Tag: Direction

Dependence

Spiritual leaders are dependent upon God’s guidance, direction, strength, and provisions. Spiritual leaders are also aware that followers are dependent upon them for the same.

Guidance involves advice and instruction for the conduct and behavior of life.

Direction shows the way, primarily the way to the final destination.

Strength is needed to get up and keep moving toward the goal.

Provisions are given to continue the journey, even when all else seems to fail.

The role is never taken lightly. It is critical to building a solid foundation that supplies the basic components for growth in relationship with God.

A Tenacious Leader

Think for a moment about the nature and application of tenacity for leaders.

When talking about how to face challenges, leaders hold tenacity.

When working through personal problems, leaders demonstrate tenacity.

When establishing direction, leaders portray tenacity.

When developing plans for the future, leaders lead with tenacity.

When needing to achieve the goals, leaders carry tenacity.

When seeking guidance in tough decisions, leaders exemplify tenacity.

Developing a persistent character of tenacity to pursue a solution until it is successful takes time. Leaders who possess tenacity lead with perseverance and lay a foundation for success.

Finding Answers

When I observe my children and grandchildren, I understand the idea of looking for and awaiting answers related to trials experienced in life.

Fear, anxiety, and frustration can take control quickly. How can we eliminate these concerns and find the needed answers during such times?

Where do leaders go to find answers when adversity occurs, questions arise?

Leadership involves providing guidance, direction, encouragement, support, and knowing how to give answers to help others overcome their fears, anxiety and frustration. Where can a leader go to find the answers?

Pray.
Listen to God’s word.
Seek counsel.
Learn the value of trust.
Admit mistakes.
Never miss the opportunity to grow.

Directional Leadership

I find it easier to determine direction in some areas in the world than others. In Denver, the mountains are west. In Virginia Beach, the Atlantic Ocean is east.

Other areas make it challenging to gain a sense of direction. Without some geographical marker, identifying north from south or east from west is nearly impossible.

Pilots use IFR (Instrument Flying Rules). IFR relies on the plane’s instruments instead of one’s senses. Certain conditions can create a false sense of direction causing pilot error.

Leaders have the task of providing direction for others. They must use the right instrument.

God’s word is the only instrument needed if we are to provide true spiritual direction.

The Leadership Possibilities

How many times have you thought or heard someone say, “Life doesn’t always go according to plan?”

Susan Gale acknowledges, “Sometimes heading in a new direction can be scary until you realize you’re headed toward a new and exciting destination.”

Imagine what would happen if we exercised a little patience and did not allow the scary nature of a new direction or change in plans distract us from seeing the new and exciting possibilities that might exist around the corner.

Life expands with our ability to demonstrate the kind of flexibility that allows us to take advantage of opportunities when presented. May we always see the possibilities.

Clear and Specific

Leaders need to stop “beating around the bush.” People want leaders to be clear and specific about direction. When this happens, leaders pay close attention to details, which promotes confidence in followers.

Vagueness breeds vagueness and frustration. When leaders are vague, the general mindset among followers is that leaders do not have a clue where they are going or to get there.

Establishing a system by which leaders communicate with clarity and specificity strengthens the morale of an organization and provides confidence in the direction.

The need is obvious. Now is the time for leaders to develop and implement a plan to be clear and specific.

Learning From The Past

The past introduces a number of challenges to life. Regardless of the good or the bad, our past often influences who we are and the direction of our future.

The only way to win with the past is to learn from it – good or bad – and use the lesson to help shape a better direction for the future.

For Paul, nothing was more valuable than knowing Jesus. The value of knowing Jesus gave Paul purpose and direction. He did not allow his past to dictate the direction of his future. Instead, he was able to reach forward with hope in the resurrection.

Directional Leaders

Direction is the course taken to reach a destination.

What steps are needed to establish a consistent direction to reach our goals? Formulating steps provides direction for everyone involved in the project.

Do we, as leaders, know the direction necessary to accomplish the desired goal? If the answer is no, then we need to evaluate what we do and where we go.

Is the direction clear enough for others to understand and follow to reach the desired goal? Again, if the answer is no, then we need to think about communicating the direction more effectively.

Having direction is essential for reaching our destination.

The Finish Line

The idea of focusing on the finish line at the beginning of a race does not seem realistic.

Yet, the finish line is what we must have in mind. Without knowing where the finish line is and keeping it in full view, the following occurs:

1) The motivation to start and endure is eliminated.
2) Preparation suffers because there is no purpose.
3) Without a finish line, we have no direction.

Leaders have the incredible task of helping others see the finish line. When this is accomplished, people are motivated, they prepare, and they have direction.

A Destination Worth Reaching

How will we know when we reach the destination? The answer requires considerable thought.

To begin with, “Where are we headed?”

Our destination is based on the priorities that govern our lives, physically or spiritually.

Consider a few tips to guide us in the right direction.

First, remember there is more to life than food, clothing, and housing.
Second, we are easily blinded by only what we know empirically.
Third, time is a commodity we cannot afford to waste on the journey.

A few moments to answer the question based on these three thoughts can save a lifetime of frustration and failure.