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| A Lifestyle Of Leadership |
Date Posted:
10/9/2001
Author:
Greg Morris
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3. Leadership Is Character.
"The main ingredient of good leadership is good character. This is because leadership involves conduct and conduct is determined by values." (Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, retired). Leadership can never be divorced from the individual. And as a leader, you cannot impart what you do not possess.
4. Leaders Model Leadership Principles.
Leaders act out of principles and convictions and teach others by their own example. Courageous and consistent leaders model what it means to live by God's commands. This is character on display.
5. Leadership Is Ultimately a Relationship.
Genuine leadership begins and ends at the same place - a passionate walk with the Savior. Only to the degree that we are followers of Him will we influence others. If that part of our leadership is not developed, it is just manipulation or the latest personnel management techniques.
Leadership is always difficult and complicated. It is as Warren Bennis reminds us, even under the best of circumstances, like herding cats! Yet few generations need to observe leadership on display more than ours. Leadership is the critical issue confronting the church in the new millennium. And our commitment to a lifestyle of these leadership principles will communicate to and impact our generation.
Stay the Course,
By Greg Morris
Courtesy of http://www.leadershipdynamics.org
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By Greg Morris
Courtesy of http://www.leadershipdynamics.org
"The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality." Max DePree
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way." John Maxwell
All around us people are searching for leaders. Whether in business, education, government, or the church, we instinctively seek out leaders as we recognize the necessity for leadership in all areas of life. Any organization, whether for profit or non-profit, depends on successful leadership to provide direction. Everything rises and falls on leadership. Every issue in every organization, every decision that is made or postponed, is ultimately a product of leadership. Find an organization achieving excellence and you'll find leadership effectiveness. Find failure, and you'll find leadership failure as well.
But despite our need for genuine leadership, it seems as if there is a leadership void in our generation. Warren Bennis has observed, ""It is the paradox of our times that precisely when the trust and credibility of leaders are at their lowest, when the beleaguered survivors in leadership positions feel unable to summon up the vestiges of power left to them, we most need people who can lead."" When a leader emerges confidence is restored and hope is renewed. Leaders seize the moment and meet the challenges of today with the courage of their convictions.
But where do leaders come from and how do we recognize them? Here are five guiding principles that can help you identify potential leaders as well as provide a yardstick to mark your own leadership pilgrimage:
1. Leadership Is Not Found In a Position, But In a Person.
We often mistake leadership for a title, position or station in life. But true leadership comes from personal influence, not a job title.
2. Leadership Comes From Servanthood, Not Appointment.
Leadership isn't granted from an organization, but earned out of service and commitment to others. There is no better commentary on this than the life of Christ, the master leader, who "...set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave!" (Philippians 2.7, The Message).
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