Tag: SALT

Habits

Habits are, well, habits. We know some habits are easier and quicker to develop than others. We also recognize the incredible difficulty that comes with breaking bad habits. Interestingly enough, no one ever refers to breaking good habits.

I recently started a book by James Clear called Atomic Habits. I highly recommend it. As the subtitle indicates small changes can provide amazing results.

Leaders often display habits, both good and bad. What kind of habits will improve our leadership?
Over the next few days, I want to look at several habits that benefit leaders.

Enduring Leadership

Have you ever found yourself wanting to give up when facing adversity, challenge, or controversy?

Harriet Beecher Stowe once said, “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”

Consider two important ideas: 1) Perseverance is vital if we are to experience the turning tide, and 2) The reward has greater sweetness when we endure.

The commonality for both is the need to hang on a minute longer and never let go.

Flourishing Leadership

We have all experienced times in life where everything and everyone seemed to be against us. Our thoughts raced with anticipated conversations. We thought of the worst possible scenario and in those moments spelled out our own demise. When this happens, the choices seem limited and we tend to make life-altering decisions.

Perhaps we have benefited from a friend who took a moment to call, send a note, or write an e-mail to encourage us in those dark hours.

Leadership flourishes when we provide the same kindness to others who experience the same dark times.

Life expands before us as we seek opportunity to build up those in need.

Thinking Before We Speak

Have you ever heard the expression, “Measure twice, cut once?”

The same thought can be applied to our words, both verbal and written. Learning to think twice before we speak is a powerful component to leading. Consider the following.

1) Before we speak, consider how our words will influence those who hear them. Will our words build them up or tear them down, heal or hurt?

2) Thinking twice helps develop concise clarity. We lose the attention of others when unprepared and we ramble through something we attempt to say.

When we think twice before speaking, we enhance the quality of our leadership communication.

Incidental Leadership

The word “Incidental” means to accompany something without being a major part of it, but what does that mean for leadership?

Incidentals are never planned when leading. At times, the unexpected happens.

We find incidentals in various areas surrounding leadership. People and plans are directly connected to every organization, but not always a major part of goal planning. However, they are essential to assist the ability and opportunity to move along more smoothly.

Incidentals may not always occur when we want, nor the way we want, but they can provide a wealth of benefit in leadership when understood and used correctly.

Comparative Leadership

Scripture speaks about measuring devices and the need for measuring. We also find references to the consequence of measuring ourselves by others.

The competitive mindset of wondering or considering how well we do/did with the performance of someone else tends to dominate our world.

Students compare grades, employees compare paychecks, managers compare productivity, and the list goes on.

When we evaluate who we are and what we do as leaders, and measure it by the right standard, we find areas where constant improvement is needed. The alignment of our leadership with a godly standard increases our level of influence.

A Blessing or Lesson

One of my favorite thoughts is credited to Mother Teresa, “Some people come into your life as blessings, others come into your life as lessons.”

I used to tell our kids, “Everyone brings happiness, some when they come and some when they leave. So, live your life in a way that people are happy to see you come.”

What about leadership? Are we a blessing or a lesson?

Our decisions, words, and example leave a powerful influence one way or the other.

Make sure to lead in a way that people are happy to see us.

What If?

Life is filled with many “if’s.” We struggle to answer the “what if” questions in life.

What if we lose our job?
What if we suffer a terminal illness or tragedy?
What if we miss an opportunity?
What if we fail?
What if we forget an important date or task?
What if we have not done enough?
What if…

When this happens, we often turn to a works oriented, Pharisaical based relationship with God.

We lose sight of God’s grace and the joy of His salvation.

Leadership doesn’t mean we escape the “if’s” in life. Rather, we know where to point others for the right coverage provided by God for every “if” in life.

The Loneliness of Leading

One of the most frightening places to be is alone. The thought of dealing with stress, challenges, and trials alone is less than appealing.

Elijah stood on Mount Carmel in the power and glory of God, yet in the next chapter flees in fear at the threat of a wicked queen. While talking to God, he expresses the depression of being alone. Elijah needed to know God was there all along.

With the pressures in leadership, the weight of family responsibility (physical and spiritual), and the struggles that challenge our faith, we can begin to feel alone.

We need a gentle reminder, “You are not in this alone.”

A Contrast in Leadership

Throughout the Bible we find numerous contrasts made by various people.

Jesus talked about the contrast of light and darkness, building on sand or the rock, dividing the saved from the lost.

James talked about the rich and poor, wisdom from above with earthly, natural, and demonic wisdom.

Paul also contrasted the flesh and spirit, the strong from the weak, along with life and death.

These are only a few of the contrasts seen throughout the New Testament.

Our leadership needs to be strikingly different from everything else. When the Word is our foundation, Jesus our Lord, God our Father, and heaven our focus, then our leadership will be strikingly different.