Tag: Action

Consistency

We’ve all heard “actions speak louder than words,” or “a picture paints a thousands words.” Then, there is the old classic, “I’d rather see a sermon as hear one any day.”

The ideas emphasize the need for consistency in life’s daily activities. People watch everything we do and listen to everything we say. Do they see inconsistencies?

Thomas Jefferson is credited with saying, “”Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”

At times, it’s hard to remember that neither our intentions or words determine who we are, but our actions. People judge our actions!

The Right Motive

People become leaders for different reasons. While there are those who lead from a place of selfish ambition, there are those who lead with the right motives, and the result is powerful.

Spiritual leadership is about leading with the right motives behind every thought, action, and decision.

Developing this motive is a process that consists of three key factors.

1) A personal relationship with Christ, but not separate from the collective body.
2) An understanding of Scripture, both the milk and meat of God’s word.
3) A compassion for the eternal condition of others, saved and lost.

These can help us check and develop the motive required for godly leadership.

Potential Leadership

Potential: Material dealing with potential is endless. Passion thrives when reaching potential, achieving the life we are capable of living.

Determining potential is the challenge before leaders. Here are a few ideas for determining potential:

1) Attitude – A poor attitude generally equates to low potential, and a good attitude to high potential.

2) Action – Examining the areas of success and failure, along with the reasons behind them, helps determine potential.

3) Ability – Even if ability exists there is always room to improve. Recognizing one’s abilities determines potential.

Generous Leaders

Leaders should exemplify generosity. Leadership is built on giving our time, energy, money, emotions, and ability.

When leaders demonstrate generosity, others learn the value of the gift. However, our generosity must be checked.

Intention: What is the motive behind our gift?

Object: What is the object of our generosity? Work? Family? Church? Lord?

Planned dedication: Is there a planned purpose?

Action: Are we ready to start giving?

Self-examination: What are we losing by holding on to it?

What suits our giving? Do we give what is left over, easy and convenient, or is our generosity suited by the best?

Action, Risk, and Confidence

“Never be afraid to act. You never know how far away you are from your goal — sometimes just reaching out and putting in a little bit of effort can be enough. And, even if it’s not — you tried, and that’s far better than just sitting and waiting for a chance to present itself. If you want to achieve something you have to act, you have to take risks and you have to believe in yourself.” Author Unknown

Act: We cannot simply be hearers, but doers.

Take risks: Taking risk promotes greater impact.

Believe in yourself: A lower self-esteem hinders action and risks.

God’s power must not be limited by our lack of action, risk, or confidence.

What Identifies Your Leadership?

How do we determine our identity?

There is a difference between the way we judge ourselves and the way others judge us. We judge ourselves by our intentions, but others judge us by our actions.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “Action will delineate and define you.”

Our identity is not so much based on our actions, but the actions of someone else. The actions of Jesus delineate and define us. Because of His actions we learn who we are and what we do.

Thankfully, God’s wisdom preordained an avenue by which we find our identity as His children.

Leading Our Children…

Leadership begins in the home. The greatest opportunities for influence occur within the four walls where we live.

From the time children arise in the morning to the time they lay down to sleep, teaching moments are everywhere.

The air we breathe, food we eat, the opportunity to see a sunrise, the ability to move our fingers and toes, witnessing God’s creation come to life, and hundreds more, are all moments to teach our children about the existence of God and His love for us.

Let us always take action to lead our children.

Head, Heart, and Hand Leadership…

Three components that symbolize necessities for leaders.

Head: The head involves knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Leaders provide information that allows followers to gain the knowledge needed to make decisions based on understanding.

Heart: The heart involves an emotional connection. While there is a need to provide followers with knowledge, when the information connects emotionally, conviction runs deeper and lasts longer.

Hand: The hand relates to action. Once there is an informed, emotional connection, the natural response involves activity.

Information alone leads to confusion. Emotion alone lacks conviction. Action alone limits inspiration. Leaders who connect all three can change the world.

Practical Leadership…

When something is practical, action is required. If something is practical, it is suitable for a particular purpose. Practice, which comes from practical, indicates a discipline to improve the quality of the activity.

Application within leadership is an area that deserves attention.

Consider how leadership changes the involvement of those who follow when there is a practical approach to programs.

Leaders are needed who think, act, and lead practically.

Followers are needed who know how to make practical application.

Several spiritual disciplines (prayer, study, fasting, etc.) point to the character of leadership and promote a practical approach for developing others to leader.

Active Leadership…

“Leaders aren’t built from reading a book––they are built from the challenge of putting content into action.” Mac Lake

We’ve all learned a great deal from reading books that discuss every aspect of leadership and leadership development. Mac’s book involves the evidence of such.

The point he makes here is that the true building of a leader occurs when the information learned from a book is actually put into practice. 

One of the greatest challenges leaders face is knowing how to convert knowledge into action, but when they do, leadership abounds.