Is the beginning better than the end?
The reputation of a successful leader is often measured by goals achieved. However, a leader has an important task before achieving success.
What must be done to create buy-in? How can excitement be created for the goal? Will people work the plan?
The answers unfold in the beginning. To earn great victories, there needs to be a great beginning.
Believe in the plan.
Paint the picture and set it before others.
Examine every possible detail.
Pursue the course with enthusiasm.
Is the beginning better than the end? If we start correctly, yes!
Moses was noted for his faith in seeing Him who is unseen. Spiritual leaders are people of faith, primarily faith in God.
However, faith involves additional factors key to successful leadership.
Leaders must have faith in people. Even with our flaws, God entrusted His work to people.
Leaders must have faith in the purpose. God has provided us with the greatest purpose.
Leaders must have faith in the plan. We need to believe these plans will accomplish God’s purpose.
Leaders must be people who see Him who is unseen. This is leadership insight that leads to success.
The future of leadership hinges on several factors.
Learn from history. Spiritual leaders are students of God’s word and they apply it.
Be students of the present. We need to observe and learn from current leaders and followers.
Desire to serve others. Leadership must be more concerned with serving than being served.
Glorify God. Leadership should be motivated and driven with this purpose.
Develop a plan. Developing a plan is vital for the right direction. These steps provide a foundation.
We do not know the future, but a few steps will help secure the future of spiritual leaders.
Leaders are in high demand, from political to spiritual arenas. In time of crisis what should we do? We could…
1) Do nothing.
2) Deny there is a crisis and continue the same course.
3) Ignore the crisis hoping it will take care of itself.
4) Procrastinate and allow the wrong leadership to take control.
5) Address the crisis with a plan of action to change the direction.
Developing a plan of action requires us to account for the following.
1) Acknowledge the problem(s).
2) Examine the severity.
3) Remove the element(s) poisoning it.
4) Develop a support system.
5) Begin a plan to prepare future leaders.
We can change the future, but we must act now!
When traveling, we understand the need for a map or plan to reach our destination in a proper amount of time.
Physically, we make application daily. However, when we think in terms of spiritual matters, what happens can be a completely different story. Yet, the spiritual approach is no different.
We know the destination and we desire to get there. We anticipate arriving, but what will it take to get there?
Since our destination is heaven, the map/plan provided by God can be found throughout the pages of His word. Follow the map He provides and we will get there.
Numerous challenges exist when we consider the past. We cannot change the past, and we cannot go back and relive it, so why dwell on the events of it?
We have heard the thought expressed, “if we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it.” We must allow the past to provide us with a tool by which we learn.
Leaders at every level should closely examine the past and evaluate what can be learned from both the good and bad, successes and failures.
Ultimately, the result should produce a plan for how to move ahead.
Let me share three ideas to help each of us move toward greater potential.
Remind others of the possibilities. When we do so, we accomplish the need for a supportive coalition and we create an accountability team.
Develop the plan into sections. The big picture can overwhelm and discourage us from the task at hand. Plan smaller sections and build on short-term wins.
Begin now. Potential is not reached by thinking about what we should have done years ago, or by procrastination. The best time to start is NOW!
I cannot exhaust the possibilities as to why we should study leadership, but let me share one concluding thought.
Eternity Matters: Above all else, the reason for studying leadership directs us to God’s plan beyond the physical realm. Yes, leadership is God’s plan. It is needed in the home, church, and in the lives of all people, and the reason is because eternity matters. If this one thought became the focus of all we do in life, every thought, word, and action, and every person that graced our path in life was seen in view of eternity, imagine the difference.