Tag: Conviction

Inner Strength

Jim Kwik once said, ”If an egg is broken by outside force, Life ends. If broken by inside force, Life begins. Great things always begin from inside.”

Who are we at the core? When an inside force breaks through we find a strength able to withstand the dangers that threaten from outside forces.

Without a doubt, outside forces will come. Sadly, they are not always from expected forces. There are times when those closest to us present the greatest threats. This is where leaders must display the depth of their inner strength.

This kind of force is found in three words: Trust, Conviction, Desire.

The Moment of Truth…

One of the greatest challenges leaders face involves an uncompromising conviction of truth.

The moment of truth is not measured by what a leader hopes, desires, or thinks.

The moment of truth is measured by what a leader does, the stand they take, and the demonstration of character when it is unpopular with the majority.

A time comes in the life of every person when they must decide how they are going to act or react to the circumstances surrounding them.

Leaders are needed who hold to and lead by the truth delivered by God to the world, a defining moment of true leadership.

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.

Leadership Help…

How should help be defined? A quick look in the dictionary reveals a number of thoughts: making it easier [for someone] to do something by offering one’s services or resources; improve [a situation or problem], be of benefit to by assisting, serving, etc. and the list goes on.

The challenge has never been the definition, but the application. We must also learn there is a difference between helping and enabling (a discussion for another post).

Let us lead with the conviction that we will help others long term, eternally. Here is where the legacy of our leadership is determined.

Passing The Leadership Test…

One of my favorite quotes on leadership comes from Walter Lippmann, “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men, the conviction and the will to carry on.”

The great task before us is to leave others with the conviction that consumes us.

Then, we must learn how to instill in others the desire to continue carrying out that conviction with the will that drives our purpose.

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