Keep it or you lose it

Give yourself some time to…

Sometimes we are in so much of a hurry to reach the next goal that we fail to take time to enjoy what we’ve achieved so far.

Take time to enjoy your achievements. There may never be another time for that.

 

Free to be me

Never downgrade yourself in order to be accepted in lower circles,

Keep soaring.

Those who need you will upgrade themselves to your level

Then they will join your club.

Remember, many look up to you for inspiration and leadership.

Do not disappoint them because you want to please people who have refused to grow up.

You may stoop down to bring them up,

But never stoop too low as to become one of them.

The world needs the big you, the courageous you, the brave you.

Stoop to conquer.

Until you sit there yourself

It could be pretty easy to dish out the leadership tips until you sit on that seat yourself.

Then you begin to understand why some things didn’t work out the way you expected.

We have a duty to correct our leaders, but we must do so with love.

They need our prayers.

Selflessness: A leader’s heart

Let’s examine an episode in the rich life of King David that is recorded in Second Samuel chapter 15.

David is informed about the conspiracy against his leadership organized by his son Absalom.

He has the man power and ability to overthrow this rebellion and maintain his position as king. This can be verified by the number and caliber of enemies he’s defeated in the past.

But David decides to flee. He leaves the throne and the glory and gets out of Jerusalem.

Why does the King decide to flee in spite of his ability to overthrow his adversary?

• In verse 14 of the above passage he explains to his entourage that if he stays behind Absalom will destroy the city and endanger innocent lives. He does not want to put other people’s lives in danger because of his leadership position.
• The selfless love he has for his son will not allow him to stand and fight even if he has the full right to do so.
• He puts his trust in God and believes that the God who put him on the throne is well able to restore him to his position if necessary (2 Samuel 15:25-26).
• David does not carry the Ark of the Covenant of God out of the city as a sure protection for himself. He gives priority to the people and asks the priest to carry the Ark back to the city.

 

• Christian leadership puts God first, the people second and then self interest later.
• A Christian leader considers himself/herself as a servant and a steward of God’s inheritance and grace. He’s not the proprietor.

What do you think about leaders who will rather see their people suffer than step down from power?

When people leave

Every leader will experience this at least once in a life time; people who choose to leave rather than stay. You’ve worked together, you’ve planned the future together; you’ve even invested a great deal into their lives, then one day they choose to leave the church, business, company, brand …

This can be a fairly bitter pill to swallow especially when they leave at a time you really need their services. It is therefore important to prepare oneself against such an eventuality by keeping it in mind that no matter how well you treat your team members some will always have a reason to leave.

• Search for greener pastures
• Discontent about some issue (for instance your leadership style).
• Call to other duties
• Incapacitation

The list continues.

As the leader, your reaction to this will reflect your level of maturity and the quality of your leadership. How will you react to such a situation?

• Brand them as traitors and unfaithful collaborators?
• Accuse a competitor for taking away (stealing) your members/customers?
• Accuse the devil for coming after you?
• Just slump into your seat and hope it doesn’t happen another time?

Rather than look around for whom to blame why not do a thorough self-examination?

• Am I giving them what they need?
• Do I know what they need?
• Do they feel fulfilled working with me?
• Have I done something wrong?
• Have I been listening to their complaints?
• Have I departed from the original vision they submitted to?
• Am I a good leader? Will I like to submit under my own leadership?

A good leader takes the blame first before investigating the cause.

It’s not wise to quickly name and blame others while exempting yourself from the responsibility.

It could be an opportunity for you to go in for self-improvement.

Very few people will choose to leave a winning team and even fewer still, will quit a place where they get satisfaction.

And if you think you gave them the best, but they left anyway, you will have a cool head and a clean conscience.

Some people come into our lives for a reason, some for a season and some for life. Get to know who is in your life and for what purpose.

Leadership

The dividing line between success and failure in life could be

the kind of leadership we submit to.

Whose follower are you?

Who inspires your decisions and actions?

LEADERSHIP: THE CLASSROOM SCENARIO

Today I’ll like to look at leadership in the classroom. I’m considering the teacher to be the one in the leadership position here.

How can I lead in the classroom without becoming bossy or lousy? I’ll like to share my experiences in this area.

First of all we need to know a few truths about the youth we have under our care.

• Students neither like nor have any respect for dictatorial teachers.
• They are suspicious when you become too bossy.
• They want to be heard and not seen only.
• They want to be understood and not hated when they make jokes.
• Undeserved punishment will provoke very negative reactions.
• They are comfortable with teachers who sometimes come down to their level of experience without losing their own dignity.
• They like teachers who are firm but just in their decisions; they respect such leaders.
• Most of them are always trying to self-assert. They need to be understood and guided.

So, how do I manage my classroom as a teacher/leader in the face of the above reality?

• Be just, but be respectful in your justice.
• Establish the rules and never back down because you feel threatened.
• Be firm, but avoid unjustifiable punishment.
• Relax, smile and contribute in the joke, even when you are the target.
• Know when to get out of the joke into more serious issues.
• Don’t try to portray yourself as the superman who never makes mistakes; they will help you make some, and then they will laugh at you.
• Show compassion to those who deserve it without provoking pity for them.
• Be the example or model, but without too much self-publicity.
• Give them their required dose, and don’t promise what you can’t afford.
• Don’t try to please everyone. Strive to give everyone what they need.

Good luck in your teaching career. Have a positive impact on the future generation.

SELF-LEADERSHIP: HOW GOOD ARE YOU AT IT?

He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down without walls (Proverbs 25:28).

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city (Proverbs 16:32).

If we consider leadership to be the ability to show the way, give direction and rally forces to achieve a specific goal, then the above passages are simply telling us that we must be able to give ourselves direction, be able to identify and positions ourselves on the right path before ever attempt help others achieve the same goal.

The first passage suggests that the inability to rules one’s spirit, that is, to lead oneself leads to disorder and chaos.

• Lack of self-control or restrain
• In ability to defend oneself from intruders
• Vulnerability to invasions of all kinds

This is the image of a city that is broken down and without walls. There is no telling what could happen to it at any given time.

The second passage talks about the importance of developing self-discipline and self-rule; then we can steer others in the same direction.

How can I possibly rule the city I just conquered if I can’t rule my own spirit? Do I have control over my…

• Emotions?
• Temperament?
• Appetite and desires?
• Attitude and responses?

• How do I react in the face of opposition?
• How do I act or react when I’m angry?
• What is my attitude when I realize I made a mistake?
• How do I handle my desire and appetite, especially when they seem to get out of control?
• Can I say ‘yes’ even when everything in me is saying ‘no’?

Every human being is called to lead in one way or the other.

We lead in the home, in the classroom, in church or at the job. Sometimes we spontaneously find ourselves in a leadership position we hardly anticipated a few minutes back; for instance helping children across a buy street or supervising a rescue mission we run into.

The way we handle ourselves will determine how well we lead those we are responsible for.

Emotion-driven and Purpose-driven leadership

EMOTION-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP

I’m not happy with you, you’re fired

I’m happy today, we’re having a party

I’m feeling depressed, let’s postpone the meeting

I’m discouraged, let’s give up on the project

I’m not interested in this, we won’t go in that direction

I like her very much, she can do as she pleases

I’m excited, lets start a new project

I don’t like the way he speaks, I won’t hire him

I’m feeling guilty, I won’t take another initiative

PURPOSE-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP

What are our priorities?

who can provide what we need?

How can we improve our production?

what resources do we need?

what extra effort is needed?

what is our target?

what amount of risk is acceptable?

what image do we want to portray?

who is being positively impacted by our services?