Being connected with people is vital to good leadership. Several elements will help establish that connection.
1) Be transparent.
2) Provide hope.
3) Consistency is essential.
4) Relate to people individually.
5) Find ways to genuinely compliment others.
Leaders who connect lead with passion and integrity. They know and are known by others. Love for others drives a leader’s heart. Reaching the goal motivates a leader’s actions. Staying connected keeps a leader balanced.
What makes a great leader? Achievement? Financial independence? Educational degrees? Business accolades?
Consider the mindset of a servant leader. A servant leader…
…desires the benefit of others above self.
…focuses on the goal of the whole, not a select few.
…leads with passion and compassion.
…gives more than they take.
…sacrifices willingly and lovingly.
…understands the importance of a good example.
…focuses on every person they meet.
…values every second of every minute.
…follows the greatest leader who was the servant of all!
One of the most compelling words associated with leadership is excellence. By definition, excellence refers to “the fact or state of excelling, superiority, eminence.” The concept is often identified as the pursuit of a place or position that is superior in nature to a previous one.
However, leaders are challenged to develop and identify excellence a bit differently in their leadership. Marcus Buckingham says, “Excellence has its own pattern, you have to learn and study it.”
To think of excellence as a position or destination falls short of recognizing the lifelong pursuit characterized by the passion to continually grow in excellence.
I came across a thought expressed by Shayne McClendon that has great implication for leadership, “I will breathe. I will think of solutions, I will not let my worry control me. I will not let my stress level break me. I will simply breathe. And it will be okay. Because I don’t quit.”
I specifically found it interesting because it directly relates to one of the strongest books I’ve read in recent years written by Angela Duckworth, Grit. This one is worth your time.
The power of passion and perseverance in leadership cannot be overstated. No matter what happens, GRIT is the core of success.
There is no doubt that great leaders need to understand their strengths and weaknesses. They know the areas where they lack ability and how to find the individuals with the strengths to complement those areas.
Great leaders then focus on their strengths. Numerous sources claim that leaders should focus 80% of their time in areas of their strengths and only 20% in areas of weakness.
Focusing on the areas of passion and strength makes a good leader great, and makes a great leader outstanding.
The challenge for us is taking time to examine and evaluate and then make sure we work to reach our greatest potential.
What could happen if leaders knew how to think big? The passion that drives greatness, especially from a spiritual perspective, must be nothing short of global.
Do we think that God will not do something because we are convinced we can’t do it?
The “grasshopper syndrome” of the spies in Numbers 13-14 orchestrates our own defeat. The problem was not how the Israelites appeared in the eyes of the giants that lived in Canaan. The problem was in how they saw themselves––grasshoppers in their own sight.
Leaders must not fall prey to this mindset. There must be a passion that is driven by and for greatness.
Do leaders think from a primal perspective? Before we drift into the early stages of evolutionary development, primal carries the impetus of something that is essential or foundational.
Nothing could more essential and foundational to eternity than spiritual leadership.
How does the idea of primal apply to the surroundings of leadership?
The idea relates to the beginnings, first things, primary, essential, and foundational elements of all that is connected to life intellectually, physically, emotionally, and physically.
These elements are the building blocks of all leaders and include integrity, honesty, strong work ethic, passion, confidence in God, discipline, and balance.
Who are the fire-lighters in your life? We all have them and we need those who can excite passion within us.
Albert Schweitzer once said, “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
As a leader, we need to light the fires of others.
Who knows, but in that moment when we stop to extend a helping hand, speak an encouraging word, or give the most valuable gift––our time, we make an eternal difference.
Success relies on the help we receive from or the help we provide others.
Marianne Williamson claims that “success means we go to sleep at night knowing that our talents and abilities were used in a way that served others.”
From a leadership perspective, we find this in biblical application. Biblical success is directly related to our passion, i.e. understanding that passion involves sacrifice, and sacrifice is affiliated with what we give up. When we sacrifice for others, our leadership influence soars.
When our talents and abilities are used to serve others, leadership is at its best. How will you rest tonight?
Darren Hardy’s book, The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster, talks about “Four Passion Switches.” These switches are below with a snippet of what they reference.
Be passionate about what you do: This one is the most common. People talk about passion for what they do.
Be passionate about why you do it: When we understand the why behind our vision and mission, passion increases.
Be passionate about how you do it: Going above and beyond represents quality, not just settling for good enough.
Be passionate about who you do it for: Knowing who benefits (family, community, country, etc.) drives passion upwards.
Find ways to increase your passion as a leader.