Tag: SALT

Sacrificial Leadership

To lead is to sacrifice. Sacrifice is found at every level of leadership. How great of sacrifice is required? Are we willing to make the sacrifice?

The apostle Paul was one who made great sacrifices in serving the Lord and His church.

First, Paul claimed nothing held more value than knowing Christ Jesus.
Second, Paul’s suffering was not just past tense. It was future tense also.

If we go below the surface and examine Paul’s leadership, we find a leader of great sacrifice. His level of sacrifice is exemplified throughout his writings (2 Cor. 11:23-29).

Let us arise to the same example.

Good Intentions

Generally, leaders have good intentions. Their intentions are to do what is right for others. However, we know that good intentions are not always enough. Good intentions do not mean actions are aligned correctly. How can this be improved?

1) Make sure our intentions are based on the facts, not assumptions.
2) Before acting, think about how our actions will be perceived.
3) It never hurts to tell someone our intentions before acting on them.

Having good intentions is important, but following through on our intentions will bring an accurate response to help those who follow.

Listening Leaders

Karl Menniger said, “Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.”

How can we improve our ability to listen?

Remove distractions: Remove the phone, television, computer, or anything else that keeps us from giving our attention to the other person.

Wait for the finish:
Learn to wait and make sure someone has completed their thoughts before formulating how to respond.

Listen beyond the words: Body language and tone of voice are critical to understanding the meaning behind the words we hear.

When Was The Last Time?

When was the last time…

…you told your spouse you loved them?
…you hugged your children and told them how proud you were of something they achieved?
…you used the words “thank you” for a kind gesture?

As leaders, when was the last time…

…you paused to think about the impact of your words?
…you decided to do a menial task instead of asking someone else to do it?
…you praised someone for their work instead of ignoring them?
…you gave others credit for their work to encourage them in a job well done?
…you took the time to help someone else reach their potential?

The list is unending, but ask yourself, “When was the last time?”

Potential

Potential is an ability or capability with the possibility of being or becoming something.

In his book, 9 Things A Leader Must Do, Dr. Henry Cloud wrote, “One of the worst things you can die with is potential.”

What is our potential? How do we achieve our greatest potential? Reaching our potential requires risk, and that can be a bit uncomfortable.

Cloud also claims that “potential is something to be realized, not guarded or protected. So, dig it up! Invest it!”

Maximizing our potential enables us to help others reach their potential. Spiritually, when the potential of God’s people is unleashed, we will change the world.

The Inessentials

What comes to mind when you read this thought from Bruce Lee, “It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials”?

Removing the weight that easily burdens us and slows us down, eliminating areas of life that are unimportant to the greater development of our spiritual well-being, or eradicating the distractions vying for our attention, is a thought that can be a game changer.

This exercise alone will help prioritize life, regain needed focus, and strengthen our resolve in matters of eternal consequence.

Our health, family, jobs, our God and His church deserve consideration of this thought.

Timeless Advice

We all enjoy learning timeless nuggets of advice, those pieces of information unaltered by time, generation, or culture. Often times, we can overlook them for something believed to have greater value.

Joshua was given one of these nuggets, “Be strong and very courageous.” God emphasized strength and courage three times in this context.

As we consider the timeless nature of this advice, there are powerful implications for spiritual leaders. God specifies that Joshua’s success depended on following this advice.

The success of our leadership today depends on following the same. How different would our world be if spiritual leaders had the strength and courage to do so?

Time and Influence

Time flies by much faster than I would like. I am constantly amazed at what appears to be the speed of time. We are already one month into the new year and nothing seems to be slowing down.

Since leadership is about influence, it makes sense that we would use the time we have to influence as many people as possible.

I remember hearing from a young age, “You only get one chance to make a good first impression.” Nothing could be more true.

Are you using your time wisely? What impression are you making with your influence? Is it worth following?

The Ecstatic Leader

Leaders are responsible for solutions, maintaining a positive morale, and addressing the challenges head-on in order to keep the organization moving forward.

Rarely do we associate the idea of glamorous with leadership.

Consider the impact a leader has when their energy level is the driving force to accomplish goals.

What it comes down to is a decision. We can permit ourselves to be drawn into the negative side of leadership, or we can choose to step up with a different approach, changing direction in ways that influence others toward greater achievement.

Either way, the choice is ours. Let us make an ecstatic impact.

Better Leadership

“Surround yourself with people who make you a better person.” Author Unknown

Easier said than done, right?

How much better would our perspective in life be if we practiced this?

The idea involves surrounding ourselves with people who know when to encourage and how to approach us when correction is needed.

Leaders should always direct their attention to making others around them better. In order to achieve this goal, we need to know each person well enough to know what will make them better. We need to know when to encourage and how to approach with a loving spirit when correcting others.