guided by the teachings of God’s word.

Holidays always tend to bring out the articles and posts that parallel the occasion with a spiritual connection. The independence celebrated by this country is no exception when considering the independence celebrated in Christ.

Rightfully so; there is a wonderful analogy with physical freedoms compared to the greater spiritual freedoms enjoyed by those who share in them.

Considering the sacrifice made by Jesus: willingly, lovingly, and graciously, the value of what was accomplished to open the way to the Father is exemplified.

From a spiritual leadership perspective, a leaders’ example should be one that demonstrates the same willingness, love and grace to open the way for others to the Father.

The greatest joy of celebrating our own independence is to help others celebrate the same by introducing them to the way, the truth, and the life.

The life, the abundant life promised by Jesus, is one of freedom from the consequences of sin that introduces a celebration of independence.

Our leadership today should always help others understand the price paid for this celebration.

As David expresses the need to be silent before God and praise Him, he concludes by saying, “And to You the vow will be performed.”

Without going into a complete background of the Psalm, the two words that stand out in this passage are “vow” and “performed.”

The idea of a vow indicates one who enters an agreement to which they must be committed to fulfill. Solomon emphasized the seriousness of vows when he wrote, “It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:5).

The word translated “performed” is joined with the vow; indicating that when the vow is paid, “it completes an agreement so that both parties are in a state of shalom” (peace) (Lloyd, 1999). As a note of interest, the word translated “pay” in Ecclesiastes is the same word translated “performed.”

A leaders first responsibility is to God and then to those who follow. They must be committed to fulfill the responsibility of the relationship to which they have entered as leaders.

When they do, both parties are in a state of peace.

*Carr, G. Lloyd. “2401 שָׁלֵם”. In Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, edited by R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr. and Bruce K. Waltke. electronic ed. Chicago: Moody Press, 1999.