Tag: SALT

Leading with Joy

Stress usually saps the joy right out of most decision making. The challenges leaders face become foundational reasons why many choose not to lead.

As long as leaders spend their time dealing with conflict resolution, personality differences, and resource management, then the emotional depletion levels will exceed the ability and desire to continue.

There is a joy in leading and there are positive areas to support the future development and growth of any organization. When leadership receives encouragement to create, innovate, initiate, and motivate, the possibilities are endless for success.

The combination of a vision, goals, and plans, coupled with the authority to lead excites joy in leading.

NO!

Two simple letters, but so hard to use. The result tends to leave a leader overloaded, panic stricken, and stressed out.

Why does this happen? Here are a few possibilities.

Pride: The issue here is the mindset that no one else has the ability to do the job as good as “I” can do it.

Selfishness: When leaders become so focused on their own agenda or desires, saying “yes” creates a busy appearance and pads the ego.

Apathy: When leaders are no longer concerned about others, they might as well say yes because it does not matter whether they get to it or not.

Powerful Communication

How can leaders ensure their message is understood?

Have a clear understanding of the past, present, and future. How did you get here? Where are you now? What direction are you headed?

Prepare a strong defense as to why you are communicating this specific message at this specific time.

Plan how the destination will be reached and communicate it often to ensure no one forgets.

Implement a confirmation brief, which means you ask others to explain what they heard you say.

It takes time and effective communication to get everyone on the same page.

Being the Right Leader

How many times has it been said in relationships, “If only I could find the right person?”

Gloria Steinem once said, “Far too many people are looking for the right person, instead of trying to be the right person.”

If not careful, we can spend all our time searching for the right person, when all we can do is focus on being the right person.

We should focus our life on being the right person and allow that pursuit to direct every attitude, decision, action, and word.

When it does, we will discover the right people will find us.

Making a Difference

Italian TV dinner, Fazoli’s, Macaroni Grill, Massimino’s Cucina Italiana: There is a difference.

Community College, State University, Harvard, Oxford: There is a difference.

Regardless of where we eat, receive our education, or worship, we all know there is a difference.

The same is true in leadership. We see it on every front politically, corporately, educationally, and spiritually. There is a difference.

When it comes to spiritual leadership, are we really making a difference? Have we become complacent, apathetic, or indifferent?

Let us provide the leadership needed today for a better tomorrow and eternity because, in the end, it makes all the difference.

Balance

Balance is almost a forgotten term by many in our world today.

The cultural challenges with balance are weighed in the extremism of our society. A quick glance through Facebook posts or any social media outlet reveals the incredible extremes that exist.

Worse still is the fact that extremism has been carried over into the church. The thought of balance may be mentioned, but rarely applied.

The use of labels such as “left” or “right,” “conservative” or “liberal” indicate how we lack balance.

Until leaders get a solid grasp on the art of balance, unity may not occur.

A Leader’s Respite

Respite involves a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.

The type of rest or relief needed in highly stressful times is not a weekend get away, although such is helpful along the way. The type of rest or relief needed involves time away from all responsibilities associated with the difficult or unpleasant situation.

The greatest challenge is recognizing when this period of rest or relief is needed. Identifying those times in our lives can be subjective and may require assistance from others who are close to the situation.

Regardless, it is vital for leaders to identify these times and take respite.

Agree or Disagree?

One of the most common phrases used when people cannot come to an agreement is “we will just have to agree to disagree.” What exactly does this accomplish in the realm of spiritual leadership?

If agreeing to disagree allows both expressions to be correct, then we are headed for a train wreck in the spiritual realm.

Imagine the difference in the church today if leaders applied the same principles of interpretation and agreed to work together until unity could be achieved.

Imagine if the pride of self-righteousness were put aside with the intent of seeking to truly listen to God’s word and simply follow it…only.

True Leadership

The study of leadership will always carry powerful principles and a bit of subjectivity when dealing with others. The various styles of leadership continue to find value depending on the setting, situation, individual, and followers.

When looking for a way to determine someone’s leadership ability, J. K. Rowling said it well, “If you want to see the true measure of a man, watch how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

If you want to become the type of leader others want to follow, then begin with an examination of the way others are treated who might be considered inferior. Here is where we see true character.

Courageous Leadership

Leaders need courage, but what does that mean?

We often think of courage as a quality or characteristic that people possess or develop. Some people have it and some do not.

However, courage is a decision to act bravely when you are scared to death. It is easy to say we have courage when everything operates smoothly, but what about in times of challenge, controversy, or conflict?

It takes courage to stand against the influences of false teaching, to address disciplinary matters, to stand for right decisions (even if unpopular or unaccepted by some), and do so with a gentleness and love that demonstrates concern for every individual.