A recent article by Forbes, “7 Words Define What Employees Expect From Leadership,” introduced several concepts with powerful implication for spiritual leadership development. We will not look at all of these ideas, but we will consider a few over the next few weeks.

The first word is specificity. The idea describes the need for leaders to stop “beating around the bush.” People want leaders to be specific about direction. When they are, they pay close attention to details, which promotes confidence for followers.

Vagueness tends to breed vagueness and frustration. When leaders are vague, the general mindset among followers is that leaders do not have a clue where they are going or how they will get there.

These ideas alone should motivate us to seek greater clarification in our leadership. Establishing a system by which we communicate with specificity strengthens the morale of an organization and provides confidence in the direction.

The need in leadership is obvious. Now is the time for us to develop and implement a plan for specificity as leaders.

“Change starts with you, but it doesn’t start until you do.” Tom Ziglar

Change is one of those words that exposes a number of feelings. For some, nothing is worse than change. The comfortability of the “rut” makes it nearly impossible to discuss change, let alone actually implement change.

For others, the idea of change is a daily part of life. Change is inevitable and, interestingly enough, change is biblical. A change must occur in order for us to leave the old life and exchange it for the new. Scripture also indicates the continual nature of change as we grow and mature in the faith.

The status quo is not necessarily a good thing, nor is change for the sake of change.

Ziglar’s thought is significant in application to the latter half of the two mindsets mentioned above. Understanding the need for change is the first step. Change, however, cannot stop with just realizing there is a need. Change requires action on our part. When we start, change will follow.

As we consider the role of biblical leadership, another area linked to the development of leaders is exercising daily renewal.

Scripture identifies the need for renewal. Paul uses this objective by urging Christians in Rome not to be conformed to this world, but transformed by the “renewing of their minds.”

In writing to the church in Corinth, Paul contrasts the physical with the spiritual and identifies how the physical is decaying, but the spiritual is “renewed day by day.” What does this daily renewal look like for biblical leadership?

Developing time in prayer allows us to communicate the depths of our heart.

Communication flows both ways, so biblical leaders are renewed by learning from God’s word.

Encouragement is also a two-way street. Encouragement strengthens a renewal in our faith.

Reminders of goals, plans, and the purpose for our involvement, keeps us focused.

The beauty of daily renewal is directly related to the exercise associated with the process. The implication of exercise with daily renewal speaks to the hard and consistent work required.

More could be considered, but the exercise of daily renewal keeps biblical leaders fresh and strong.

Biblically, the concept of discipline is prevalent throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Over the next few weeks, we will consider several components to leadership that involve discipline.

Contrasting the world, and all that accompanies a sinful lifestyle, with living the Christian life is a division created by discipline.

The Christian life is built upon discipline, or as it is often identified, self-control. However, there is a difference in these two terms. While there are areas that overlap between them, discipline adds the practices and habits of life that lend to character development. Self-control seems more specific to controlling self in the area of emotions and desires.

The challenge introduced here involves learning how to develop the kind of discipline that sets Christians apart from the rest of the world.

The motivation for developing discipline begins with setting goals, establishing priorities, and listing the reasons for which we desire to achieve the task.

These three foundation stones prepare us to identify possible obstacles. When we recognize the obstacles, we can apply the necessary elements to develop a more disciplined lifestyle that breeds success.

Numerous qualities are needed to lead others. Nothing strikes more true to the core of leadership than the need for proficiency. A lack of proficiency leads to a loss of credibility, which destroys leadership influence.

Amidst all the ways to define proficient, words such as skillful, competent, accomplished, and adept are a few that provide a mental image of this week’s word.

Leaders are skillful. They demonstrate an ability to do what is needed and achieve a quality level of performance that can only be described as proficient.

Leaders are competent. When leaders are characterized as competent, they are capable and efficient, which leads to acceptable and satisfactory results.

Leaders are accomplished. To be accomplished, leaders are trained and prepared. They possess an ability to achieve success and build a solid reputation.

Leaders are also adept. The idea of adeptness brings us full circle. When leaders are adept, they display proficiency in all areas of their life.

Proficiency can be learned. It involves time and requires one to work hard. The mastery of leadership that results is worth the effort.

The past introduces a number of challenges to life. Regardless of the good or bad, our past often influences who we are and the direction of our future.

A few lessons should be remembered: 1) we cannot go back and change the past, and 2) we cannot live in the past. The only way to win with the past is to learn from it – good or bad – and use the lesson to help shape a better direction for the future.

The apostle Paul understood this as he wrote to the church at Philippi. There is little doubt he remembered the destructive course he pursued toward Christianity. He also understood the proper place of his accomplishments in the past.

In the final scheme of things, he knew nothing was more valuable than knowing Jesus. The value of knowing Jesus gave Paul purpose and direction. He would not allow his past to dictate the direction of his future. Instead, he was able to reach forward to the hope of the resurrection.

Leaders must focus on the same hope for the future and lead with a passion to reach it.

“Strength of character isn’t always about how much you can handle before you break, it’s also about how much you can handle after you’ve broken.” Robert Tew

At times, the thought of the day stands alone. This is one of those times. When considering Mr. Tew’s thought, the approach to the strength of character is profound.

Both areas are vital to understanding the strength of our character as leaders.

We began the week with conflict resolution; we know conflict is coming. We assume that when our character is strong, the conflict will not break us, even when the conflict begins to pile up. This assumption, when it has the desired result, is encouraging to see.

Once we are broken, how much can we handle? Do we find ourselves shutting down, withdrawing into our shell, becoming reclusive, and avoiding contact with others?

A great deal of admiration goes to those leaders whose strength of character shines before they break and after they are broken.

When the strength of our character is based on godly principles, before, during, and after, the Lord will shine through us.

Over the years, lessons on the power of influence have encompassed several key components to developing biblical leaders. One of the most important, if not the most important element involves setting a good example.

We all set an example with every word and action. This is why the phrase was strategically written. We are to set a good example. When Paul wrote to Timothy, he identified five areas where this young preacher needed to provide an example of the believers: speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity (1 Tim. 4:12).

We will not spend time looking at the specifics of each area, but suffice it to say that these five areas are as needed in the church today as they were when Paul penned the words.

As parents, children, siblings, employees, and every other relationship we might consider, our lives should reflect the example set by our Lord.

When we set a good example, the results are significant: 1) we please the Lord, 2) we insure salvation for ourselves and all those who hear us, 3) others know the direction to follow, and 4) our relationships grow stronger.

With only four weeks left in 2014, what are we planning for 2015? Today’s post is a precursor to think about how we plan to finish this year.

The emphasis is often strong on developing a plan for beginning the new year and we forget to finish strong.

Do we remember our resolutions from last January? Have we accomplished what we set out to do? What do we have left to achieve those plans?

An old runner’s motto stresses the need to “finish like a runner.” No matter how long the race, how slow the pace, or the challenges we face, when reaching the end, finish strong.

This is not the time to let our guard down or coast to the finish line. This is not the time to think we will start over in the new year. It is not how we start that makes the difference, it is how we finish.

With this in mind, we are working toward the end of another year God has blessed us with living. Let us sharpen our focus and strengthen our resolve to finish this year stronger than we began.

Success is defined as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose, the attainment of popularity or profit, a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity.

From this definition we see the overriding monetary tones. We often measure success by the amount of money in the bank, someone’s home or car, educational achievement, the accolades for what has been accomplished in life, or the nature of a gift.

Realizing there is some overlap with the ideas expressed above, perhaps the thought should not be about “what” determines success, but “who?”

Jesus pointed out that if someone gains the whole world and loses their soul, this type of success is not worth it.

When God is the One who determines success, then we know we are on the right path. Could we possibly measure success by a strong Christian family, leading a soul to Christ, helping someone in need, giving hope to the hopeless, lending a hand to a friend, growing in our knowledge of God’s word, and developing a close relationship with Him through prayer?

Maybe, if we begin here, our measuring device of success will change.