Meet some new friends:
- Angela loves being a homemaker and raising her children. She does not have a college degree.
- Beth serves in the children’s ministry and organizes several church events, including the annual chili cook-off and the building fundraiser. She’s a whistle-while-she-works type of gal.
- Celeste has the compassion of a true saint. She loves people, and is always ready with a hug and a kind word. She serves in the counseling ministry.
- Debra is always on the move, helping with various and sundry tasks with the PTA, at the senior center, and in her condo association. Wherever there is a need, she helps to fill in.
What do all these people have in common? Besides being exhausted and very happy, they are all leaders. Each is serving an important set of roles that impacts and influences others, whether they hold a fancy title or not.
If you back any of our new friends into a corner, every one of them would deny it.
Some of their denials sound like this:
- “Leader? What are you rambling about? I’m not changing the world here.”
- “Anyone can do what I do. It’s not a big deal, really.”
- “No, HE’S a leader—that guy over there. He heads the This-and-That for So-and-So. That’s a leader, not me.”
- “I’m not a leader, I’m just a ___________ (fill-in-the-blank).”
Our denials are often under the guise of humility.
“Humility is not the same as resisting the urge to show off (which is modesty) or denying that you have gifts and talents (which is lying).” ~ Frederica Mathewes-Green
Being humble is very super-spiritual and all that, but we have to tell the truth. God has given us unique gifts, talents, abilities, passions, interests and strengths. Chances are that we use lots of them every day, without being aware. We are also unaware that we are leading others by impact and example in our actions, every day.
We are leaders, NOW, not later!
It’s interesting what we say about our leadership (or lack thereof), but what does God have to say about all this?
James 1:9 NASB “A believer who finds himself in a low position in life should be proud that God has given him a high position.”
Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, it’s important to God! Whether we realize it or not, it’s important to others as well.
James 1:16-18 MSG – “So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.”
God has given us gifts, and shows us off!
Joshua 1:9 NIRV – 9 “Here is what I am commanding you to do. Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.”
Key words: COMMANDING and EVERYWHERE! God is sending us all places, and He’s with us. God doesn’t send followers: he sends leaders.
So…you’re a leader. Now you know! What can you do to cultivate leadership?
- Pray. Ask God to show you your own leadership: where and how you lead, and what He would have you do in those positions.
- Purpose. Take some time to reflect, and to understand the reason for your various leadership roles—both formal and informal. Know the goals you should be focused on, and how the work of other folks fits into those goals.
- Prepare. Make sure that you have the tools, training, support and resources that you need to lead others in your roles.
- Pay the Piper. Know who the piper is, and what you have to pay! In your roles, to whom are you responsible? How can you be accountable? Find out what you need to do, and do it.
Acknowledging and fulfilling your role as a leader will be terrifically rewarding!
Why wait? It’s never too late to step up, step in and step out into a leadership role you’re passionate about, or to acknowledge the role you’ve been doing all along!
Take Action!
Sign up to download the eBook, The Leader’s Journey. In addition to the eBook, you get a SURPRISE BONUS delivered to your inbox for further reflection.
You can also sign up for a Leadership Strategy Coaching Session, where you will learn to identify your own leadership traits, preferences and abilities.
