Tag: Leadership

Defining Moments

Occasionally, there are those events that becoming defining moments in our life. The birth of a child, getting married, graduation, critical decisions on the job, or tragedies are those moments in life that define who we are and influence who we become.

These defining moments vary from one individual to the next and the degree to which they define us is based on what we do in those moments.

The most defining moment in our lives as leaders must be built on the foundation of God. When our relationship with God is the defining moment, the decisions and activities that form the rest of our lives find their proper place.

Make It Happen

Leaders make things happen.

Jac Vanek gives this summary, “You are a collective of every experience you have had in your life. You are every single second of every single day. So drown yourself in a sea of knowledge and existence. Let the words run through your veins and let the colors fill your mind until there is nothing left to do but explode. There are no wrong answers. Inspiration is everything. Sit back, relax, and take it all in. Now, go out and create something.”

Considering the whole of our influences in life can provide a foundation for leadership development that makes great things happen.

Check This Out

Have you ever heard someone say, “Check this out?” In other words, something is exciting, interesting, or just bizarre enough it is worth our time and attention.

How do we check out our leadership?

1) Do a character audit. Examine those core values and how they align with the practices of our daily life. If there are areas that don’t measure up, commit to change them.

2) Ask those who are close, including family, what they see as the priority in our life. Generally, the way we see ourselves is not how others see us, and their perspective needs to be heard if we are to develop our leadership.

Check it Out!

Letting the Dust Settle

The general tendency is to think of “dust” figuratively in reference to turmoil or difficulty.

The implication of this phrase is key to how leaders impact the lives of those within their sphere of influence. How?

After the dust settles…

…next-step decisions are made for moving forward with greater confidence,
…the learning curve on accomplishments and challenges comes into focus,
…resolutions are more quickly reached because turmoil has passed, and
…opportunities to adjust course direction are made more easily.

The main thought here directs our attention toward allowing the dust to settle before making rash decisions that impact the lives of everyone around.

Qualifying Results

A consequence, effect, or outcome generally defines results. When application is made of specific principles or designs, results are expected. We expect to receive something for the effort generated.

Nothing seems more important to the credibility of leadership than their results. People want to know that a leader has a proven track record of getting results.

However, danger exists when quantity becomes the defining characteristic for results, because how do we quantify faithfulness, spiritual growth, or leadership development? Are these results not as significant as the others?

When leaders learn how to qualify results in ways that help generate enthusiasm for followers, the results will far exceed expectations.

Christian Leaders

While people often think leaders are a rare breed, leadership needs those who are a rare breed because they are Christians.

The priorities established by Christian leaders contribute to a breed of leaders that know who they are and where they are going.

The character demonstrated by Christian leaders sets them apart as a rare breed influencing others toward a heavenly goal.

The inspiration promoted by Christians leaders becomes the lifeblood for exciting followers to take their faith into the lives of others.

Christian leaders are a rare breed, and with the right priorities, character, and inspiration, the future is incredibly bright.

Listening Leaders

We love to talk. When we talk, we don’t have to listen to the blah, blah, blah of people’s lives. We never get sucked into the vortex of their problems. We don’t become vulnerable to our own inadequacies.

Worse still is that when others talk, we don’t really listen. Instead, we think about what we want to say and we just wait to jump in and say it.

Perhaps this is why people are more comfortable with talking.

Consider something Bernard Baruch said, “Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.”

Maybe we need to rethink our approach as leaders.

Spiritual Formation

Social justice, human dignity, community awareness, liberation, and other issues often come to the forefront of a discussion about spiritual formation.

However, our participation in these alone does not result in spiritual formation.

Spiritual formation must involve the following:

1) God: There is no spiritual formation without Him.

2) Holy Spirit: We don’t know the full depths of His activity, but He is essential to spiritual formation.

3) Jesus: The cornerstone to our spiritual house, and without Him there is no formation.

4) The Word: This book guides us in the spiritual formation needed to complete and perfect us for every task.

Spiritual formation requires all four.

Leading Succinctly

Students often prefer essay questions. Primarily, because they have an opportunity to write enough “fluff” to maybe hit the right answer. Sadly, our approach to leadership can be the same.

Allowing uncertainty and a lack of clarity to be clouded with the minutia of indirectness is common. When we finish, no one seems to know what was communicated.

How can we be more succinct when communicating?

Think deeply.
Write it down.
Edit.

Good communication is the result of thinking deeply, writing, rewriting, and rewriting until we are succinct.

The same applies when communicating orally.

Lead with Passion

Too many people work in a career, job, or other activity that is filled with drudgery. They struggle to get out of bed and drag themselves through the day.

Life is too short to participate in any area of life we are not passionate about. When the direction of our life is purposed by our passion, we are excited to get up and go.

Wanda Skyes shared this helpful reminder, “If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.”

What are we passionate about and are we doing it?