Tag: SIBI

Vision and Mission

In an effort to develop a vision and mission statement, we often get the ideas reversed, and rightfully so, since they are interrelated.

The mission of an organization, specifically the church, describes “what to do.” The foundation is built on the purpose of our existence and the mission directs every decision for all related activities.

The vision describes what we desire to see as a result of the mission. The vision takes into consideration the image of the future that connects the long-term desires with achievable goals.

We must communicate both the vision and mission if we hope to achieve any level of success.

Success

The bottom line does not always give an accurate assessment of success or failure.

When we gauge success strictly by the numbers we miss how God works to achieve His will. To God, success is found when husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church, when wives submit to their husbands as to the Lord, when children obey their parents, and when fathers train their children up in the Lord.

Success is found in the moral and ethical behavior of Christians in the world.

When Christians feed on the word of God, mature in their faith, and the pattern of leadership is followed, God sees success.

Leadership Commitment

Leaders must be committed to fulfilling the vision for the organization. We also understand the need for commitment to achieve our goals each year.

Among several possibilities, have we ever considered our level of commitment to others? Simon Sinek says, “Leadership is always a commitment to human beings.”

To separate our commitment to leadership from our relationship to people is to miss leadership completely. Without a commitment to people, without the people component in our leadership, the only remaining possibility becomes egocentric and self-driven.

Our leadership must achieve greater heights for the cause of Christ. May we always be committed to others in our leadership.

What Are You Looking For?

People generally find what they look for, or so we are told.

We find truth in this thought because when we look for the worst, we tend to find the worst. When we look for the best, we tend to find the best.

Occasionally, even though we look for the worst, or best, we find the unexpected. We find the opposite.

This is especially true when leading people.

Consider the outcome if leaders led with intentionality and a purpose driven by the desire to look for only the best in people, and create the highest expectations.

We might just be surprised at the incredible results.

Leadership Development

Where do we begin with leadership development? The task is daunting. To illustrate, a Google search for “Leadership Development” indicates there are 2,590,000,000 possibilities to consider.

When we learn to specify areas of leadership development within the scope of the church or areas of spirituality, the field narrows.

Again, we discover the same struggle: where to begin. Perhaps we can begin by narrowing our search with two questions: 1) What needs exist? 2) What piques our interest?

The priority of where our leadership begins rests on the need. However, we will also find that areas of interest keep us motivated to grow in leadership.

Decisive

We make thousands of decisions every day. Generally, the majority of decisions have little or no consequential value. However, some decisions carry long-lasting, if not eternal, consequences.

Theodore Roosevelt said, “In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

When the moment of decision arises, leaders must do the right thing, primarily what is right for the other person.

Regardless of the reason, to do nothing in leadership paralyzes everyone. Closely associated with this problem is the unnecessary delay in the decision.

The Sound of Leadership

What does leadership sound like? Maybe it is the quiet voice of someone expressing their love. We might find it sounds like the loud and boisterous voices of children or grandchildren working, laughing, or playing together. It is possible we hear leadership in the form of authoritative instructions directed by a superior. We may also find the sound of leadership in the silence of the moment.

The point is simple: Leadership may sound differently to each individual and within a particular moment.

The effort we put forth to actively listen for the sounds of leadership brings rewards that benefit the development of our leadership influence.

Time and Energy

When the only value people feel they provide for an organization is from a financial perspective, then the long-term structure crumbles. We all desire to know that the time and energy we contribute to growth has value, not just financially.

If we can incorporate the same into our spiritual leadership, the response is the same. Consider the benefit to the church when Christians see leaders give of their time and energy. The result is huge in raising the level of trust and the desire to achieve the vision set forth by leaders.

Unsuspecting Leadership

When leadership exists without the suspicion of motives and actions on the part of followers, a environment exists described as unsuspecting leadership.

When a leader’s character exemplifies the kind of integrity that is built on values of godliness, then the motives and actions of the leader are not questioned by followers.

The beauty of biblical leadership is found when both ideas are present in the relationship. The result displays trust, not a trust that is superficial, but one that provides transparency and strengthens the core of the church.

Developing this relationship takes time. Quality and durability are rarely the reward of implementing something quickly.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is unique, meaning to “send away.” When God forgives, He sends our sin away. As David wrote, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12).

While the arsenal needed to get through this life includes listening to God (study) and speaking with God (prayer), the promise of His strength keeps us focused. This is how we learn contentment, as Paul identified, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

When leaders learn to practice the difficult task of forgiveness, their ability to influence others increases.