Pressure carries multiple meanings: 1) continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it, 2) the use of persuasion, influence, or intimidation to make someone do something, and 3) an attempt to persuade or coerce someone into doing something.

There is no doubt leadership comes with a strong element of pressure.

The issue really becomes how to handle or deal with the pressure when it arises within leadership.

The best avenue for approaching pressure is fervent prayer. God listens.

Recognize that pressure is part of leadership. It will come.

Learn to relieve pressure through activity. Exercise is a great place to start.

Create expectations that are achievable and be cautious about being unrealistic.

Break the big chunks into smaller ones and focus on one at a time.

Always start with what must be done today and then think about tomorrow.

Never forget the purpose of the trials in life that bring pressure are serving to perfect us into the people God wants and needs us to be in service to Him and others.

As fascinating as it may or may not be, there are two words with three letters each that establish the most powerful questions a leader can consider.

The first question is “why?” Beyond seeking the cause and effect, the implication behind this question is to determine the purpose connected to the decisions being made and the actions taken.

Why does this task require leadership?

Why should we pursue this direction?

Why is this work important?

Why is this the best course of action to reach our goals?

The second question to be considered is “how?” Once we understand the purpose behind the decisions or actions, we then must determine how we are going to fulfill them.

How can we help someone become a leader?

How will we accomplish the necessary task?

How should we handle the obstacles when they occur?

How can we get others involved?

These are just a few, but if leaders will take the time to ask these two questions and determine the answers, the pathway to reaching success is much clearer. Few questions could be stronger from a spiritual perspective.

“This is the beginning of a new day. I have been given this day to use as I will. I will use it for good, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain and not loss; good and not evil; success and not failure; in order that I shall rejoice in the price that I paid for it.” Frank Bucaro

Please take a moment to read this thought again.

There is no need to comment further on the depths to be learned from the value of the very moment, the day we have been given, and how we choose to use it.

If leaders will learn to follow the implications of this thought their leadership will abound in blessings far beyond what could be expressed in just a few comments.

The Psalms provide the answer, “My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

We use this Psalm because it provides comfort, reassurance, and confidence.

The challenge is relying upon the promises provided and living by the hope given.

When difficult decisions must be made, where do we seek help first?

When tragedy strikes the core of our existence, where do we turn for help?

When plans are needed for directing the course of the future, where do we go for help?

A hundred questions could be asked, but the point is the same. We must learn to stop seeking, turning to, going for, or relying upon help from our experience, education (formal and informal), or close friends first.

These are good resources, but our first step should always be to seek the Lord’s help. Why?

First, David chooses to use the name YHWH, Lord, indicating a closeness, a personal relationship with God.

Second, because He made heaven and earth. He has authority over and controls all things both in heaven and on earth.

This is the One we need to help us.

Leaders will generally work longer and harder than anyone else. This is not to say it is bad, just a statement of reality.

As well, leaders will be responsible for picking up the slack when needed. The difficulty that is created from this situation draws leaders away from the areas they should be working to accomplish.

A common expression is to stop taking someone else’s monkey. When leaders take someone else’s monkey they are taking the responsibility someone else either a) does not know how to do, b) is unwilling to do, or c) is too lazy to do. Either way, it creates a situation where someone has to pick up the slack.

There are several ideas that might help when this situation occurs:

1) Evaluate the details of the situation and need.

2) Learn the art of delegating.

3) Start with smaller responsibilities and increase as faithfulness is seen.

4) Equip others with the proper tools to accomplish the task(s).

5) Trust the job to get done by empowering others and reward accordingly.

These are just a couple of steps among many that can help leaders move forward.

Dale Carnegie is known for having said, “It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.”

The discussion of what it takes to bring happiness is unending. Books, articles, blog posts, along with every other form of media, tries to provide the answer to happiness.

Sadly, where most are seeking happiness is in one or more of three areas: 1) what we do (happiness comes with success), 2) what we have (happiness comes with material possessions or money), and 3) what others say about us (happiness comes with image or status).

Happiness is rarely associated with what we think. Yet, even God identifies the need for us to let our minds dwell on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, things of excellence and anything worthy of praise.

Leadership can change the direction of happiness in the lives of others by leading with this mindset and helping others learn how to think on the right things.

The eye is an amazing part of the human body. There is not enough space in any blog post or series of posts to cover the complex intricacies of the eye.

However, as we begin to age, it is fairly common (somewhere around 40ish) to begin noticing that our arm will not extend quite far enough to read the print on the page.

Two conditions normally occur around this time of life: 1) near-sightedness – the ability to see things up close, but not far away, and 2) far-sightedness – the ability to see things far away, but not up close.

In a spiritual sense, leaders must avoid both conditions. Leaders need the ability to see what is going on up close around them, knowing the present needs that exist. They must also have the kind of vision that makes it possible to see what is going to occur down the road.

The ability to see both near and far in leadership makes it possible to address current needs and plan for the future in ways to overcome the obstacles and achieve success.

“What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.”  Anthony Robbins

A number of questions come to mind regarding the thought for today: What can we do? What can we do? What can we do? What can we do? Do we limit the power of God because we think too small? What do we really believe about ourselves?

The thought relates to a billboard sign from a few years back: What would we do if we knew we could not fail?

Before answering, think about the implications, because with God we cannot fail. An old Chinese proverb claims “limitations are only boundaries we place in our own minds.”

With God, all things are possible. The difficulty leaders must deal with involves knowing what they believe about themselves and recognizing that, with God, we can do all things.

We must not only believe it, but live as though we believe it and infectiously influence the lives of others to believe it also.

This is leadership!

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. The emphasis throughout this Psalm is on the Word of God.

While there are a number of facts about this Psalm and how it is developed, one thought expressed near the beginning has great application in leadership.

The Psalmist writes, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word.”

This thought should scream to be heard among leadership. The remainder of this section emphasizes some key phrases to show how we can fulfill this statement.

Seeking God – With all my heart I have sought you.

Placing the highest value on His word – Your word I have treasured in my heart.

Telling others of His word – With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth.

Finding joy in His word – I rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies.

Giving deep thought to His word – I will meditate on Your precepts and regard your ways.

Remember His word – I shall not forget your word.

The lessons on leadership are rich if we will listen and apply.

Leadership material abounds in every bookstore throughout the world. A number of styles, qualities, characteristics, and laws / principles have been discussed in efforts to help others learn the best approach to leading.

The idea of leading with consideration takes into account all four of these areas and indicates the power of leadership to direct the future.

Leaders must show consideration to the heart of others. The challenge is not in knowing the heart of others as much as learning to consider the good intention of others first. We have become a very skeptical world. As such, we tend to question the motive or intention of everyone, including those who deserve our greatest trust.

Leaders must also give consideration to the needs of others. The needs are hard to recognize when we are only involved in superficial or surface oriented relationships. Leaders must dig below the surface to learn what is really needed and consider how to best approach providing for the need.

Consideration should be a part of a leaders daily walk in relationship to others and doing so exemplifies the compassion of great leadership.