Life Lesson

The Art of Leadership.

Leadership is not something read about in a book or learned in a classroom. A book may point you in the right direction or allow you to look within at your own abilities but in the end leadership is a practiced art. Leadership is a discipline that must be worked on as a pianist works on his music. Leadership will improve over time and with practice. While there is always the occasional business leader that has natural and persuasive talent, most of us must work hard to improve our leadership skills. It is hard to describe what a leader looks like but the following is a short list of what is expected:

1. The ability to influence others
2. Priorities set correctly
3. Integrity
4. The ability to effect positive change. (Either spiritually, morally, financially, etc.)
5. The ability to solve complex problems
6. Good attitude/Positive Attitude
7. Self-discipline
8. The ability to develop staff. (Good training skills)

Leadership is nothing more than the ability to influence. Without a follower, a leader cannot influence and therefore is not a leader. A potential business leader must understand that no one will want to work for or follow someone that lost. In the same way, no one can take an organization to a higher level without clear knowledge of staff development.

Common Roadblocks to leadership

1. Confusing Influence with Control
1. Can you control your employees?
2. Can you control your teenagers?
2. Lack of Vision
1. I have no idea where we are going. Let us hope for the best.
2. Doesn’t have a spiritual compass.
3. Hasn’t thought through the whole project.
3. Lack of Discipline.
1. Forgets payroll.
2. Late on bills.
3. Does not finish jobs.
4. Little or no Integrity.
1. Will not honor warranty.
2. Poor workmanship
3. Cannot return phone calls
4. Does not keep word to customers, vendors or employees
5. Uses people to create personal wealth.
6. Lack of leadership skills or imbalance

Where do we stand?

Self-discipline

Charisma                      Self-actualized              Great sales skills but

or Presence                                                     lack of  admin

Time management issues

                                    Perfectionist                  Lifeless

                                    Sometimes

Annoying                     

Proverbs 9

Invitations of Wisdom and of Folly

  ¹Wisdom has built her house; (self-actualized quadrant)

    she has hewn out its seven pillars.

    ² She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; (Meat not milk, new wine not old)

    she has also set her table. (she is prepared and thinking ahead)

    ³ She has sent out her maids, and she calls (She is forward thinking and hospitable)

    from the highest point of the city. (self actualized)

    ⁴ "Let all who are simple come in here!" (she cries out. Move on up!)

    she says to those who lack judgment.

    ⁵ "Come, eat my food

    and drink the wine I have mixed.

    ⁶ Leave your simple ways and you will live;

    walk in the way of understanding.

Are we listening???

We must recognize that the only constant is change. – Steve Youngblood

“To Change the direction of the organization, change the leader.” John C. Maxwell

If we own the business we may not be able to hire a new leader because it may be us. We can, however, change ourselves. We need to do a comprehensive self-study in order to find our weak spots. This can be done in many different ways.

1. 360 degree review. Have those below you, beside you and above you give you a review.
2. Pray for God to reveal weak areas and weak spots.
3. Journalize all your problems throughout the day. (ie. Relational issues, lost sales, anger problems) 

The older we get the harder it is to change. We get set in our ways. It is difficult to teach an old dog new tricks.