Whether written or spoken, this week’s word involves brevity and clarity. The ability to speak or write succinctly is learned, yet challenging.

Students often express a love for essay questions because of the opportunity to write enough “fluff” to possibly get the right answer. Sadly, our approach to leadership can be the same.

Uncertainty and a lack of clarity is often the result of focusing on the minutia of the trivial and an unwillingness to be direct. When we finish, no one seems to know what was communicated.

Here are a few suggestions to strengthen our succinctness in communication.

Think deeply. We are masters at allowing our words to flow with nothing to stop the thought developed in the mind and the formation on the tongue.

Write it down. This applies to written communication, but how beneficial would it be to write down our thoughts before we say them?

Edit. If there was ever a key word to succinct communication, this is it. Good communication is the result of writing and rewriting and rewriting until we are succinct.

These ideas lay the foundation for a key component to our leadership.

As we enter the last week of January, resolutions are a distant memory for most. By their influence, leaders share a perspective that needs to be considered when looking at resolutions worth keeping.

A recent Forbes article provides a final resolution to consider: get in touch with newer and emerging technologies.

Being a great leader is not contingent upon using or keeping up with emerging technology. There may be many leaders who never use current technology, past or present. This post is not for this leader.

We cannot deny, however, the incredible opportunities we have to use technology for developing and enhancing our leadership. Tools are available to provide training, mentoring, guidance, and encouragement that change the direction of leadership around the world.

If we remain complacent to these tools and opportunities, doing things the way they were done 50-75 years ago, the fact is we may have some influence.

However, if we have the opportunity to utilize the tools of technology to influence thousands, if not millions more, will God not hold us accountable for such? Something to think about!

“If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.” Wanda Skyes

Today’s thought is one designed to purely move us into action toward the areas of life where we are most passionate.

Too many people are involved in a career, job, or other activity that is filled with drudgery. They find it challenging to get out of bed and drag themselves through the day.

Life is too short to participate, by choice, in any area of life that we are not passionate about. When the direction of our life is purposed by our passion, we are excited to get up and go. The days fly by with a joy that cannot be touched by external circumstances.

This is not to say we can avoid experiencing bad days, disappointment, discouragement, or sadness. No matter what happens, however, the big picture of life is one filled with love and joy, one characterized by the satisfaction of purpose, value, and hope.

What are we passionate about and are we doing it?

To be “in sync” involves a leaders’ experience of harmony between their life (thoughts, intentions, goals, aspirations, actions, ideas, etc.) with the lives of others, especially those who are led.

Sadly, leaders often move in one direction while everyone else moves in a different direction. The result causes friction, confusion, confrontation, and potential division.

What can be done? How can leaders work with others in ways that leave both feeling “in sync?” Here a few suggestions.

Listen. The idea of active listening involves the ability to listen with the head and heart. Leaders must listen to what is said, how it is said, and understand why.

Equip. One of the most important and urgent requisites includes equipping others with the tools to accomplish the task. Frustration is eliminated when people feel ready to do the job.

Motivate. A leaders’ role to encourage others is key to working on the same page. Everyone wants and needs to know they contribute value to the process. Encouragement helps inspire the work.

Reward. When the job is done well and reaches its end, the achievement deserves a time to celebrate the victory.

When we travel in unfamiliar territory, we need help. Thankfully, a global positioning system (GPS) makes it possible to improve the accuracy of our current location and the destination we aim to reach.

The challenge, however, is determining how to apply this accuracy to something more specific in our leadership, figuratively speaking.

Those who follow us need guidance, someone who provides direction to reach a desired location. Using the same idea of GPS, a spiritual application is often made in a variety of ways: Gifts & Passions for Serving, Gifts – Passions – Skills, God’s Plan for Sharing, Getting People Saved, God’s Priority System, etc.

Numerous ideas exist, but another way to consider our leadership with the GPS acronym is God’s Purposeful Servant.

God is the foundation of our leadership, guided and directed by the One true and living Creator of the universe.

Purposeful indicates at least two ideas: 1) God’s will drives the desire of our leadership, and 2) an intentionality exists in our leading.

Servant is the descriptive word behind our leading. We are servants of God and others, as we lead them to the hope of a better future.

Rarely do leaders consider or focus time on a relationship of interdependency. The idea behind this week’s word simply refers to a relationship where people are dependent on each other.

Our culture is one where we rely on self, we are independent. We want to pull ourselves up by our own boot straps and make it on our own. Our pride often hinders us from ever seeking or asking for help from someone else.

The other side of the coin is one where we become dependent on someone else without contributing to the relationship ourselves. We have a constant need for someone else to provide counsel, and even physical or emotional support.

Interdependency sheds new light on the relationship we have with others and how we lead within this context. Leaders are often recognized as those who do not need anyone else. They are confident, decisive, and independent.

When we take a learning posture and realize others can teach, guide, and offer something to help us in our role, we are beginning to fulfill an interdependency that will strengthen our ability to lead.

A recent Forbes online article discussed the importance of not committing to things we cannot do. Interestingly enough, material does exist that emphasizes the mentality of “fake-it-until-you-make-it,” but the article goes on to say this is not the point.

While we should always be willing to grow and improve by moving outside our comfort zone, the idea of this resolution involves those areas we know we cannot do. By way of example, if someone invites us to dinner and we know we cannot make it, but instead of saying no, we delay the inevitable by saying “maybe.” Relevant ideas of such nature abound and certainly have impact on our leadership.

As it relates to biblical teaching, learning to follow through with our commitments strengthens our credibility as leaders.

Jesus and James both taught the need to let our yes mean yes, and our no mean no. Jesus adds that anything beyond this is of evil.

How critical is it to our leadership to be a person of our word? The answer will direct the way we approach not committing to things we cannot do.

“Shine with all you have. When someone tries to blow you out, just take their oxygen and burn brighter.” Katelyn S. Irons

Jesus claimed to be the “Light of the world.” He further told His disciples, “You are the light of the world…,” concluding the thought by saying, “Let your light shine…”

There can be no doubt that Jesus planned for His followers to reflect His character, virtue, and example in a world where light is not welcome.

A common occurrence in the conflict between light and darkness is the desire to extinguish the light by those who see it shining bright. The character, virtue, and example of Jesus creates an uncomfortable environment for those who walk in darkness. Their words and actions are exposed and they are convicted by the presence of such light.

As the thought today expresses, when this happens we need to take that ability away from them and use it to burn even brighter.

This is not about “doing” certain actions, but about leading out of “being.” The light is who we are, not just what we do.

If it were possible to turn back time, what would we do differently? Now that we are mid-stride in January, resolutions are a passing thought and we are settled into the daily routine of work and family.

What would we change if we could start 2014 over? Would we do anything different if we could restart 2015?

We might change a word spoken in anger or haste. If we could just have that moment back to think before we speak.

We might choose to avoid involvement in a sinful activity. The consequences of such actions make us all wish we could make the right choice.

We might channel our energy toward a more positive attitude. With the negativity that fills the world, we need more positive encouragers.

We might correct a wrong done to a friend or foe. A chance to realize the damage caused by such actions demands we seek healing.

We are aware of the impossibility of turning back time and, in some ways, it is probably best we cannot do so. If we could, assuredly, our changes would be for a better life for everyone.

Defining leadership becomes more complex by the day. Books, blogs, and dictionaries are constantly modifying ways to think about leadership.

Examining definitions over the past 100 years indicates the same challenges. Each decade introduced new political figures and challenges to the country that influenced the way leadership was defined.

One consistent fact about leadership, regardless of the time, country, or political power, is the influence leaders have through inspiring others to act in achieving a goal.

Considering our present culture, we understand that leaders who possess the ability to urge someone to feel or do something are said to inspire others. On one side of the argument, there are those who believe this is an ability leaders are born with, but on the other side, this ability is something a leader can learn.

Either way, creating ownership among the team, generating enthusiasm, visualizing the future, and expressing appreciation elevates the work of others, inspiring them to act.

When leaders exercise this ability, there is a uniting force that keeps others focused on the goal before them with an implementation of the plans necessary to reach the goal.