Tag: Trust

Mentoring

Mentoring usually involves an experienced and trusted advisor who trains and counsels someone else. The mentoring relationship may extend any where from a few days to a few years depending on the nature and purpose of the relationship.

As a spiritual influence in the lives of others, we all want to pursue ways we can mentor someone in developing maturity in their faith.

Our approach should be based on the methods of Jesus.

Take a moment to pray about someone who can be a mentor and pray for someone you can mentor.

Decisive Leadership

When leaders are indecisive their leadership is called into question by followers.

Leaders need to know the causes of indecisiveness to overcome the challenges it brings.

Fear of making the wrong decision, the unknown, failure, and even success.

Lacking trust in one’s abilities or that of others are often uncertain in making decisions.

Procrastination leads to indecisiveness because making a decision lacks urgency.

What will help leaders be decisive?

Research and gather all the facts to make an informed decision.

List the pros and cons and pray about it.

Trust the instincts.

Establish a backup plan as a precaution.

Make the decision.

Leading with Faithfulness

God’s faithfulness is a characteristic leaders must demonstrate toward others.

Leaders cultivate faithfulness in several ways.

Celebrating God’s abiding presence. When we lift up our God in worship it serves as a reminder of His faithfulness to us.

Making and keeping promises demonstrates to others the example we follow in the faithfulness of God.

Telling the truth also strengthens the confidence of others in our faithfulness in all areas.

When leaders are faithful, there is a confidence and trust built among followers. When confidence and trust exist, unity will result.

Peace

Kimberly Jones shares this short but significant thought, “Don’t let people pull you into their storm. Pull them into your peace.”

What direction is the pull in our leadership? Do we find ourselves pulled into the storms raging in the lives of others, or do we seek to pull them into the peace only found in Christ?

1) We must first be at peace ourselves.
2) Make sure to point people to Jesus––to focus on Him.
3) Offer a hand up, not a handout.
4) The best course is always faith.

Peace and trust is critically important to the direction of our pull.

Consideration

We live in a skeptical world. As such, we tend to question the motive or intention of everyone, including those who deserve our greatest trust.

Leaders must give consideration to the needs of others. At times, these needs are hard to recognize, especially when we are only involved in superficial or surface oriented relationships.

Leaders must dig below the surface to learn what is really needed. They must also consider how to provide for the need that exists.

Consideration should be a part of a leaders daily walk in relationship to others, and doing so exemplifies the compassion of great leadership.

Gratitude

Two of the most unused, yet powerful words are “thank you.” Gratitude is vital to our leadership.

Leaders should be thankful because…

1) God has placed them in this position.
2) Influencing others for the Lord is the greatest task on earth.
3) Hope is the message provided through godly leaders.
4) Others trust leaders to show them the way.
5) Leadership make an eternal difference.

Leaders must recognize why they should be thankful as much as understanding what they are thankful for and the need to show gratitude.

Our God is great. Let us thank Him who has given us leaders!

Confidentiality

One of the most critical areas of leadership involves an understanding of confidentiality. Leaders must know how to keep something in confidence.

Confidentiality speaks to a sacred trust. Followers need to know they can place their lives into the hands of someone they trust.

1) When leaders keep confidentiality, relationships are built.
2) Confidentiality makes leaders approachable.
3) Doing so provides guidelines for developing greater leadership.
4) Keeping a confidence grows a more Christlike character.

Confidentiality is critical for leaders. They must guard what has been placed into their sacred trust. When they do, the resulting development of character builds a leadership worth following.

Security

When leaders provide direction that is fixed, followers feel secure.

When leaders keep followers safe and unharmed, they feel secure.

When followers are protected from the enemy, they are secure.

When leaders are stable, eliminate anxiety, and are unafraid, security exists.

Consider these thoughts in a spiritual context. Spiritual leaders must provide security that eliminates the fear and anxiety prevalent in the world.

To accomplish this, a few simple steps will help.

1) Be strong in faith.
2) Grow in knowledge of the word.
3) Trust in God.
4) Remember there is strength in numbers.
5) Lead with confidence.

Friendship

Friendship is a beautiful relationship of mutual trust and support.

I have witnessed the powerful effects of true friendship. Such mutual trust and support is unmatched.

Leadership is not always seen from the perspective of friendship. Leadership is often accompanied by loneliness. We often hear the idea expressed, “It’s lonely at the top.”

While this may be true in many corporate or political settings, it does not have to be true in every situation.

When leaders develop relationships of mutual trust and support, friendships blossom and provide a source of strength and encouragement for addressing all challenges.

Fearless

When someone is fearless, we tend to think about the absence of fear.

Consider another possibility as it relates to leadership.

Reverse the word and examine the idea of less fear.

It is doubtful that a leader reaches a point where they have no fear. Various events in life and leadership will always create times of fear. During those times we can demonstrate less fear, but what makes it possible to do so? Read Hebrews 11:1 – 12:4.

Enduring life’s challenges is an ability strengthened by victorious faith.

Trust that God will keep His promise.

Obstacles are temporary. Keep your eyes on Jesus.