Day in and day out, we rush about our busy lives trying to take care of business. Sadly, most of us are working to take care of “business” that provides the financial means to pay the bills.

Please do not misunderstand, providing for our families and the means to keep in good standing in our communities is necessary for the influence of our leadership as Christians.

Thinking about the early life of Jesus, however, raises an interesting thought about “taking care of business.” At the age of 12, Jesus was aware of the setting in the temple, and when his mother approached him about the situation, He asked her this question: “Did you not know that I had to be about My Father’s business” (Lk. 2:49 KJV).

Considering the focus of Jesus at this point in His life is a reminder to all of us about the “business” we need to be focused on…our Father’s business.

When we lead others with this in mind, it changes relationships. Let us always lead others with the Father’s business in mind.

“Failure may not be an option to some, but it is the spring board to success for others.” Rod Wilson

This quote carries significance when considering the fact that there are those who do everything in their power to avoid failure.

Sadly, when failure is experienced, it is debilitating. We can lose the ability to move forward and benefit from the experience. Worse still is the fact that failure creates such discouragement and we see no purpose in attempting to benefit from it.

Failure, however, becomes a spring board to success for us when we realize that failure reveals ways not to do something and allowing us to channel our focus on investing efforts into areas leading to success.

Approaching failure with this mindset changes how we establish a vision for the future and how we respond to the challenges we face in life.

The beauty of Christian leadership is based in helping others through times of failure with a vision of the success that God has prepared for the future. Here we find motivation to conquer the greatest of failures.

On a daily basis, it is fairly common to hear about or experience difficulties that often create discouragement in life.

During these times we find it tough to understand that these problems are temporary and that God has prepared something better for us.

We often lose sight of what is to come and only see what is presently before us. We fail to remember the words of Paul, when he said, “we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Co. 4:18).

Leading others through the difficulties of life is not an easy task, but the ability to provide assurance that “come-what-may” it really does get better than this. Keeping our focus on the eternal realm helps us remember there is something better we look forward to receiving.

Our God is great, worthy of our praise and trust.

“Let us press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).

How much value do we place on life: the lives of others and our own? From a leadership perspective, the answer to the question is measured in the way our time is spent.

Most are familiar with the expression that “life is not measured in the number of breaths we take, but in the moments that take our breath away.”

The idea expressed here involves value that is placed on the way we live. If we lose sight of what is most important, we can easily get caught up in what is referred to as the “tyranny of the urgent.”

As each second ticks by, we have no way of reversing the clock and going back to gather them up and use them again in a different way.

We are all given the same number of minutes in every hour of each day. How we use that time is determined by the value we place on it.

Take a moment to reflect and remember that as the seconds go by, they are gifts from God. Each one is valuable and worthy to be used influencing others for the Lord.

Writing about “alienation” as a leadership word may seem strange, but the idea expressed here is significant to our influence as leaders.

When someone is isolated from a group to which they belong, at least from a negative point of view, it is described as alienation.

Leaders have an opportunity to use their words and actions to influence others for the cause of Jesus, for the betterment of life, and growth in the kingdom.

When we use our words or actions for the purpose of proving a personal opinion or advancing our agenda, we can easily alienate the very ones we are trying to influence.

This is a dangerously thin line and one we need to be more thoughtful to before we speak or act. For if, in that moment, we lose our credibility and influence, two events occur: 1) a wall of defense is erected to the point we can never get over it, and 2) we drive the other person deeper into their belief or conviction.

The cause of Christ is too great to allow our carelessness to alienate someone from the greater good.

Life is complicated, or so it would seem. Just about the minute we feel like we have a good handle on it, something changes. Even when we spend hours setting goals, establishing the plans to meet the goals, and incorporating a structure to begin, there always seems to be that one area that throws the proverbial “curve ball.”

Leadership can be tricky. As complicated as life can be, when it involves the influence found in leading others, complexities increase.

The various phases of life from adolescence to adulthood introduce numerous opportunities to implement a structure that benefits everyone involved.

Providing structure is essential to understanding the nature in which all the components required to achieve the goal(s) are implemented.

This structure keeps everyone focused and actively participating in achievement.

When the right structure exists, both leaders and the organizations where they lead, are able to step into a realm where challenges are considered, obstacles are overcome, impossibilities are eliminated, and the measure of success is determined.

The work can be difficult, but when it is accomplished, everyone grows.

“Catch fire today! Make today the day you stop complaining and do something!” Steve Harvey

This quote is a personal favorite because it speaks to the need for leaders to stop looking at the negative, discouraging, and depressing areas of life and step up with the kind of enthusiasm that takes action.

Nothing is more significant to the development of solid leadership than “catching fire.” The idea also addresses the type of passion that knows what is worth giving our lives for as it relates to the good of others, both physical and spiritual.

Somehow, it must begin with leaders to present an example of moving away from the individualistic / humanistic philosophy that characterizes much of our world.

The opportunity we have in this life is to live for others. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone spent their time focused on dedicating themselves for the development of others and helping them reach their greatest potential.

This is the nature of what God desired for His creation, what Jesus gave His life to achieve, and His disciples are commissioned to fulfill.

May it be so!

Winston Churchill is credited with saying “success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

How is it possible for failure to provide benefit or value in the development of leaders?

According to several Internet sources there is a difference between bad and good failures. Determining what makes Google tick, Fast Company discussed a number of rules learned from their research and identified two characteristics common with good failures: 1) determining why failure occurred and making an application for future work; and 2) speed: “fail fast and early before investing more than necessary or damaging your brand.”

Failure is never something desired, yet it is necessary in helping grow our leadership in ways that will benefit the good of God’s kingdom.

While we do not desire to fail, nor do we look for failure in order to benefit from it, knowing that failure can and will occur will help prepare us with an expectation that when it happens we can approach it from the position of learning the value of failure.

At times, it is extremely difficult to make a decision that involves taking steps in a direction that may go against the grain, challenge tradition, or ruffle the feathers of others.

When this happens, it is critical to have the confidence of knowing the proper homework has been done to insure the decision is the right one to direct the future development of the work.

This is true at every level, from an organizational point of view to the family to the church. Leaders need to focus on the best way(s) to reach the goals and take whatever critical steps are necessary to achieve success.

When we think of being critical, we tend to think in negative and condemning terms, yet the idea has a positive bent that can help develop our leadership.

To be critical also involves the evaluative and and analytical approach to various situations. Leaders who evaluate with a critical eye will analyze the situation in ways that provide possible solutions for overcoming challenges or leading through difficulties.

The next step could be a critical one. Let us take the step in the right way.

One of the most significant words in the leadership vocabulary is “possibility.” Words such as potential, feasibility, and probability are involved in guiding our understanding of possibilities.

Possibilities are directly linked to the application of opportunities. Opportunities are circumstances presenting possibilities. If we are unable to see the possibilities we never take advantage of the opportunities.

Couple this with the idea that God has the power to do far beyond all we ask or think according to the power that works within us (Ep. 3:20).

God’s power, presence, and knowledge should help us recognize that He will provide numerous opportunities, but we need to look for the possibilities.

Consider the goals we have set: are they feasible, what are the probabilities, and do we know the potential that exists?

The answer to these questions can make the difference in not only seeing the possibilities, but also taking advantage of the opportunities.

This ties directly to the vision needed by leaders for the direction of the work and the involvement of those who follow.

Lead with the possibilities in view.