By John Maxwell
We are to grow as leaders in order to grow leaders (2 Tim. 2:1, 2). “The best thing leaders can do for their organization is to grow personally” (Blackaby, Spiritual Leadership, p. 31).
LAW # 1: The Law of the Lid
Leadership Ability Determines a Person’s Level of Effectiveness
There is a difference between management and leadership. Leaders focus more on dreaming the vision of the future: Joseph (Gen. 37). Managers analyze the details of today. Leaders spend more time looking for opportunities. Managers smooth out current situations. Leaders focus more on people: Be a Barnabas (Acts 4:36; 9:27; 11:26; 15:37). Managers focus on accomplishing tasks. Leaders prefer high risks environments. Managers prefer safety zones. Leaders have a bias toward creativity, fluidity, and innovations. Managers have a bias toward preservation, protection, and procedure.
Maxwell talks about the Lid Blockers in your life that keep you from growing as a leader. A lid blocker would by anger (Prov. 16:32; 1 Tim. 3:4; 3:5).
Read moreIt helps to have a sense of humor.
Spurgeon would occasionally find a nasty anonymous letter lying on his pulpit when he would stand up to preach. There would a letter but no name. One day he got to the pulpit and there was a piece of paper with one word written in large letters … “idiot” … So, Spurgeon said, “Normally I get letters without signatures, but today I got a signature without a letter.”
Read moreThis classified advertisement appeared in a rural New York newspaper: “Farmer, age 38, wishes to meet woman about 30 who owns tractor. Please enclose picture of tractor.” I often wonder if this selfish farmer got pictures of John Deere tractors from desperate women. Nehemiah was also dealing with believers who also valued possessions over important relationships.
Read moreA. Opposition is not the same as Constructive Suggestions
The title of chapter 4 in From Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t is “Confront The Brutal Facts.” Jim Collins contrasts two older grocery stores which responded differently the brutal facts. The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company or A&P, was at one point ranked second only to General Motors in the 1950s. Kroger was one half the size of A&P.
Read moreI read a small book many years ago on pastoring the small church. The author said, “Most pastors are not overworked, they are under organized.” Maybe that is the way you feel about your life. I am overworked because I am under organized. Nehemiah’s leadership in chapter three could help remedy that problem.
Read moreI read a book that really challenged my thinking in the area of leadership by Hans Finzel entitled The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make. He defines leadership and identifies leaders.
Finzel's definition of leadership: “Leadership is influence. Anyone who influences someone else to do something has led a person. A leader takes people where they would never go on their own.” That definition includes each of you!
Finzel's identification of a leader: “You are a leader if you are leading a company, a ministry, a department, one or two coworkers, a Girl Scout club, and army platoon, a committee, or your family” (Hans Finzel. The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make. pages 19-21). That identification includes you!
Read moreWe all have seen Canada Geese fly in their V formation with one leg of the V formation longer than the other leg. Why do they fly in the V formation? The lead goose is making it easier for the other geese who are following his lead. He is moving the wind resistance of the other geese following him. The rest are cruising. But after awhile the lead goose gets tired and the next goose moves up. Engineers in the wind tunnel experiments have discovered that geese flying in the V formation can fly 72% further than by themselves flying alone. Geese flying in the V formation illustrate the necessity and advantages of practicing both leadership and followship.
Read moreChapter Two of Swindol’s Hand Me Another Brick, (his commentary of Nehemiah’s leadership) is entitled “A Leader---From The Knees Up.” This characteristic of leadership is certainly seen in Nehemiah’s ministry. One out of every ten verses in Nehemiah is a reference to prayer.
Read moreMark Dever promotes Four Aspects of Leadership in Nine Marks of a Healthy Church with the acrostic BOSS.
Read moreOn the front of one church bulletin always reads, “Ministers: The entire congregation Pastor: Rev David L. Buttry.”
Rick Warren in his Purpose Driven Church advocates, “No ministry, no membership.”
Every believer is a minister or servant of God who should be serving God and exerting influence on others through his/her local church. Leadership is one person influencing positively another person. Christian leadership is one believer spiritually impacting others for God’s glory.
Read more