"Crucial Conversations" Book Recommendation

The last few weeks in Alberta have been lovely and hot.  I say that from the perspective of someone who is comfortable with +30 C weather and no air conditioning!  The only issue I have with the heat is running in it.  It's then my stamina gets up and goes home, where it waits patiently for my return.

I outsmart it by getting up early and running before it hits 20 degrees and by making sure I stay hydrated along the way.  This past Saturday held all the promise of a day when every sane person holes up in the air conditioned mall until the cool of evening descends.

To beat the heat I was up and running by 7:30 a.m.  At the moment I’m running an hour in 10 minute intervals; run 10, walk 1.  All was good. 

I was into my second run cycle when I felt something trickle down the back of one knee.  This was odd.  My brain launched into identification mode, “I wonder why the backs of my knees are sweating so much.”  

Another trickle, “They don’t generally sweat this much.  I’ve run in hotter weather than this.”  

A trickle down the back of my other knee was followed by an alarming longer stream that reached the top of my sock and ran down onto my foot.  “Am I peeing a little?!?” (I know all you women of a certain age have asked yourselves this question at one point or another…don’t deny it!)  Quick inventory of bladder.  “No, all systems holding steady there.”

Another long trickle into the sock.  “Maybe I’m bleeding.  Should I stop to check?  But my run’s going so well.  I don’t want to mess it up by stopping now.  There’s no pain.  If I was bleeding there would be pain.  I'll keep running.”

Finally the 10 minute run cycle ended and I had a minute to assess the situation.  No urine, no blood…good.  I pulled my water pouch out of its holster at my back and squeezed it for a drink.  Water jetted from a pin-sized hole in the seam at the bottom of the pouch.  Well, I found the source of the mysterious knee sweat.  Now I had to figure out how to get through the next 40 minutes of my run without my water draining away.

My minute was up so I got creative.  It can’t leak if no water gets to the hole.  I flipped the pouch upside down and crammed it down into the holster.  I was off and running…literally!  Problem solved.

Problems come our way all the time from places we don’t understand.  We can ignore them and hope they’ll go away, but that’s like FEELING the water leak out of the pouch and doing NOTHING about it.  Which I tried for a bit, but if I continued to ignore the problem I wouldn’t have had any hydration for the remainder of the run and my strength would have leaked away faster than the water in my pouch.

Occasionally problems are simply opportunities to make a situation better.  But sometimes they’re bigger and require more effort, more strength, and more time to solve.  Not only that, they’re quite often associated with lousy communication.

I know very few people who actually welcome the tough conversations it takes to resolve some of the BIG problems in life.  So I thought I’d share a book I read this spring that helps navigate those tough conversations.

The book is called “Crucial Conversations”.  You can find their website at vitalsmarts.com/crucialconversations . 

I’m one that runs from conflict faster than a turkey flees a Thanksgiving dinner table, but this book helped me identify how I respond in some of these situations and what I can do when I recognize these responses; then how to move forward and address the conversation head on.

There are a number of on-line tools for assessment and practice that can be used in a team setting or individually.  We can all get better at problem-solving through better communication. 

There are still a few weeks of summer left.  Why not add “Crucial Conversations” to your summer reading list.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

What problem or conversation have you been avoiding that you need to address?

Share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.

 

 

Important Components of Christ-Centered Ministry

Last week I handed in an essay for my New Testament Introduction course.  The purpose of the essay was to identify key components of Paul’s ministry, based on his writings in the New Testament, and discuss what components are necessary for someone in ministry today.

 

I thought it was a great assignment, so I’m sharing the summary list I came up with in my essay.

 

1.      Paul views himself as an “apostle of Christ” (Rom 1:1, 1 Cor 1:1, 2 Cor 1:1) who is called to preach the gospel.  In his mind he has no choice BUT to preach the gospel.

 

2.      It is Christ who does the work, not Paul.  Paul realizes the weaker he is, the more he must rely on Christ to accomplish the mission.  “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong. “  (2 Cor 12:9-10)

3.      Paul feels it is his responsibility to provide ongoing pastoral support to the churches he plants.  He encourages, supports, corrects, and guides them in their Christian journey.  He’s not afraid to speak boldly and truthfully to ensure his converts follow Christ faithfully.

4.      Prayer is a vital part of Paul’s ministry.  Paul prays for the churches and for the spread of the gospel.

 

5.      He leads by example, demonstrating solid faith in salvation through Jesus Christ.  Paul wants to be a role-model for the churches he plants and strives to live faithfully in Christ.

So what’s important for ministry today? 

In order to hang in there and echo Paul’s sentiments, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7) a sense of divine call or appointment is crucial.  Without the deep-rooted sense that there is nothing else God has called one to, it becomes very easy to leave ministry when things become challenging.

Prayer is essential.  Without a continuous connection to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit, ministry is doomed.  How can a ministry be Spirit led if no one listens to the Spirit?

I’m always amazed by the guts Paul shows in writing his letters.  He doesn’t sugar coat his message.  If he was sending an email the entire body of some of these epistles would be all caps and bolded!  He rants, he raves, he exhorts, he uses sarcasm, and I’m fairly sure he yells in some parts.  He speaks the truth for the good of his congregation.  And he does it because he loves them and genuinely wants what is best for them.

Oh that I could be as courageous as Paul!

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

What do you think is important for someone in ministry today?  Share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.

Saul's Leadership Lesson - What Not To Do - Lesson #4

We left Saul last week as he was about to lead his army into battle against the Philistines.  His army is successful and the Philistines flee.  The Israelite army pursues the Philistines, determined to drive them back.

Here’s the unexpected twist.  Saul decrees that his entire army is to fast until victory over the Philistines is complete.  Everyone except Saul’s son, Jonathan, knows about this.  Empty stomachs and the physical labour of battle don’t mix well.  By evening the men are weak and tired.

Ironically the army comes across food in the forest, but refuses to touch it because of Saul’s order.  Jonathan, not knowing any better, eats his fill and is refreshed. 

Later that evening Saul wants to continue to chase the Philistines, but the priest intervenes telling Saul to ask God what to do next.  Saul agrees, but no answer comes from God.  Saul suspects sin in the army is the reason God isn’t answering.

He gathers all his army leaders and demands to know what’s happened.

“Then Saul said to the leaders, ‘Something’s wrong!  I want all my army commanders to come here.  We must find out what sin was committed today.  I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!’  But no one would tell him what the trouble was.”   1 Samuel 14:38-40

Isn’t it interesting...not one of Saul’s leaders has the courage to speak up and tell him the guilty party is his own son? 

I suspect no one speaks up because someone had the misfortune of speaking truth to Saul before and it didn’t go well.  Perhaps Saul subscribes to the “shoot the messenger” theory…literally.

Saul doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who’s open to suggestions from the people, but as a leader it’s important to maintain an open dialogue with your staff.  Team members should feel comfortable making suggestions that will improve the work place.

Saul’s Leadership Lesson #4

Stay humble and open enough that your leadership team and staff are comfortable bringing ideas to you.  Keep an open dialogue between you and your staff.

Saul's Leadership Lesson - What Not To Do - Lesson #3

The last few weeks we’ve looked at Saul and what NOT to do when you’re in a leadership position. 

We ended last week with these heartbreaking words from Samuel, the prophet, “…But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart.  The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of the people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”  1 Samuel 13:14 (NLT)

The Bible doesn’t tell us how Saul reacts to this revelation.  I wonder if he really grasps the implications of Samuel’s words.  Does he understand that God has left him? Does he have any concept of how that affects his future?  It’s a chilling thought!

Regardless, we catch up with Saul again in 1 Samuel 14.  He and the 600 men remaining in his army are camped close to the Philistine troops.  I’m guessing they’re probably demoralized and pretty scared right now.

But Jonathan, Saul’s son, decides to take action.   With God’s help, he succeeds in throwing the Philistine camp into confusion.  Saul’s army witnesses a bizarre sight.  There’s an earthquake, Philistines are running in all directions, and mayhem reigns. 

Saul realizes Jonathan is gone, and is probably the cause of the confusion in the Philistine camp.  Excited Saul calls for the priest, no doubt to determine God’s will in the matter.  Should he attack?

Before the priest can go through the ritual for determining God’s will, the confusion in the enemy camp rises to frenzied proportions.  Saul can barely contain himself.  Read his next words carefully.

“…But while Saul was talking to the priest, the confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder.  So Saul said to the priest, ‘Never mind; let’s get going!’”  1 Samuel 14:19

NEVER MIND, LET’S GET GOING!  Yes, you heard right!  Rather than wait for the priest to determine God’s will Saul says, “Never mind, let’s get going!”  In other words, I don’t have time to wait for God.  I don’t need His help.  I’ve got this one covered.

Right now I’m shaking my head, thinking, “Dude…really…you just couldn’t wait!?! 

But what I hypocrite I am!  I do the same thing all the time!

How often have you rushed into a situation without consulting God?  How many times have you tried to do things in your own strength, leaving God out of the picture?

Saul’s Leadership Lesson #3…

In your leadership role or in any decision you make…always take time to consult God.

Saul's Leadership Lesson - What Not to Do - Lesson #2

In Saul’s Leadership Lesson #1 from last week we talked about not taking credit for someone else’s ideas.  We see Saul do this when his son, Jonathan, defeats the Philistines.  This account is found in 1 Samuel 13:1-4.

The Philistines aren’t a nation to take defeat lightly.  They raise up a massive army and make plans to attack the Israelites.

How do the Israelites respond?

“The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns.  Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead...”  1 Samuel 13:6-7 (NLT)

That’s right, the people of God cower in fear of their enemies.  They forget about God’s deliverance from their previous battles.

What about their king?  What’s he doing?  He’s waiting for Samuel, the priest, to show up.  Samuel is to make a sacrifice to God and ask for His help in battle. 

Waiting on God and relying on Him to guide the army into battle is what Saul should do.  The problem starts when he gets impatient waiting for Samuel.

“…Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.  Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come.  Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away.  So he demanded, ‘Bring me the burnt offering and peace offerings!’ And Saul sacrificed the burn offering himself.”  1 Samuel 13:7-9 (NLT)

Samuel arrives just as Saul finishes the sacrifices.  He questions Saul about what he’s done.  Saul’s answer is filled with pride.

“…The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!  So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”  1 Samuel 13:12 (NLT)

What did Saul do wrong?  Offering sacrifices is the specific work of the priest.  His comment, “I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself…” indicates he feels he is just as capable of performing the holy sacrifice as the priest; when really he’s breaking God’s sacred law.

What's the result of Saul's pride-filled decision?

“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed.  ‘You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you.  Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.  But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart.  The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of the people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”  1 Samuel 13:13-14 (NLT)

It’s humbling when pride leads you to think you can do someone else's job better than they can…and you fail.  Sadly, I speak from experience on this one.   My foray down the pride-filled road only cost me a lesson in humility, but Saul’s costs him the kingship of Israel.

Saul’s Leadership Lesson #2…

Don’t let your pride allow you to think you know better than everyone else on your team, so you try to do their jobs as well as your own.

Saul's Leadership Lesson - What Not To Do - Lesson #1

Last week I suggested that Saul was an insecure leader.  He’s found hiding in the baggage at his own coronation.  If that’s not insecure I don’t know what is.

 

Saul has a few other weaknesses besides insecurity.  He’s an outstanding example of what NOT to do in leadership.

 

1 Samuel 13, opens with an account of Jonathan, Saul’s son, leading a successful attack on the Philistines, Israel’s enemies.

 

When Saul hears the news of his son’s victory he decides to use it to his advantage…

 

“Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba.  The news spread quickly among the Philistines.  So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, ‘Hebrews, hear this! Rise up in revolt!’  All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba and that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever.  So the entire arm was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.”  1 Samuel 13:3-4 (NLT)

 

Did you catch that?  The part that says, “…All Israel heard the news that SAUL had destroyed the Philistine garrison….”

 

But doesn’t the story start by telling us JONATHAN defeated the Philistines? 

 

So Saul, the anointed king of Israel, takes credit for his son’s triumph, then uses it to his advantage to rally his army around him.

 

Before we’re too hard on Saul, I want to share what the commentary notes in my study bible say about this chapter.  It does indicate that it was normal in this cultural context for Saul to take credit for his son’s victory. 

 

But does that make it right for us today? 

 

Do you know a leader who’s stolen someone else’s idea and used it to climb the corporate ladder?  Maybe someone’s taken credit for your own work and you’re left choking on the bitter taste of betrayal.

 

If you’re in a leadership position today, always remember to give credit to the person with whom an idea originates.

 

Saul’s Leadership Lesson #1…

Don’t take credit away from someone else.  Always give credit where it’s due!

Getting It Right

There’s so much good stuff in the Old Testament.  There are lots of examples of what to do and how to do it right, but the ones I learn from best are the examples that illustrate what NOT to do!

Look at Abraham and David.  Both are held up as great men of God.  It seems almost impossible to live up to their examples.

But here’s the beauty of the Bible.  It’s not all about people’s success stories.  The Bible also shares the short comings of both Abraham and David.  And then there’s the account of Saul’s life; riddled with failure to remain in the perfect will of God. 

When I read these stories, I realize Abraham and David and Saul are just people.  People like me and you; trying to do their best to follow God’s leading.

Sometimes they do a fantastic job, and other times they fail dismally. 

But, they’re always wise enough to know when they fail, they need to come to God, own their short comings, confess them, ask for forgiveness, and receive it.   

We’re no different.  It’s only considered failure if we don’t come back to God, re-group, own our mistakes, ask forgiveness from God and the people we’ve wronged, and set out in faith to get it right the next time.

I really do feel for Saul in his role as a leader.  Over the next four weeks I want to look at four lessons in leadership we can learn from two chapters about Saul’s life in the book of 1 Samuel.

As a means of introduction to the next four posts I want to consider the following…

I’m fairly certain Saul suffers from insecurity.  This becomes evident early on in his role as king; as early as his coronation.  Samuel, the prophet, introduces Saul as the first ever human king of Israel. 

The rank and file of the tribes of Israel are called, leading up to the big moment of Saul’s introduction.  But where is he? 

“So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.  Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen.  And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them.  But when they looked for him, he had disappeared!  So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?”  And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.”  1 Samuel 10:20-22 (NLT)

Starting a new job is intimidating.  I imagine being crowned the leader of God’s chosen people is a fairly scary prospect.  Scary enough that Saul cowers in fear among the baggage at the thought. 

Saul has his work cut out for him, but God is on his side…until Saul lets his insecurity and pride override his trust in God. 

We’ll look closer at the dangers of an insecure, pride-filled leader next week.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

When you fail in your walk with God do you immediately return to Him to seek forgiveness or do you wallow in guilt, beating yourself up over your failure?

Share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.

Pride and Control...A Leader's Kryptonite

I wonder how many control freaks are reading this post right now.  Well, you're in good company; it's written by a fellow control freak! 

One thing I realized as I read through the account of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land - Moses was not a control freak!

Why do I say that?  Take a look at Numbers 11.  The Israelites sing their song of complaint again.  This isn’t news to Moses.  He’s heard it before.  In fact, he’s heard it multiple times before.

This time he’s fed up and he needs to vent.  Sometimes leaders do that.  Days can be long and frustrating.  Working with different personality types is challenging and can leave you as twitchy as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! 

Moses has a lot to say to God.  You can read his rant in its entirety in Numbers 11:10-15, but the last two verses give you the general sense of the level of Moses’ irritation with the people and his leadership role…

“I can’t carry all these people by myself!  The load is far too heavy!  If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me.  Do me a favor and spare me this misery.”  Numbers 11:14-15 (NLT)

Have you had days when you just want say, “Kill me now!”?  I know I have.

Moses earns my respect as a leader in the way he responds to what happens next.  God agrees with Moses and introduces a solution to the problem.  God tells Moses…

“…Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel.  Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you.  I will come down and talk to you there.  I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also.  They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.”  Numbers 11:16-17 (NLT)

Sounds like a great plan, right?  Suddenly the responsibility of the leadership role is split between a bunch of different people. 

But let’s be honest for a minute…

What if my boss came to me and said, “You know what Carol, I know you’re in charge of managing the six people on your sales team, but I’m going take away some of that responsibility.  From now on you’re going to manage one person on the team and I’ll assign someone else to be in charge of the other five."

 

Do you think I’d be happy about that change?  I’d probably think I was failing in my job as a sales manager and wonder when the pink slip was coming!

My pride would be hurt and I’d probably fight to hang onto control of what little responsibility remained of my job.

Control and pride – a leader's kryptonite.  

But here’s the lesson from Moses.  God does share the spirit of leadership among seventy men Moses collects and brings to Him.  They all begin to prophesy, a sure sign that they have the spirit within them, but Joshua, Moses’ assistant protests and asks Moses to make them stop. 

Read what Moses says to this…

“…Are you jealous for my sake?  I wish that all the Lords people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all! " Numbers 11:29 (NLT)

What a great reaction for a leader!  Moses gets a gold star for this one! He isn’t jealous.  He’s not worried about maintaining control.  He doesn’t let his pride overcome his need for assistance in leading the Israelites.  He’s grateful for the help.

Oh that I would be as humble a leader as Moses!

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

Does your pride stop you from asking for help? 

Share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.

A Lonely Place Called Overtime

It’s been so long since my last post I’m not sure I remember how to write one anymore.  Let me start by apologizing to you, my readers.  It was not my intent to leave you hanging for the last two months with nary a post!

I confess...I succumbed to the seedy underbelly of the work world…overtime…and lots of it! 

It’s a club few people want to join, but many are dragged into.  The atmosphere is oppressive.  The dim glow of laptop screens reflect the despondency in bulging eyes, peering out of faces gone pallid from lack of sunlight.

Bodies, bloated with high carb intake, and jacked up on caffeine, slump in office chairs.  No one makes eye contact.  This is a cold, dark, lonely place where people wither and die inside.

OK, so maybe it wasn’t THAT bad, but it wasn’t good.  It’s hard to find a balance between putting in enough time to do your job well, and sacrificing your personal life and health to make it happen.

I should know better.  I’ve hit the proverbially brick wall before – working myself so hard that I ended up with stress induced asthma and heart palpitations.  But I push, optimistic that I can create more hours in a day.  (There really are only 24, you know.) 

 

I trade sleep for work; working until midnight, then getting up at 5:30 to exercise.  I trade quiet time with God for stress time with my computer.

Soon I trade exercising in favour of getting to the office earlier to work more.  Next I trade healthy eating in favour of binging on chocolate and carbs to energize my sleep and exercise deprived body.

I crave tea before I even got to work in the morning.  I find my eyes drooping at red lights and think, “Maybe I could close them just for an instant.”  I’m bone-tired exhausted on the drive home.  Then I do it all over again.

And that’s where I’ve been for the last two months.  But it’s a twisted, unhealthy lifestyle!  This week is about finding balance.

I’ve designated time with God – it’s booked in my Outlook calendar as a meeting…Lunch With God! 

I’ve gone back to running on the weekends, and set my baseline weigh and measure at Curves. (That was a disturbing visit!)  Chocolate now is a treat instead of a prescription.  I'm focused on being in bed by 10:00 every night.

Yesterday I left the office at 4:30 and was home by 5:10.  I had an evening to make soup, chat with my husband, play with the cats…and start a blog post.  It was amazing!  I know it doesn't sound like much, but it was a huge accomplishment in my world!  My goal is to have more of those nights.

You’ve heard about burning the candle at both ends.  Let me say this, you can do it for a while, but sooner or later your fingers get burned and then the flame goes out.  Stop the madness before your flame goes out.

Is your life an unbalanced, out of control mess?  Is it time to set boundaries and reclaim your personal time?  Share your thoughts by clicking on "comments" below.

Navigating the Fog of 2014

Have you set any goals for 2014?  I’m not talking New Year’s resolutions, already buried in the dusty repository in your mind labeled “Good Intentions”.

I’m talking about REAL, honest to goodness goals.

What’s the difference?

Well, in my opinion, a resolution is an ideal we’d like to reach that rarely has any logical steps for achievement attached to it.

A goal, on the other hand, is a well-defined objective with a step by step road map of how to get there within a specific time frame. 

If you read any material on goal setting you’re quickly introduced to S.M.A.R.T. goals. 

S – specific – goals need to be well-defined

M – measurable – set a quantifiable measurement so you know when you achieve your goal

A – achievable – don’t set yourself up for failure.  Be realistic when setting your goal.

R – relevant – make your goal relevant to your life and what YOU personally want to accomplish

T – timely – give yourself a specific time frame to reach your goal

Why set goals? 

Starting off the year without a goal is like driving after dark in “pea soup” fog.  You creep forward a fraction of a kilometer at a time, eyes desperate to pierce the thick cloud that blinds you with reflected brilliance from your headlights.  It’s a slow crawl to your destination…if you get there at all.

Without a goal to work towards you’re driving blind in the fog that is 2014.  Life comes at you fast and furious, and if you don’t define goals early on, you find yourself sitting in the cold, dark belly of December wondering where time went.

I know we’re already playing peek-a-boo with March, but it’s not too late to set your goals.  You still have ten months to make them reality.  A lot can happen in ten months. 

Not sure what to work towards? 

I like to set four different types of goals…

Personal – by the end of 2014 I want to migrate my blog to a self-hosted website and have compiled two e-books in pdf format from previous blog posts – one devotional book, and one of blog recipes.

Fitness – I want to run 5 km in 30 minutes.

Professional – by the end of 2014 I want to have a stable team of six sales people billing at goal level and I want to have read (or attended) a minimum of three different books (or workshops) that will equip me to become a better manager.

Spiritual – I want to spend time reading the Bible and praying EVERY day.  It doesn’t have to be a long time, but it has to be dedicated time when I am focused ONLY on God.

Goals don’t have to be monumental.  They don’t have to rock the world.  They don’t even have to shake your neighborhood.  They just need to be something important to you.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Have you set goals for 2014?  If not, why not?  Set them now.

Share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.

Insecure Leader...Are You?

I love John C. Maxwell’s statement, “People quit people, not companies.”  How very true! 

We’ve all experienced different leadership styles…some good…some bad.

The quality and style of a manager literally makes or breaks a company.  I’ve known (and worked for) companies who lost valuable, long term employees simply because the wrong individual ended up in management.  Before the dust settled half the sales force left to find employment elsewhere.

If you’re in a leadership role (whether it’s at work, in your church, in your peer group, or in your family) it’s your responsibility to ensure you’re equipping yourself with the tools to be the very best leader you can be.  Your team deserves no less!

What’s one way leaders can improve? 

Be secure in your role and in your identity.  When insecurity creeps into a leader’s life it’s like consuming small amounts of cyanide over a period of time.  It doesn’t kill you immediately, but you wish it would.

The next few points will help you take an internal inventory to determine if insecurity has made a home in your psyche.

• Do you need to be in control of every situation?  Do you micro-manage everyone around you?  Are you afraid to trust your team to do their job?  Do you limit your team members' freedom to come up with their own solutions to problems?
• Do you respond negatively to constructive criticism?  Do you adopt a defensive attitude?  Are you open to hearing employees’ suggestions?  Has your team stopped bringing suggestions for improvements to you?  Do you feel every comment someone makes is a personal attack (even if it isn’t)?
• Do you hang onto resentment?  Have you allowed hard feelings towards a co-worker or team member to creep into your thoughts? 
• Can you admit you’re wrong?   Do you blame others for your mistakes, or gloss over them hoping no one notices?  Do you have a hard time apologizing?

Let’s be honest, we all have insecurities.  But in a leader’s life they’re an insidious toxin! 

Did something in the list of questions above strike a nerve with you?  Identify the problem.  Call it what it is, then work towards resolution so it doesn’t become poison in your life.  You’ll end up a better leader for it.

 THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

 

What insecurities challenge you in your leadership role?  Share your thoughts by clicking “comments” below.

Psalm 90:12 - Life's Priorities

MEMORY VERSE:

“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (NLT)  Psalm 90:12

Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses.  In this psalm Moses appreciates just how short our lives are in the overall “big picture” of creation.  He says if we understand this concept we will use the time we have on earth wisely.

I think Moses understands what it means to use his time wisely.  He demonstrates this as he nears the end of his life.

“One day the Lord said to Moses, ‘Climb one of the mountains east of the river, and look out over the land I have given the people of Israel.  After you have seen it, you will die like your brother Aaron, for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin...’”  Numbers 27:12-14 (NLT)

Moses has lived a long, productive life and now knows his death is imminent.  How does Moses respond?  Does he mope?  Does he withdraw from his leadership role?  Does he lash out at God?

“Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures.  Please appoint a new man as leader for the community.  Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.’”  Numbers 27:15-17 (NLT)

Moses’ first concern is the leadership of the people.  He immediately goes into succession planning mode.  He’s wants the Israelite nation to have a godly man to lead them into the Promised Land.

What does he do next?  Moses continues in his leadership role.  He addresses the people of Israel reminding them who they are, where they’ve come from and where they’re going, how they got there, and how they’re to live their lives in dedication to God.  His last act is to bestow a blessing on the people of Israel.

We can equate the verses in Numbers 27 as the equivalent of reviewing test results with your doctor, only to find out you have six months to live.  How would you react?  How would I react? 

I suspect I wouldn’t handle this news quite as well as Moses.  Moses sets an extraordinary example of how to die well, but I also like to take this as a lesson in living well. 

I don’t know how long I’ll live.  Like Moses, I’d like enough wisdom to realize life is short.  I’d like the ability to discern the important things to accomplish before it’s too late.

Are you doing things that would be most important to you if you knew how short life was going to be?  Are there dreams or goals you’ve ignored, thinking you’ll get to them “one day”? 

Are you so busy with the stuff of daily life that you don’t have time for the bigger things...

• time with your spouse
• time with your children
• building relationships with friends and neighbours
• painting
• writing your book
• sharing your journey of faith
• going on a mission trip
• spending time at the soup kitchen or homeless shelter
• visiting your sick relative

Fill in your own blanks.  What are you NOT doing that you’d like to be?  What really matters in your life?

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“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (NLT)  Psalm 90:12