Tag: SALT

Failure (part 1)

Who or what determines failure? Why is failure seen as negative? How can leaders deal with failure in ways to improve and benefit their leadership?

Consider a couple of steps:

First, recognize failure is inevitable. No matter who you are or where you are, failure takes place.

Second, acknowledge it and take responsibility. Do not ignore, deny, or cast blame when failure occurs.

Third, failure is not fatal. Winston Churchill is credited with saying, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”

The Power of Attitude

Our attitude and approach to leadership influences the type of work we accomplish.

Charles Schwab once said, “I have yet to find a man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.”

If leadership is dictatorial, negative, and critical there are consistent challenges to reaching goals.

Our leadership excels with a spirit of positive approval and affirmation. The world has plenty of critics. It seems natural to offer criticism, even when praise is necessary.

God intended the church to be a refuge. If we want success in our leadership, the thought here is worth considering.

Relationships

Powerful relationships exist in both life and leadership.

The mindset of trying to do things on our own ultimately fails. We need one another. Division is killing the church and her influence.

There are at least 24 different “one another” passages throughout scripture. These passages teach us about the spiritual relationship and responsibility we have to each other.

When leadership uses these areas to strengthen relationships, the result will bring a powerful boost to leadership.

When we fulfill the responsibilities outlined by the New Testament writers, the church will be strengthened.

Isn’t it time we build the kind of relationships to accomplish both?

Overcoming Fear

Fear is common. The apostles demonstrated fear. The parents of a blind man were afraid. Paul addressed fear when writing Timothy.

How do we overcome fear?

A few suggestions:

Know God. He gives us a spirit of love and power and discipline.

Believe in Jesus. If He endured for us, we can overcome for Him.

Study the book. The more we know of God’s word, the greater our confidence in fearful situations.

Fight the good fight. Paul knew the challenges of the work. He also knew he had to fight.

Let us commit ourselves to overcome and lead with passion.

Destination

Leaders cast vision and map the direction to a specific destination. Unless they know where they are going, how can anyone finish the journey?

Consider:

1) You must never take your eyes off the destination.
2) Remember the map is found in the greatest atlas.
3) When necessary, stop and ask for help if you lose your sense of direction.
4) Make the proper preparation before starting the journey.

Remember, there is purpose in leading others. You need to know where you are going and what you need to take to get there. The results are worth it!

Attention to Action

What does it take to get our attention and move us into action for the Lord?

Will eight billion plus people in the world, the majority of which are lost?

Perhaps it is the decline in morality that surrounds us.

Maybe the spread of error on unknowing hearts.

Could it be the grace of God given in the Savior who came to die for all?

Whatever it is, our attention is needed and we must move into action to lead others to the only hope given to the human race.

Others-Centered

We cannot emphasize enough the necessity of an others-centered, servant-style leadership. In an effort to establish the point, Victor Cousin said, “Men are governed only by serving them; the rule is without exception.”

While there are many leadership styles, spiritual leadership succeeds by service.

Jesus said, “By this all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” In the context, Jesus taught the necessity of being a servant.

If we understand the true definition of Biblical love, we cannot fulfill the new command given by Christ without being a servant that is others-centered.

Relationships

There is a powerful relationship between life and leadership.

The mindset of trying to do things on our own will ultimately fail. We need one another. There is a minimum of twenty-four “one another” passages throughout scripture. These passages teach us about the spiritual relationship and responsibility we have to each other.

When leadership engages these thoughts to strengthen relationships, the result brings a powerful boost to our leadership.

When we fulfill the responsibilities outlined by the New Testament writers, the church grows stronger.

Isn’t it time we built the kind of relationships to accomplish both?

Loyalty

Businesses offer a rain check for out-of-stock merchandise. The benefit helps build loyalty between the customer and business.

Loyalty is one of the most vital characteristics of leadership. How do we build the kind of loyalty needed in leadership?

Demonstrate trust: We must trust in God and also learn to trust in others.

Develop consistency and integrity: Without these, loyalty will be impossible.

Dedication: We must be dedicated to God, others, and reaching the goal.

These are only a few steps, but if we take them we can build a solid foundation for loyalty.

Winning

Every golf tournament has a leader board. Whoever has the best score sits on top of the leader board. Other sports use a similar practice with a score board. Why? Because it’s about winning!

We tell children it’s not about winning, but about playing the game. If this is true, why do we keep score? Interesting!

Paul adjusted specific areas of his life “so that he might win” souls for Christ. He wanted to win the Christian race and receive the eternal reward.

Are we living in a way that we might win where it really counts? Are we leading in a way that others might win?