Leaders are decision makers.
I heard someone say, “The leader gets paid the big bucks not to make the most decisions but to make the tough decisions.” However, there are some leaders who feel it’s their job too make most of the decisions and as a result hinder the development of others on their team. If you want to help potential leaders, give them some decisions to wrestle with. When you allow others to make decisions you GIVE them a gift and you GET great benefit.
When you give them the power to make decisions you’re GIVING them:
1. The opportunity to feel greater contribution and ownership
2. A greater sense of confidence
3. A greater feeling that you trust their judgment
4. The opportunity to gain leadership credibility among others experience, experience, experience
On the other hand you GET:
1. The opportunity to watch how they make decisions and see their leadership
potential
2. The chance to coach them before, during and after the decision
3. Leaders who are increasingly confident to make more difficult decisions
4. A potential successor who could one day take your place
A Challenge: What decisions can you give away this week?
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Saturday, 3 April 2010
gaining respect in your leadership
Most people want to be respected! I read a few challenging things from Mac Lake the other day that I think are well worth reading.
Every leader I’ve ever met wants to be respected and held in high regard. We feel this way in part because we know if people don’t respect us they won’t follow us. But sometimes we feel this way because of our insecurities.
An egotistical desire to be admired can cause a leader to act in ways that keep people from giving him the very thing he so desperately seeks. In fact the insecure leader leads out of a pride whose sole purpose is Image Management rather than Kingdom Influence.
One of the greatest dangers for us as leaders is to find our identity in our leadership rather than The One who called us to leadership. Those who lead from a spirit of pride ultimately discover that it destroys their leadership reputation.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 18:12, “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,but humility comes before honor.” The Hebrew word for honor is kabowd which means “abundance or dignity“. It’s interesting that the root of this word means “to be heavy or weighty.” In other words humility gives weight or credibility to your leadership.
The temptation of every leader is to try to impress, command, have all the answers, divert blame or brag in order to gain the respect of others. But secure leaders who find their sense of identity through their relationship with Christ are free to operate from a spirit of humility. They understand the long term respect needed to gain leadership influence is preceded by humility not image management.
Every leader I’ve ever met wants to be respected and held in high regard. We feel this way in part because we know if people don’t respect us they won’t follow us. But sometimes we feel this way because of our insecurities.
An egotistical desire to be admired can cause a leader to act in ways that keep people from giving him the very thing he so desperately seeks. In fact the insecure leader leads out of a pride whose sole purpose is Image Management rather than Kingdom Influence.
One of the greatest dangers for us as leaders is to find our identity in our leadership rather than The One who called us to leadership. Those who lead from a spirit of pride ultimately discover that it destroys their leadership reputation.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 18:12, “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,but humility comes before honor.” The Hebrew word for honor is kabowd which means “abundance or dignity“. It’s interesting that the root of this word means “to be heavy or weighty.” In other words humility gives weight or credibility to your leadership.
The temptation of every leader is to try to impress, command, have all the answers, divert blame or brag in order to gain the respect of others. But secure leaders who find their sense of identity through their relationship with Christ are free to operate from a spirit of humility. They understand the long term respect needed to gain leadership influence is preceded by humility not image management.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
So what is a disciple? (Part 5)
This will be my last blog on this...
A disciple is someone who:
5. Is dedicated to the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)
These words are known as the great commission but sadly in many Christians lives and churches it is more like the 'great omission'.
The ultimate goal of our discipleship is to disciple others. We are not called to make converts only but to make disciples.
We can only disciple others in those areas in which we have become a disciple ourselves.
So....How are you doing?
There are other things I could continue to write about but feel my last 5 blogs are some of the areas in which I have been challenged about.
A disciple is someone who:
5. Is dedicated to the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)
These words are known as the great commission but sadly in many Christians lives and churches it is more like the 'great omission'.
The ultimate goal of our discipleship is to disciple others. We are not called to make converts only but to make disciples.
We can only disciple others in those areas in which we have become a disciple ourselves.
So....How are you doing?
There are other things I could continue to write about but feel my last 5 blogs are some of the areas in which I have been challenged about.
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
So what is a disciple? (Part 4)
I am still focused on some of the effects of a person who is fully following Jesus.
A disciple is someone who:
4. Is committed to others in sacrifical 'Koinonia' fellowship
Rick Warren says that true meaning of fellowship is 'being committed to one another as we are to Christ'. WOW, think about that!
This is a great testimony and witness to our discipleship (John 13:24-35)
This is more than just ordinary human love. It is the kind of love that God demonstrated to us. It is unconditional love that does not look for a return to stimulate it's action. God loved us while we were still sinners!
1 John 4:10-11 (New International Version) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[a] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
The only chance of this happening is to open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that, 'God has poured out his love into our hearts by his spirit'(ROM 5:5)
A Question to ponder: Is my heart filled with God's love to such an extent that I am able to love others in a sacrificial way?
So...... YOU GUESSED IT.... How are you doing?
A disciple is someone who:
4. Is committed to others in sacrifical 'Koinonia' fellowship
Rick Warren says that true meaning of fellowship is 'being committed to one another as we are to Christ'. WOW, think about that!
This is a great testimony and witness to our discipleship (John 13:24-35)
This is more than just ordinary human love. It is the kind of love that God demonstrated to us. It is unconditional love that does not look for a return to stimulate it's action. God loved us while we were still sinners!
1 John 4:10-11 (New International Version) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[a] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
The only chance of this happening is to open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that, 'God has poured out his love into our hearts by his spirit'(ROM 5:5)
A Question to ponder: Is my heart filled with God's love to such an extent that I am able to love others in a sacrificial way?
So...... YOU GUESSED IT.... How are you doing?
Sunday, 28 March 2010
So what is a disciple? (Part 3)
My thoughts today are around the effects of Jesus at work in the life of a person who is fully following Jesus.
What is a disciple?
A disciple is someone who:
3. Lives in a fruit-bearing relationship with Jesus
Before Jesus went to the cross he told his disciples what his desire for them was, that they 'bear fruit and fruit that lasts'. (John 15:4-5) NIV. A key word in this passage is 'remain'. If you are REMAIN IN the vine, the promise is that you will bear much fruit; THEN A WARNING...apart from me you can do nothing.
Watlon Moore writes: 'Our union with Christ makes possible a life through which others can be saved. When a tree is so full of sap that it can no longer hold it, the result is fruit! When a Christian is so full of Christ, others see him and hear about him and are then spiritually reborn into the Kingdom of God. Thus, new believers are one fruit of discipleship'
While it is good and desirable to display the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23), it also carries the thoughts of personal witness, evangelism and soul winning. Without this kind of fruit-bearing in our lives the Kingdom of God will not be expanded.
I want to challenge you today to be passionate about your relationship with Christ. Do not allow anything to take your eyes off Jesus. Allow his word and his spirit to fill you continually and overflow from your life - bearing fruit.
How are you doing?
What is a disciple?
A disciple is someone who:
3. Lives in a fruit-bearing relationship with Jesus
Before Jesus went to the cross he told his disciples what his desire for them was, that they 'bear fruit and fruit that lasts'. (John 15:4-5) NIV. A key word in this passage is 'remain'. If you are REMAIN IN the vine, the promise is that you will bear much fruit; THEN A WARNING...apart from me you can do nothing.
Watlon Moore writes: 'Our union with Christ makes possible a life through which others can be saved. When a tree is so full of sap that it can no longer hold it, the result is fruit! When a Christian is so full of Christ, others see him and hear about him and are then spiritually reborn into the Kingdom of God. Thus, new believers are one fruit of discipleship'
While it is good and desirable to display the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23), it also carries the thoughts of personal witness, evangelism and soul winning. Without this kind of fruit-bearing in our lives the Kingdom of God will not be expanded.
I want to challenge you today to be passionate about your relationship with Christ. Do not allow anything to take your eyes off Jesus. Allow his word and his spirit to fill you continually and overflow from your life - bearing fruit.
How are you doing?
Friday, 26 March 2010
So what is a disciple? (Part 2)
The second point today is a great challenge to us all but crucial.
A disciple is someone who:
2. Commits their life COMPLETELY to the Master.
TOTAL commitment!! A half-hearted commitment is not enough for Jesus to teach us effectively. Full Submission to him is a important to Jesus because he looks at our desire, heart and trust in him and his ways. He leads us in his love and he is committed to our spiritual growth.
Lets understand something here. Jesus has the right to demand a full on commitment to us as he gave his life for us. NO-ONE ELSE did! Jesus knew that the way to fruitfulness was the path of total commitment and so he point his followers in the same way. (Matt 16:24-25)
Hey, HIS commitment to us is sealed in his own blood, what he wants from us is a commitment of our total love. This is so that we will TRUST him in every step as he takes our life and moulds it in accordance to his will. The Apostle Paul caught the meaning of this in 2 Corinthians 5:15.
So how are you doing?
A disciple is someone who:
2. Commits their life COMPLETELY to the Master.
TOTAL commitment!! A half-hearted commitment is not enough for Jesus to teach us effectively. Full Submission to him is a important to Jesus because he looks at our desire, heart and trust in him and his ways. He leads us in his love and he is committed to our spiritual growth.
Lets understand something here. Jesus has the right to demand a full on commitment to us as he gave his life for us. NO-ONE ELSE did! Jesus knew that the way to fruitfulness was the path of total commitment and so he point his followers in the same way. (Matt 16:24-25)
Hey, HIS commitment to us is sealed in his own blood, what he wants from us is a commitment of our total love. This is so that we will TRUST him in every step as he takes our life and moulds it in accordance to his will. The Apostle Paul caught the meaning of this in 2 Corinthians 5:15.
So how are you doing?
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
So what is a disciple? (Part 1)
I have been thinking much about following Jesus recently...
A believer is called to follow (He is the leader!), to learn from him and to his example. We have been called to become what Jesus is the son of the father in whose life the will of God is fulfilled through commitment and obedience.
A disciple is someone who:
1. Lives continually by the words of Jesus (John 8:31).
This is not an occasional obedience rather one who is commits himself to follow through the teaching of the master. Don't go super spiritual on me here!! It is simply all about putting into practice the inspired word of God - The Bible, that has already been given to us.
NO TRUTH IS LIVING TRUTH UNTIL IT IS LIVED OUT!
Without the stable foundation of obedience to the word of God as the basis of our discipleship we are at the mercy of every subjective notion or feeling that comes along. I challenge us all who profess to be followers of Christ to be fully committed to obedience to God's word.
Like the man who built his house on the rock, we would be well prepared to weather any storm that comes our way.
So how are you doing?
A believer is called to follow (He is the leader!), to learn from him and to his example. We have been called to become what Jesus is the son of the father in whose life the will of God is fulfilled through commitment and obedience.
A disciple is someone who:
1. Lives continually by the words of Jesus (John 8:31).
This is not an occasional obedience rather one who is commits himself to follow through the teaching of the master. Don't go super spiritual on me here!! It is simply all about putting into practice the inspired word of God - The Bible, that has already been given to us.
NO TRUTH IS LIVING TRUTH UNTIL IT IS LIVED OUT!
Without the stable foundation of obedience to the word of God as the basis of our discipleship we are at the mercy of every subjective notion or feeling that comes along. I challenge us all who profess to be followers of Christ to be fully committed to obedience to God's word.
Like the man who built his house on the rock, we would be well prepared to weather any storm that comes our way.
So how are you doing?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)