NTM

I used to never read books – unfortunately that carried over into my personal Bible reading as well.   I wondered why I felt like I was not growing and developing into what God has planned for me as a leader.    Still a work in progress, but I’m learning to balance my time in the Word as well as learning from other experienced leaders.   The following is a wide range of books from authors with various backgrounds that I continue to learn from.   Who you are right now is a direct result of the books you have read and the people you associate with.    Don’t like who you are?   Change.  A good place to start is to renew your mind with God’s thoughts from His Word.    Flip off the TV.   Associate with some great leaders through a good book.

1. Spirtual Leadership by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Focuses on different facets of what it takes to lead. Selected scriptures are designed to prompt discussion. Written for individual or group study – laid out in a 12-week format.

Modeling, inspiring, challenging, enabling, encouraging – these are the five practices of godly leadership that each leader should continue to develop.

Godly leadership involves modeling the way. Personal credibility is the foundation. The real test to modeling the way is whether your words and actions line up. Ask yourself if what you say and what you do are the same. Consistency is a direct reflection of your character. Leaders must be clear about the values that guide them. Spending time with people, sharing your heart, being there and being visible during times of uncertainty are ways that we can model the way. Handling difficulties with grace and calmness communicates your godliness to others.

Godly leadership involves inspiring a shared vision. Goals, vision and objectives of where you are headed as an organization are important. Others on the team need to share that vision. The first step is communication. Vision is the ability to see in the invisible realm what God intends to accomplish in the visible realm and then make it apparent (real) for others. Godly leaders are constantly helping others see God’s purpose and intention so they can become part of its accomplishment. Leaders inspire a shared vision by envisioning the future and enlisting others in a common vision. Leaders cannot command commitment; they can only inspire it. What may begin as “my” vision emerges as “our” vision. Godly leadership will frequently ask if what we’re doing lines up with our goals and vision.

Godly leadership involves challenging the process. It is important to ask if we are being effective. Evaluation is key to growth – both individually and corporately. Godly leaders will often find themselves challenging the way things are and moving people towards the way things should be from God’s perspective. Leaders search for opportunities to change, grow, innovate and improve. We must remain open to receiving ideas from anyone and anywhere. It is during times of change that leadership is most needed. As weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders. Without conflicts, there is no good decision. Leaders are learners. Peter Drucker says, “The better the man, more mistakes he will make for the more things he will try. I would never promote into a top level job a man who has not made mistakes; otherwise he is sure to be mediocre.” Cheryl Forbes says, “We never see God in failure, but only in success, a strange attitude for people who have a cross as the center of their faith.”

Godly leadership involves enabling others to act. This means delegating and helping others be all that they can be. The Spirit motivates, equips, empowers and enables us to do the will of God. In our interpersonal relationships we enable and empower each other in many of the same ways because it is how God treats us. Leaders know that they can’t do it alone. Understand that leadership is a team effort. Relationships are built on trust and confidence. People take risks, make changes and keep programs, organizations and movements alive. Godly leaders need to create a climate where people are involved and feel important. That is the heart of strengthening others. Leaders use their power in service of others. They enable others to act, not by hoarding the power they have, but by giving it way. The work of leaders is making people feel strong, capable, informed and connected.

Godly leadership involves encouraging the heart. Leaders know that relationships and mentoring go before programs and policies. Recognizing contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence is an underrated way of encouraging. Celebrate the values and the victories by creating a spirit of community within your team. Caring is at the heart of leadership.

Are you modeling the way? What are you doing to inspire a shared vision? Are you evaluating and challenging the process? Are you enabling others to act? Have you been encouraging the heart? These are the five practices of the godly leader…how are you doing?

These thoughts were prompted by reading Christian Reflections on the Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner

Psalm 23 gives us a tremendous glimpse of how the Great Shepherd deals with His sheep. Have you ever stopped, meditated and then prayfully applied the principles exposed to us there?

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

First, the Great Shepherd knows the condition of His sheep. He knows us intimately – our strengths, weaknesses, doubts, fears – and deals with us individually. As a shepherd of people, you must spend time individually with your flock in order to instill trust so that they will follow. Many leaders, including myself, have focused too much on the ministry and have unfortunately forgotten the people. I have been there with the flock – but not really. People are the greatest asset for any ministry. Place people where they can function from their strengths, not their weaknesses. Allow them to reflect their passion. Foster positive attitudes. Positive people are usually team players with teachable spirits. As shepherds, we absolutely must take personal interest in each individual. Discover their passions and their motivations – their fears and doubts. Then lead them to the Great Shepherd.

Second, the Great Shepherd identifies with His sheep. He knows our strengths, our hearts, our attitudes, our personalities and our experiences – He identifies with us. As a shepherd of people, you must identify with your flock. Trust. Respect. Loyalty. These characteristics are given to a leader because of the leader’s character, not the position. Be vulnerable. Let your flock identify with you as well. The effectiveness of the flock and the fulfillment of each member depends on what kind of shepherd you are. There will be times when, as a shepherd, you will have to inflict pain; you will not want to do it, but you will, if you are a good shepherd. They will bear the mark of what type of leader you really are. Make sure your mark of leadership stands for something worthwhile. Great shepherds leave their mark by constantly communicating their values and their mission. And you can’t do that without identifying with your sheep – up close and personal. You can impress from a long way off, but you can only influence up close. When you identify with your sheep, you can point them to the Great Shepherd.

Third, the Great Shepherd provides a safe pasture for His sheep. He leads me to the still waters. He restores me. There, I am secure and protected – free from fear. As a shepherd of people, you must make sure that the environment is a place where all can flourish. People flourish in an environment that is free from fear of being harmed, that is free from rivalry on the team and that is free from pests. You create an environment that is free from fear by keeping your flock well informed. You create an environment that is free from rivalry by infusing every position with importance. You create an environment that is free from pests by dealing with the small issues right away before they fester and infect the whole flock. We must be visible shepherds. The shepherd’s daily presence should be reassuring. Your flock can handle the uncertainties of tomorrow if they see a shepherd they are certain that they can trust today. The only way to deal with uncertainty is to lead them back to the safety of the Great Shepherd.

Fourth, the Great Shepherd gently uses the staff of direction on His sheep. Man devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps. As a shepherd of people, it is your responsibility to direct your flock. A gentle nudge can go a long way. Most of us have the tendency to focus on the immediate task at hand; however, the shepherd must keep his eyes on where the flock is going. It is important then to know where you are going, get out in front of the flock and lead them gently in the right direction. A harsh shepherd fails to lead his flock correctly and wonders why they are not following. It’s because he has used the rod instead of the staff. It’s the staff that leads the flock – it’s the barking dog that drives them. As a shepherd of people, it is your responsibility to establish boundaries. Doing so will keep the sheep together and headed in the proper direction. It is your responsibility to bring people back on track when they go beyond the boundaries. You provide the direction – your flock will decide how to get there within the boundaries. No matter how hard you try as a shepherd, there will still be some people that wander off. You must go out of your way to bring them back on track. As a shepherd of people, it is also your responsibility to encourage the flock. Nothing is more reassuring than the presence of the trusted shepherd. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Good shepherds encourage their sheep. As you use the staff of direction, make sure to reassure the sheep of the presence of the Great Shepherd.

Fifth, the Great Shepherd effectively corrects problems in His sheep. Many leaders err in their responsibility to correct. Use the rod incorrectly and you will discourage your flock. Use the rod inconsistently and you will lose the respect of your flock. The rod of correction should be used to protect your flock from danger. Stand in the gap for your sheep. Too many leaders, including myself, have tried to play both sides of the fence and have discouraged the spirit of the flock. As the sheep stray, correct the course. Leaders discipline their people because they see the danger ahead and want to save them from harm. The key of this correction is to guide them without alienating them. Course correction is painful enough without a shepherd assigning blame. Instruct your people and teach them by helping them see further down the path than they currently do. Correction is received well when your flock has seen you use the rod to protect them. This shows them that you are trustworthy. As a shepherd of people, you must regularly check the progress of your people because it is your responsibility to develop them. You must continue to inspect the sheep. The best way to do so is to work on open communication at all times. You must continue to challenge them to grow. If you notice your flock is not growing, maybe you have stunted their growth. As you use the rod of correction, be vulnerable with how you have grown through the correction of the Great Shepherd. Remember He is trustworthy and desires for our lives to glorify Him.

Finally, the Great Shepherd cares deeply about His sheep. Great leadership comes with a high price tag. As a shepherd of people, you will have to give up your time, energy and resources. In fact, great leadership will cost you yourself. The greatest leaders are the greatest servers. The sheep who have a shepherd that is not willing to pay the price end up paying for his poor leadership. As a shepherd of people, it is you who will decide daily who will pay for your leadership. It is either  you or your people. The price you are willing to pay is an indication of the value that you place on your sheep. Care deeply and place a high value and you will be an effective shepherd. The rod and the staff do not make the shepherd great. The heart of the shepherd determines the greatness. By caring deeply for your sheep, you will prove to them that you are worthy to be followed. Paul was able to say with confidence: “Follow me, as I follow Christ.” If you give half-hearted leadership, don’t be surprised that your people follow half-heartedly. The Great Shepherd knows, loves and cares for His sheep – that is why we seek to follow Him devotedly.

The Great Shepherd knows His sheep, identifies with them, provides a safe pasture, uses the staff of direction and the rod of correction. He does these things because He has a Shepherd’s Heart. Let’s put these principles into practice as we past these principles on to our flock.

(These thoughts were prompted by reading Dr. Leman and William Pentak’s book entitled The Way of the Shepherd. I highly recommend reading it.)