Paul highlights God’s power to think in the realm beyond all we ask or think in his letter to the church at Ephesus.
Like most leaders, we tend to think too small. We can fabricate a number of reasons, but in the end, we place God in a box where we think He will not do something because we are convinced we can’t do it.
We need to stop limiting God and start thinking big, at least bigger than we have in the past.
What would we attempt to do if we knew we could not fail? Think about it.
To be constructive involves something that is useful with a tendency to build up.
Constructive leaders are characterized by several key qualities.
They have a vision for what is right.
They possess an understanding of what is beneficial.
They provide tools to assist followers in reaching their potential.
They are driven by the desire to achieve the good of others.
These ideas provide a beginning point related to the nature of constructive leadership.
When the church is led by constructive leaders, spiritual and numerical growth will naturally go hand in hand.
The idea of focusing on the finish line at the beginning of a race does not seem realistic.
Yet, the finish line is what we must have in mind. Without knowing where the finish line is and keeping it in full view, the following occurs:
1) The motivation to start and endure is eliminated.
2) Preparation suffers because there is no purpose.
3) Without a finish line, we have no direction.
Leaders have the incredible task of helping others see the finish line. When this is accomplished, people are motivated, they prepare, and they have direction.
How often do we become so overloaded or over-committed the stress is overwhelming?
We are consumed with thinking about what should be done tomorrow, next week, next month, or even next year. We feel overwhelmed and accomplish nothing, as if we do not know where to start. The key is examining what “has” to be done today and prioritizing those matters, then getting to work.
Dan Millman suggests, “We can do anything, but we can’t do everything… at least not at the same time. So think of your priorities not in terms of what activities you do, but when you do them. Timing is everything.”
It takes 21 days to develop a habit. Working on a specific activity or trait for 21 days straight is all we need.
When something becomes a habit, it is more like second nature, or perhaps first nature.
The amount of time necessary to reinforce the activity or trait depends on the dedication required to develop the habit.
Some habits are good and some are bad. Our greatest challenges involve breaking the bad habits. Leaders must develop the kind of habits that promote an influence toward godliness.
The planning phase is where we dream, research, and organize everything involved in reaching specific goals.
The activation phase is where we implement the activities needed to accomplish those goals.
The evaluation phase is where we examine what has been accomplished to ensure we are on target.
The completion phase is where we reach the end of the project, the goals have been completed, and the rewards enjoyed.
These four phases have application for nearly every area of life, including our relationship with God and leadership in His kingdom.
The reason for which something is done, created, or for which it exists speaks to purpose.
What is the reason for our leadership?
How is our leadership created?
Why does our leadership exist?
These questions provoke deeper thought when we consider leading others.
The reason for our leadership is the cause of Christ.
We create leadership through learning and experience.
Our leadership exists because God planned, designed, and needs His people to change the world.
The worldview of each individual influences their purpose in life. As Christians, we know that our purpose is to glorify God!
Our life exists within this span known as time.
Since we have this measure and moment of time, it should concern us to consider how we use our time.
We can use our time for ourselves, selfishly using every minute for pleasure. The book of Ecclesiastes informs us this is vanity.
The alternative is to use our time for others. The greatest fulfillment and satisfaction in life are found when we use our time for others, helping them both physically and spiritually reach their potential. Herein lies the purpose of our life and leadership.
If everyone focused on this, imagine what our world would look like.
Our culture is proud. To some degree, this is true in all countries. Perhaps it is human nature. The concept of being wrong is not a pleasant or acceptable situation for most.
We do not want to admit or acknowledge we were wrong. The older we get the more difficult it is to admit.
Marvin Williams tells us, “There is no better test of a man’s integrity than his behavior when he is wrong.”
Rare is the leader who, when faced with the reality of being wrong, has the integrity to admit they were wrong, accept the consequences, learn from it, and correct the situation.
A learning leader is open to learn from others, listening to what is said and how it is said. They constantly seek ways to improve who they are, what they are, and how they lead others.
When leaders are open to learn, opportunities abound for obtaining wisdom from others who have a depth of knowledge and experience that exceeds our own.
When leaders approach each situation with a learner’s heart, they demonstrate humility that understands the necessity of being a servant.
No leader will ever know everything, but when leaders are willing to learn they find greater influence.