Tag: SALT

Temperance

Temperance avoids excesses, especially areas that distract us from a godly life.

What makes temperance important to the Christian life?

Answers range from one person to the next, but the fact remains that Paul and Peter identify the need for Christians to grow in temperance.

Consider how the definition factors into leadership. A lack of temperance indicates the potential of participating to excess in areas that destroy the godly influence leaders need.

Growing in temperance indicates a life of balance. Leaders with temperance understand limits, specifically limits established by God to protect us physically and spiritually.

Knowing God

God’s people rejected a knowledge of God, His law, statutes, and commandments. Every time this occurred they were punished.

Jesus claimed that eternal life was based on knowing God and knowing the One sent by Him, Jn. 17:3. Peter reminds us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ,” 2 Pet. 3:18. One of the most significant references about knowing God was written by Paul to the church at Philippi, Phil. 3:7-11.

Spiritual leadership is built on the foundation of knowing God. While I cannot fully address every area related to the subject, this lifelong journey challenges us to focus on that goal.

Finding Value

The world finds meaning, value, and purpose in what we do (success, acts of kindness or generosity, etc.), what others think or say about us, and what we have (health, good family, material possessions, etc.).

The challenge is recognizing the balance of thinking too highly or too lowly of ourselves. We need proper perspective.

Our value comes from God. We were created in His image. We are His beloved. When we understand this, we will stop looking for value from any other source.

Leadership requires an ability to find the right perspective on self-value, but also to help others gain the needed perspective of their own value.

Where to Turn

Everything learned about leadership simply indicates there is more to learn. The amount of information readily accessible is overwhelming.

There is no end to the books, articles, blog posts, and classes available on the subject.

Where will leaders find the help to grow in their leadership?

Turn to God. The best leadership book available is the Bible.

Turn to other godly leaders. Seek the help of others and learn at their feet.

Turn inward for reflection. Reflect on how God continues to work throughout the journey.

These do not exhaust the possibilities, but they do provide benefit from each learning moment.

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?

Hold On

Perseverance is the ability to hold on five more minutes. However, it’s the struggles we face that help develop the ability to persevere.

It is difficult to keep holding on when feeling as though you are at the end of the rope. Yet, one of the most needed qualities in leadership is this mentality.

Consider a few suggestions to help develop greater perseverance.

First, remember what is invested and what is at stake.

Second, do not forget there is help.

Third, take one minute at a time.

Fourth, just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Hold on!

Act or React

Why is it so easy to react before thinking how to act appropriately?

Sadly, most reactions are based on a lack of adequate details, false information, and misguided perspective. We allow our emotions to eliminate reason and good judgment.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.”

In these moments, our minds possess a greater ability to think clearly and make decisions that affect how we act.

We prevent heated arguments, snap decisions, incorrect accusations, wrong conclusions, and the regret of saying or doing something we cannot retract.

Since / If

Imagine leading with certainty. No longer would we speak in terms of if, but rather the certainty of since certain conditions exist we know where to lead.

Since we influence at least four people a day, we should study leadership more, and learn how to make a greater difference.

Since we lead others to heaven, we should prepare ourselves with a greater understanding of how to lead them there.

Since we serve to keep people focused on this goal, we should be more tolerant in matters of personal opinion, and work together to achieve unity.

Let us lead with certainty to make the future a better place.

Leading Children

Life changes with each heartbeat. When raising children, these changes in life raise questions.

What will happen? How will we raise them? There are times we ask, “Why did this happen?”

These are questions we tend to ask when facing moments of uncertainty. Our faith is challenged.

Leadership begins here, in the home. The foundation of a mother and father who are dedicated to make sure their children are loved and raised to trust, honor, know, and follow God.

We pray from the moment we learn of a child’s conception. When they enter this world, we pray for the wisdom to lead them all along the way.

Congruence

Congruence: Compatibility, agreement, balance, and consistency.

Compatibility promotes working together without conflict. This doesn’t mean problems or disagreements go away, but avoiding the destructive nature of conflict builds congruence.

Agreement is shared by leaders when the foundation upon which decisions are made comes from a common standard. Pride, opinion, and agenda driven approaches destroy congruence.

Balance is one of the most important words in leadership. Leaning to the left or the right creates the potential of moving away from the foundation that provides balance for leadership congruence.

Consistency is a virtue. Inconsistency promotes hypocrisy that attacks the congruence leaders need to help others reach the goal(s).