Development involves a number of significant applications. One preference involves a specified state of growth or advancement.

The indication is connected to measurement. With development we have a means by which we measure or determine the specified growth or advancement.

The challenge is learning how to measure our leadership. How can leadership be accurately assessed for growth and advancement?

It would be difficult to determine a more challenging question to answer, but here are a few possible suggestions.

First, and foremost, consider the activity of those who are following. If there is no activity, then our leadership is probably not growing. Growth can quickly be measured by application.

Second, examine carefully responses given in feedback. Positive and negative feedback have a powerful place in the growth and development being assessed.

Third, find a mentor. The value of having someone examine the growth and advancement of leadership is immeasurable. A good mentor can make the difference.

While there are many other suggestions, development of leadership is critical to the advancement and growth of any work.

Learning occurs in several arenas. We learn from the mistakes of others as well as the successes. We learn by observation, teaching, personal study, and experience. We learn from teachers with academic credentials and others who simply have experience.

Learning is not the issue. We learn something everyday. We cannot help it and we cannot resist it. Everything we see with our eyes, hear with our ears, smell with our nose, and feel with our hands creates a learning situation. The empirical connection to our learning demonstrates the value of today’s post.

However, the importance of what we learn really makes the difference.

Just from a spiritual perspective, we learn information that promotes a greater knowledge of God’s word, a closer relationship with the Savior, and a walk in step with the Spirit.

Our fellowship with brothers and sisters must be characterized by love, patience, and an understanding that promotes family.

Learning matters that are spiritual in nature provides a foundation for lasting leadership. When considering the importance of learning, remember it is what we learn that carries the greatest importance.

“To create more positive results in your life, replace ‘if only’ with ‘next time’.” Author Unknown

Consider the occasion we heard or said ourselves, “if only.” We often fill in the blank that follows by saying something related to health, money, work, school, etc.

Too often we tend to live life with a mentality of thinking “if only” our circumstances were better, life would be better.

Imagine the difference if our approach was more “next time.” We might see a positive change if the approach involves a consideration of what we will do the next time an opportunity presents itself.

The difference is a mindset. If we are waiting for something to accidentally fall from the sky and our world to suddenly become positive and successful, we might be waiting until eternity.

On the other hand, however, when we possess the mentality of seeking opportunities to help others, then our entire worldview changes. The focus turns from an inward “all about me” way of thinking, to a “what I can do to benefit others” perspective.

There is a difference and the choice is ours.

We live in a society that thrives on mimicking others. Phrases like, “I wanna be like Mike,” and “Who wouldn’t wanna be me” indicate the point.

Retail companies spend billions, if not trillions, of dollars in marketing campaigns that use entertainment, sports, and political figures for the purpose of selling their products. The idea is that if we purchase their products we will be like these iconic figures.

Often, the way we dress, where we live, the car we drive, the way we walk, and the way we talk are designed to imitate someone else.

Leaders are not followed because they are “like” someone else, but because they know how to find their own voice. They are unique, a pioneer in their own rights.

Is this what we seek from our leadership? From a biblical perspective, we are to imitate our Lord and Savior. His leadership style set a precedent that revolutionized His era and continues to the present day.

We know this style is not popular in the world, but when leaders practice this servant style of leadership, a revolution will also occur today.

A leader must be a student. Obviously, there are many areas to study. From the perspective of spiritual leadership, we must be aware of our life in two worlds.

We must know the world we live in physically. The role of spiritual leadership involves leading others to Christ and to heaven. We need to know the challenges people face living in this world. We need to know the struggles and trials encountered. We need to know about national and international events.

We must also know the world we are living for spiritually. Because we have never been there, being a student in this realm is difficult. We must rely on the information God has provided for us in His word. Therefore, we must be a student of His word.

When we study the physical and spiritual realm, we begin to see why scripture emphasizes the need for us to prepare ourselves now for then.

All we say and do now is building a foundation for a world to come. As spiritual leaders, our task involves helping others reach the same destination. Think Souls!

This week’s word carries several implications that impact the nature of our leadership, both from a noun and verb application.

As a noun, the idea behind flourish is defined as an instance of suddenly performing or developing in an impressively successful way.

As a verb, to flourish is to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.

Leaders must provide the kind of favorable environment that allows others to grow in a healthy and vigorous way, to flourish. Accomplishing this task follows the path of two key ideas:

1) Encourage creativity. Enforcing a mould of one size fits all or the cookie-cutter approach to development stifles the minds of those who have much to offer if allowed.

2) Allow others to spread their wings and try. Mistakes may be made and there will be accountability, but we might be surprised at what flourishes when an opportunity is given.

More could be said, but we get the idea. Leaders need to flourish and promote the same in others.

At one time or another, all of us experience frustration. There are times when the frustration level will be greater than other times. It would safe to assume that all of us desire to limit the level of frustration to a minimum.

The challenge in leadership, however, is learning how to limit our frustrations and capitalize on those moments for greater success. Here are a few suggestions:

1) Praying for help is not just a cliché. We would benefit from talking to God specifically about those areas that frustrate us.

2) Learn to accept frustration as part of life. Multiple levels of frustration exist in every area of life.

3) Realize that no one else thinks and acts as we do. Most people encounter frustration because others do not act or think as we expect they should.

4) Talking with those who are close to us allows an avenue to vent and seek counsel in our frustrations.

5) Learn from our frustrations. Good can come from these times if we view them and use them appropriately.

These are five beginning points, but we must start somewhere to address the frustrations of life.

“One of the true tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.” Arnold Glasow

All leaders face problems. How we deal with problems makes the difference.

People commonly speak of moving from one fire (problem) to another. When one fire is out, they are racing to the next. At some point, there are too many fires to put out and leaders find themselves overloaded and unable to resolve any  problem well.

What will help us with these problems before they become emergencies?

Address problems when they arise. Waiting for problems to resolve themselves, or ignoring problems is a denial of our role in leadership.

Rely on wise counsel. Resolving problems based on our own wisdom and experience can be effective, but Solomon teaches the value of wise counsel.

Learn to delegate. Get others involved in problem resolution. Assigning tasks to others will help create confidence in their ability to reach a solution.

Our task as spiritual leaders is to provide a resolution based in God’s word. Here, and only here, can real solutions be found.

Looking into the review mirror serves a number of purposes when traveling across the country. Just a glance reflects objects or traffic behind us. We can see if an emergency vehicle is coming and we need to move over. We can see if someone is coming up behind us quickly and we need to adjust our course. There is also the possibility of recognizing law enforcement helping correct our negligence in observing the speed laws.

From a more symbolic standpoint, the rearview mirror allows us to look into the past and reflect on the events of the day, week, month, or year. We can determine if goals were met and make necessary adjustments. We can examine what has worked and what has not in order to make course corrections.

Several thoughts come to mind, but these identify the benefits of reflection on what is behind us to help ensure we are moving in the right direction ahead of us.

When spiritual leaders consider a personal and congregational perspective, we have opportunity to lead from a view of Calvary in the past and toward the future reward of heaven.

Opportunity involves circumstances leading to possibility. Unless we can see the possibility, then we will never take advantage of the opportunity.

How many opportunities were missed because we could not see the possibilities?

Do we fail to see the possibilities because we are wearing spiritual blinders?

God told Abraham to lift up his eyes and look in every direction. God was going to give him and his descendants all the land.

Jesus told the apostles to lift up their eyes and look. The apostles needed to see through the eyes of God at the precious souls of the Samaritans.

What do we see when we look at our coworkers?

What do we see when we look at our families?

What do we see when we look at the people walking the aisles at the grocery store?

What do we see when we look at our brothers and sisters sitting on the pew next to us during worship?

It is time for us to lift up our eyes and look. The door is open. What will we see when we look through it? What will we do?