There are ruts on the road of our leadership lives. They are worn into place over time by driving in the comfortable grooves of complacency. What may have started out as a priority for each of us can erode into a road of indifference.
If we aren’t careful our ruts get deeper and and deeper until driving in them feels normal. Below are three ruts that leaders can experience and how to get out.
While reading Philippians last week I saw Paul’s journey come alive in a way I had not seen before. I observed Paul giving instructions to leaders based on his life experience. He wasn’t lecturing but he was certainly giving some encouraging news from his own life.
News that I believe we can all resonate with and benefit from. I hope these 5 mindsets encourage and empower you to move forward when you feel trapped by the past or stuck in the present.
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14 NLT
Paul understands he is not perfect. He doesn’t beat himself up over it or let shame
con-fu-sion [kuhn-fyoo-zhuhn] “a state of disorder; upheaval or chaos.”
When I read the definition of confusion I think to myself, “I’m pretty sure I don’t like confusion.” In fact, I prefer some semblance of order and enjoy calm vs chaos. That being said, I’m not a spreadsheet person and I don’t have a list for everything, okay, anything.
So, why is confusion something to be embraced as a leader. Or, in this case, why should we practice
Leaders usually don’t like to think of themselves as followers but it is necessary for their own personal growth as well as the growth of the church or organization where they work! “Followership” is an important skill needed by every healthy leader as it teaches the need for alignment, understanding, empathy and humility.
They answered Joshua, “We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us. We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. And may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey your words and everything you command will be put to death. So be strong and courageous!”
And they answered Joshua, saying, All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. "Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.
Being flexible as a follower fuels confidence in the leader. Willingness of the follower to do whatever needs to be done will ultimately allow the leader to focus on more important things. Spending time trying to convince a stubborn follower to be more flexible is not a good use of their time.
When things don’t go according to plan the leader can always count on a loyal and adaptable follower. The leader may not want another idea or another way to do something especially when managing something in crisis. They just want someone to step up, adapt to the situation, and get it done.
We had his back, now we got yours! They respected the leadership of Joshua by showing loyalty and commitment.
Followers who are hopeful breathe life into the leader. Followers who are resentful only suffocate the leaders ability to move forward.
Encouraging the leader gives them power to keep moving forward when they need it most. As a follower, when the horizon seems darkest for the leader, we need to speak up with words of courage to give them hope to carry on and not give up.
I’m sure many of you reading this post would say you naturally default to leadership. Me too. However, there are times each one of us are in a position to follow. When we find ourselves in that leadership space we can do our best to follow the words spoke to Joshua that day. Words that he desperately needed to hear needed to hear.
Photo Credit: shutterstock.com Photo ID: 487208212 c Soonthorn Wongsaita
Someone once said that, “Having a bad attitude is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing things wrongly, and applying unsuitable remedies.”
I have also seen people wearing that wonderful shirt, “I love my bad attitude!”
If I am honest, there are times I really want to wear a shirt like that. I don’t know what it is but sometimes I can just be in a funk, and, sometimes, I like it. I know, how unhealthy is that?
There are also times I can recognize a bad attitude in others yet fail to see the bad attitude in myself. Somehow I justify my bad attitude but hold you accountable for yours! I know, how unhealthy is that?
