“The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men, the conviction and the will to carry on.” Walter Lippman

We have discussed the importance of legacy in previous posts. However, this quote has a small twist worth our consideration.

First, consider the importance of leaving others with a conviction. The thrust of being able to do so depends on the convictions of our own life and how those convictions are seen by others. The task is nearly insurmountable to leave others with a conviction we are not consumed with ourselves.

Second, consider the necessity of leaving others with the will to carry on. Followers often remain true to the conviction of their leader, but only as long as the leader carries the torch. This was the case with Joshua in the Old Testament. We must learn how to instill in others the desire to continue carrying on the conviction that drives our purpose.

This test is one that will not be easily passed, but when we do, the result ensures the success of our efforts as spiritual leaders for the cause of Christ.

While examining a few leadership websites, I came across an interesting statement, “The Seven Most Important Words In Leadership.”

The idea is part of Terry Starbucker’s e-book Leadership From A Glass Half-Full: The 5 Lessons You Need To Learn Before You Jump Into The Pool.

The phrase is simply this, “I don’t know and I’ll find out.”

The sad reality is we do not like the appearance of being unable to give an answer. After all, we are the leader, right? Leaders are supposed to know all the answers.

Worse still is the attempt of too many of us who try to bluff our way through areas we know nothing about. Somehow we convince ourselves we can smooth talk our way through the discussion. Wrong!

The transparency of acknowledging when we do not know something and the willingness to find the answer is critical to great leadership.

First, others already know we do not have all the information, plus they know when we are bluffing. Second, greater credibility and trust is established when we are are honest with others.

Learn these seven words and live by them.

What does being “in sync” have to do with leadership and why is it important enough to write about?

The idea of being in sync means something is working well together. There is harmony or agreement when a leader is in sync. We do not have to look far to understand why leaders need to be in sync with followers.

As a leader, how can we determine when we are in sync?

First, and the most obvious, when leaders and followers are working well together to reach a common goal, they are in sync.

Second, when there is understanding of objectives and harmony demonstrated in achieving them, they are in sync.

Third, even though there will be times when we are standing on opposite sides of a position, our love for each other helps us remain in sync.

A brief summary will show that our action, coupled with the right attitude and motives, will always provide the basis for harmony and agreement. We will be in sync.

Essential involves what is absolutely necessary. The importance factor of what is essential moves leadership to a new level.

However, the challenge is determining what is essential and what is not. Spiritually speaking, there are a number of components that play a key role in the area of essentiality.

1) Character: The late General Schwarzkoph said, “Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without strategy.” Character is essential to successful leadership.

2) Passion: Although we often think of passion as enthusiasm or excitement, the origination of the word involves suffering and sacrifice. Passion (willingness to sacrifice) is essential when considering leadership.

3) Vision: Vision is not about what is seen, but seeing what is unseen, about insight. Faith is the factor necessary for the development of leadership vision and vision is essential to spiritual leadership.

4) Goals: David Swartz said, “Goals are as essential to success as air is to life.” Without goals we have no way of knowing where we are going.

These are only four areas that are essential to our leadership.

As mentioned last week, there is a need for leaders to guard and protect the faith of Christians. Leaders of the faith must understand the appeal to Timothy, guarding what has been entrusted to us.

To guard and protect faith, we should first consider what we are guarding and protecting it from. We know Satan works from outside and inside the church to rob people of their faith.

Paul warned the elders at Ephesus that savage wolves would arise among them with the purpose of leading Christians astray. The very description indicates an element within the church whose working will bring destruction.

What is this element? How can we identify it?  What can be done?

The problem exists when leaders loose where God has not loosed and bind where He has not bound.

The greatest challenge is no one believes they are unrightfully loosing or binding. Whether recreation, homeschooling, kitchens in a church building, dating, Powerpoint songs, Bible translations, Life groups, etc., claiming matters of opinion as matters of doctrine, and drawing lines of fellowship we create destruction within the church, whether we see it as such or not.

More next week…

“Time decides who you meet in life, your heart decides who you want in your life, and your behavior decides who stays in your life.” unknown

Each of these statements is worth exploring, but time and space will not allow.

For our purpose in today’s post, let us focus on the idea of who stays in our life.

I understand that people come and go for a number of reasons. Job transfers, family matters, economic changes, and a host of circumstances have brought people into my life and taken them out of it. I am sure the same is true for each of you reading this thought.

However, have we ever considered the affect our conduct has on those who stay and those who leave?

The way we conduct ourselves can cause others to want to leave and not stay in our life.

Our conduct can also create a bond that no distance could separate them from our life.

The choice is really ours to make. We are best served to conduct ourselves in such a way that relationships develop a bond to keep people in our lives.

Support groups are generally associated with some form of recovery. They exist for individuals recovering from addictions, and provide support for their spouses. They exist for those who suffer grief in the loss of a loved one, or from divorce. They even exist for people who struggle with eating disorders.

Numerous support systems exist and these groups exist for a variety of reasons and they are beneficial to those who use them. At this point, a couple of questions should be considered for our leadership.

Who makes up the support group for leaders? Wisdom would suggest having other leaders involved in this group. Put together a core group of others who will share and contribute to the group’s design.

What benefit will they provide? They serve as a reminder that others have and do experience the same challenges. They also establish a form of accountability.

A support system will make a difference in how we continue to grow and develop our leadership. Who makes up the group, the purpose of the group’s design, and what we apply to our own leadership are the determining factors to its success.

Now that we have all the hoopla of the New Year’s Eve celebrations behind us, it is time to get started.

Apart from the challenges of learning to write 2013 instead of 2012 (usually takes about a month for me), what areas do we need to get started on regarding our leadership?

We need to take the adequate time to evaluate what has been done over the past year. The only true picture for the year ahead is built upon understanding past failures and successes.

We need to implement the proper changes necessary to bring appropriate growth. Change is essential to growth, but understanding the proper changes is the key.

We need to provide our full support to the individuals who will contribute to the changes. Remember that any progress made by proposed changes will not be made alone.

We need to work according to available resources. Using and building upon our strengths will increase our strengths for greater stability and development.

Avoid procrastination and pursue dedication. Seek out and follow the counsel of those who are closest. Give your best to every endeavor.

Happy New Year!

Today is the first day of a new year and an opportunity for new beginnings.

I find it interesting how many need a day, like the first day of a new year, to work on changes in their life. Some resolve to work on new and better habits in life and others resolve to stop bad ones.

Regardless of the need for a first day of a new year, week, day, or moment, recognizing the need to improve our lives is a positive step in the right direction.

Leaders should always be thinking about how we are going to use these opportunities to lead in the cause of Christ. Is today a new beginning in leading…

A soul to the light of our Savior?

A straying brother or sister back to the family of God?

A deeper study into the truths of God’s word?

A more passionate approach in speaking to God in prayer?

Whatever the need may be for each of us, today is a new beginning. Let us reach forward in achieving spiritual leadership for our Lord in this new year.

This recent holiday movie featured Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and Jack Frost. My purpose in this post is not to promote the movie.

However, there is an interesting thought portrayed in the plot which lays the foundation for what we will focus on each Monday in the weeks ahead. The idea behind the movie is for the guardians (listed above) to rise up and work together to defeat Pitch (known as the Boogie man) who is working to rob children of their belief in these fictional characters.

I am not advocating a belief in these characters or how the movie portrays the idea. However, from a more relevant and essential spiritual perspective, we need leaders / guardians who will rise up and work together to defend the truth and faith of God’s word.

Satan is obviously working to rob people of their faith through many venues. Next Monday we will begin examining some of the ways Satan is working inside and outside the church to destroy faith and what we can do to guard the word of God and His church.