A culture all its own has been created through the internet and it connects people around the world.

Google search leaders being connected. Within seconds you will discover millions of articles on the subject.

Leaders must be connected, but how? Here are 5 suggestions.

1) Get involved in people’s lives.

2) Be more transparent.

3) Give others something to believe in.

4) Relate individually.

5) Give genuine complements.

It is not easy to connect with others. However, when we connect, growth soon follows.

Businesses offer a raincheck for out-of-stock merchandise. The benefit helps build loyalty between the customer and business.

Loyalty is one of the most vital characteristics of leadership. How do we build the kind of loyalty needed as leaders?

Demonstrate trust: We must trust in God and also learn to trust in others.

Develop consistency and integrity: Without these, loyalty will be impossible.

Dedicate ourselves: We must be dedicated to God, others, and reaching the goal.

These are only a few steps, but if we will take them we can build a solid foundation for loyalty.

Every golf tournament has a leader board. Whoever has the best score sits on top of the leader board. Other sports use a similar practice with a score board. Why? It is about winning!

We tell children it is not about winning, but about playing the game. If this is true, why do we keep score? Interesting!

Paul adjusted specific areas of his life “so that he might win” souls for Christ. He wanted to win the Christian race and receive the eternal reward.

Are we living in a way that we might win? Are we leading in a way that others might win? 

Think Souls.

The world thinks of leadership as forcing others to do what leaders say. However, Marian Anderson said, “Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.”

Spiritual leaders must consider others. When leading someone to Christ, our efforts will never be successful if we attempt to force God’s word upon them.

We must also guard against attempts to create undue guilt.

We must understand others and lead in ways that create an awareness of the need, teach how and why, and allow God’s word to work to bring Biblical change.

Moses was noted for his faith in seeing Him who is unseen. Spiritual leaders are people of faith, primarily faith in God.

However, faith involves additional factors key to successful leadership.

Leaders must have faith in people. Even with our flaws, God entrusted His work to people.

Leaders must have faith in the purpose. There is no greater purpose than the one God has given.

Leaders must have faith in the plan. We need to believe the plan will accomplish God’s intent.

Leaders must be people who see Him who is unseen. This is leadership insight that leads to success.

Strength and stability are two powerful concepts needed in leadership.

Strength is the quality of being strong, possessing, and demonstrating power. Stability refers to the result of an immovable or unshakeable foundation.

Our convictions must be built upon both.
Our character must possess both.
Our courage must demonstrate both.

When leadership provides strength and stability the church will experience growth. Christians will develop greater confidence and assurance. More in the world will come to know the gospel.

Think souls.

The Bible describes many contrasts. Few seem as powerful as the contrast between wisdom and foolishness.

Solomon said the wise quickly receive instruction.

Paul instructs us to act as wise men not as unwise.

Jesus indicated the wise to be those who hear His words and act upon them. The foolish hear His words and do not.

There should be much wisdom in spiritual leaders. Let us learn to receive wise counsel.

Ultimately, our leadership is based on the direction we receive from the Lord. True wisdom listens to Him.

Struggling with addictions often leads to denial.

The loss of a loved one can leave one in denial.

Various trials faced in life bring us to this point.

Leaders must not wear the proverbial blinders regarding present circumstances. There must be an awareness of reality.

Problems exist, and someone else will not solve them. Address problems when they arise so they can be resolved when they are smaller.

Denial can quickly lead to destruction.

Leadership is too valuable to allow denial to rob us of reaching our goal.

Charisma is not a quality of self-centered leaders. How much of our conversations focus on us, what we do, our family, our interests, etc.?

When leaders have charisma they add value to the lives of others. They give others hope.

While we need to know what the Bible says about sin, we need to remember the Bible is a book about hope. Jesus is our hope.

Inspiring devotion in others is built on the ability of leaders to provide that hope.

The charisma of spiritual leaders is directly related to this ability. Pride, insecurity, and cynicism destroy the ability to lead others to hope.

Who determines the scale between 1 and 10? Does it differ from one person to another? Is there a consistent standard allowing for accurate evaluation?

How would we rate on a scale of 1 to 10?

Consistency is a needed virtue. Therefore, consider a couple of factors:

1. People rate our leadership (like it or not).
2. The rating is determined by ability, decisions, relationships, and previous success.
3. We will give an account for our leadership.
4. The standard is God’s word.

A change in our rating is up to us. Again we ask, “How does our leadership measure up?”