Tag: Relationships

Flexibility

Travel increases the awareness of flexibility. Cultures vary from one country to the next. At the same time, each culture establishes their own practices and finds a rhythm that flows through the people who participate in the daily activities of life.

While leadership is complicated enough, add the cultural factors among the various backgrounds and relationships of people who make up the church, and complexity reaches a new level.

Leaders need flexibility. I do not mean compromising truth, but leadership focuses on the needs of those who follow.

Flexibility becomes critical to the twists and turns that factor into leading a multi-cultural people.

Time

From the day we are born to the day we die, we only know time: The time we sleep, the time to get ready for work, the time we spend at work, and the list goes on.

Once time passes, we cannot get it back. It cannot be regained or relived.

When we look at leadership, the value of time takes a sharper focus. From the time we prepare ourselves to lead and influence others to the time we actually spend in building those relationships, every second contains great value.

Let us use our time wisely and make the most of the opportunity to lead with care.

Confidentiality

One of the most critical areas in leadership involves an understanding of confidentiality. Leaders must know how to keep something in confidence.

Followers need to know they can place their feelings, even their very lives, into the hands of someone they trust.

The ability to keep something in confidence makes leaders approachable and strengthens the bond of relationships.

Confidentiality is a privilege that provides guidelines for developing greater leadership.

Leaders must guard what has been placed into their sacred trust. When they do, the character they develop builds a leadership worth following.

Friendship

Friendship is a beautiful relationship of mutual trust and support.

A relationship of mutual trust and support between two people is unmatched.

Leadership is not always seen from the perspective of friendship. Leadership is often accompanied by loneliness and seen as a lonely position. We often hear the idea expressed, “It’s lonely at the top.”

While this may be true in many corporate or political settings, it does not have to be true in every situation.

When leaders develop relationships of mutual trust and support, the friendships that blossom provide a source of strength and encouragement for addressing all challenges.

John…Part 1

The apostle John provides great lessons in leadership.

Love:
John is commonly known as the apostle of love. His writings emphasize love, both a brotherly love and the self-sacrificing love of God.

Bold: John’s writings were also bold. To claim we know God and not keep His commandments makes us a liar (1 Jn. 2:4). To say we love God and hate our brother makes us a liar (1 Jn. 4:20).

John loved his brethren enough to help them see the need for a right relationship with God and one another.

Our leadership should exemplify the same.

Ambition

Our ambition must have a spiritual focus, pleasing the Lord!

When our leadership is about pleasing the Lord it changes our approach to every area of life.

Relationships within our families are shaped by Biblical principles.

Our conduct on the job is influenced by a God-fearing attitude.

Approaching people outside of Christ is filled with a greater level of patience and compassion.

Beyond everything else, we worship with a greater understanding of our sovereign God.

When our leadership is driven by this kind of ambition the church will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior.

Successful Leadership

As leaders within the spiritual setting, the ultimate determination of success is realized at the throne of God. But, how can we prepare for such success?

1) Having SMART goals and plans to reach those goals.
2) Continuing to grow and develop our relationship with God.
3) Using the truth of God’s word for every decision.
4) Developing and strengthening relationships with others.
5) Assisting others in reaching their potential.
6) Equipping them with the right tools.
7) Knowing God…

If we can implement these few ideas from the beginning, success will follow.

Head and Heart Leadership

Using our head in leading means we:
…think before we speak or act.
…consider the short- and long-term consequences of our words and actions.
…weigh the evidence and ask evaluating questions before making decisions.

Using our heart in leading means we:
…devote ourselves to learning and serving the needs of others.
…prioritize our time toward relationship development.
…risk temporary satisfaction for eternal gain.

If we work to develop and practice a more “others-focused” approach, the future will take on a whole new perspective.

Transitional Bridges

When writing a speech, book, article, or other medium, one of the critical pieces is transitions. Transitions are bridges.

These bridges make it easier for people to follow what we express.

Our role as leaders is about transitions. We build bridges in three areas.

One, we build a bridge in relationships. We must establish and maintain quality relationships.

Two, we build a bridge for future leaders. As long as the world exist, the need for leadership exists.

Three, we build a bridge to eternity. Our task is to transition from the physical realm to the spiritual.

Are we building bridges with the right purpose and in the right direction?

Who, How, and Why

Three significant questions surface in your leadership.

First, “Who are you trying to reach?” Churches often talk about trying to reach their communities, but rarely are they willing to take the necessary steps to do so. The answer here makes a difference in the direction and steps taken in the next question.

Second, “How will you reach them?” It may take specific marketing technique, extra time in the community, developing stronger relationships, financial means, or additional people. You must be willing to do whatever it takes.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, “Why are you doing this?” If you can’t answer this question with certainty and clarity, people will not follow long.