Leadership Promises - Recognize the Need to Transition

"Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many." Nehemiah 7:1-2

Leadership Promises - Recognize the Need to Transition.

Two emotions usually follow a great achievement: a sign of relief and celebration and a sense of . . . now what? The period after a success can become a dangerous time. Sometimes we feel tempted toward complacency, especially if we lack another goal.

We can become satisfied and let down our guard. Momentum leaks. The moment of victory is a crucial time for any organization. A transitional problem occurs when the leader does not know how to grow with the organization.

Nehemiah's life illustrates the difference between a catalyst and a consolidator. Two Types of Leadership Seasons.
Catalyst: Gets it going.
Consolidator: Keeps it going.
Designer: Thinks it up.
Developer: Follows it up.
Motivator: Encourages.
Manager: Organizes.
Entrepreneur: Relies on self.
Executive: Relies on others.
The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Good day!

Leadership Promises - What's The Score?

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase." 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Leadership Promises - What's The Score?

Every endeavor or "game" in life has its own rules and its own definition of what it means to win. Some teams measure their success in points scored, others in profits. Still others may look at the number of people they serve. But no matter what the game is, there is always a scoreboard. And if a team is to accomplish its goals, it has to know the score.

Why is the score so important? Because teams that succeed make adjustments to continually improve themselves and their situations. In preparation, teams come up with a detailed game plan. But as the game goes on, the game plan means less and less, while the scoreboard becomes more and more important.

Why? Because the game is constantly changing. You see, the game plan tells you what you want to happen. But the scoreboard tells what is happening.
Excerpt from The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Keep Improving

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training." 1 Corinthians 9:25

We live in a society with destination disease. Too many people want to do enough to "arrive," and then they want to retire. My friend Kevin Myers says it this way: "Everyone is looking for a quick fix, but what they really need is fitness. People who look for fixes stop doing what's right when pressure is relieved. People who pursue fitness do what they should no matter what the circumstances are."

Leadership Promises - Keep Improving.

People who are constantly improving themselves make three processes an ongoing cycle in their lives:
1. Preparation: When individuals are intentional about learning something every day, then they become better prepared to handle whatever challenges they meet.

2. Contemplation: Time alone is essential to self-improvement. It allows you to gain perspective on your failures and successes so that you can learn from them. It gives you the time and space to sharpen your personal or organizational vision. And it enables you to plan how you can improve in the future.

3. Application: Musician Bruce Springsteen said, "A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be." In other words, you need to apply what you've learned.
Excerpt from The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Uncheck Emotion, Unsuccessful Leadership

"Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, 'Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar'." 2 Samuel 13:32

After David sinned with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan warned the king that the sword would never depart from his house. And David endured domestic problems from that day on. No one saw this more clearly than his son, Absalom.

When Amnon raped Absalom's sister Tamar and David did nothing about it, Absalom became irate. After his attempts to get an audience with his father failed, Absalom decided to get everyone's attention. He avenged his sister Tamar by murdering Amnon, his half-brother.

For this crime his father banished him. After he was permitted to return, Absalom got angry with General Joab and set his field on fire. Despite his actions, Absalom couldn't get the fatherly attention he wanted so desperately. So he used his passion to sabotage his father's leadership. In the end, Absalom died a maverick leader whose passion went awry.
The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Good day!

Leadership Promises - God Grants Rest

"And the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord'." Leviticus 25:1-2

Ever heard of the Sabbath Year or the Year of Jubilee? Those are the topics of Leviticus 25. The first occurred every seven years, while the second was to take place every fifty years. These special years called for special behavior. God's people were to stop their usual labor, alter their daily routines, and change their normal existence.

Consider a few lessons leaders can learn from these special Sabbaths:

• They gave the people a time of Rest.
• They gave the people an opportunity for Redemption.
• They gave the people time for Reflection.
• They gave the people time for Reward and Repair.
• They gave the people time for Relationships.
• They gave the people a time to Refocus.

The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Motive Matters

"Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs; the good-natured are like fresh morning dew." Proverbs 19:12

In a culture that sings the praises of individual gold medals and where a person fights for rights instead of focusing on responsibility, people tend to lose sight of the big picture.

Leadership Promises - Motive Matters.

In fact, some people seem to believe that they are the entire picture: Everything revolves around their own needs, goals, and desires. I once saw this message on a T-shirt that expresses the attitude well: "My idea of a team is a whole lot of people doing what I tell them to do."

A team isn't supposed to be a bunch of people being used as a tool by one individual for their own selfish gain. Members of a team must have mutually beneficial shared goals. They must be motivated to work together, not manipulated by someone for individual glory. Anyone who is accustomed to pulling together people and using them to benefit only himself isn't a team builder; he's a dictator.
The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Repair Character Faults

"Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also." Acts 12:1-3

Ego drove King Herod of Paul's day, just as it had driven his father and grandfather. They all desperately lacked character. Herod's lack of character provides many examples of what not to do as a leader:

• He mistreated his own citizens.
• He made decisions based on popularity.
• He acted irrationally in difficult times.
• He harbored anger toward others.
• He sought power out of insecurity.
• He projected an infallible image.
• He was blinded by his ego.

To improve your character and build a solid foundation of your own leadership, you must:

• Identify where you're weak or have taken shortcuts.
• Look for patterns.
• Apologize to those you've wronged.
• Stay teachable and rebuild.

The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Good day!

Leadership Promises - As Responsibilities Increase, Rights Decrease

"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48

Leaders must live by higher standards than their followers. This insight is exactly opposite of most people's thoughts concerning leadership.

In a world of perks and privileges that accompany the climb to success, little thought is given to the responsibilities of the upward journey. Leaders can give up anything except responsibility, either for themselves or their organizations. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., said, "I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.". Too many people are ready to assert their rights, but not to assume their responsibilities.

Richard L. Evans, in his book An Open Road, said, "It is priceless to find a person who will take responsibility . . . to know when someone has accepted an assignment that it will be effectively, conscientiously completed. But when half-finished assignments keep coming back-to check on, to verify, to edit, to interrupt thought, and to take repeated attention-obviously someone has failed to follow the doctrine of completed work."
Developing the Leader Within You. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Consider Their Dream

"Then He bought [Abram] outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.' And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.'" Genesis 15:5

Leadership Promises - Consider Their Dream.

Most people who are dissatisfied and discouraged feel that way because they haven't grasped a vision for themselves. As a leader, you can help others discover their dreams and then get moving.

You may already recognize much of the potential of the people you're leading, but you need to know more about them. To help them recognize the destination they will be striving for, you need to know what really matters to them. To do that, find out these things:

• What do they cry about? To know where people truly want to go, you've got to know what touches their hearts.
• What do they sing about? In the long run, people need to focus a lot of energy on what gives them joy.
• What do they dream about? If you can help people discover their dreams and truly believe in them, you can help them become who they were designed to be.

Becoming a Person of Influence. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Count Of Character

"A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst." Proverbs 11:4

How a leader deals with the circumstances of life tells you a lot about their character. Crisis doesn't necessarily make character, but it certainly does reveal it.

Leadership Promises - Count Of Character.

Adversity is a crossroads which makes a person choose one of two paths: character or compromise. Every time leaders choose character, they become stronger, even if that choice brings negative consequences.

As Nobel Prize winning author Alexander Solzhenitsyn said, "The meaning of earthly existence lies, not as we have grown used to thinking, in prospering, but in the development of the soul." The development of character is at the heart of our development, not just as leaders, but as human beings. 

What must every person know about character?

• Character is more than talk.
• Talent is a gift, but character is a choice.
• Character brings lasting success with people.

Leaders cannot rise above the limitations of their character.
The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Good day!

Leadership Promises - The Heart Of A Leader

"Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me . . .Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit in me." Psalm 51:1-3, 10

Leadership Promises - The Heart Of A Leader.

All leaders make mistakes. They are a part of life. Successful leaders recognize their errors, learn from them, and then work to correct their faults.

A study of 105 executives determined many of the characteristics of successful executives, but one particular trait they shared was identified as the most valuable. It was that they admitted their mistakes and accepted the consequences, rather than trying to blame others. Most people don't want to reap the consequences of their actions. You can see this type of attitude everywhere.

A leader who is willing to take responsibility for their actions and be honest or "transparent" with their people is someone they will admire, respect, and trust. That leader is also someone from whom they can learn.
Developing the Leaders Around You. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Falling Short

"Then Saul said to Samuel, 'I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.'" 1 Samuel 15:24

Leadership Promises - Falling Short.

Saul never won the inward battles. On the outside he was tall, good-looking, and well built; however, on the inside he was a small man. When faced with a challenge he panicked. He lacked the courage necessary to lead the people of Israel.

Some lessons about courage we learn from Saul are that:

1. Courage and cowardice are both contagious: When Saul fled, so did his men.
2. Without courage, it doesn't matter how good your intentions are: Saul had good intentions when he presented burnt offerings to the Lord. But he let his fear that people would desert him control his actions.
3. Without courage, we're slaves of our own insecurity and possessiveness: Saul was captive to his fears of being replaced by David.
4. A leader without courage will never let go of the familiar: Saul employed a medium to ask counsel of Samuel's spirit.
5. Lack of courage will eventually sabotage a leader: Saul's lack of courage cost him everything.

Excerpt from The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Good day!

Leadership Promises - The Call Of A Leader

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?' Then I said, "'Here am I! Send me.'" Isaiah 6:1, 8

Leadership Promises - The Call Of A Leader.

The first eight verses of Isaiah 6 illustrate how God calls many leaders. When Isaiah receives a vision from God, the Lord lays out a need for someone to speak for Him. God has a message and is looking for a messenger. God issued a general call, for anyone, and Isaiah took it personally. He did so because of three factors that make up a divine call to lead:

1. Opportunity: We see a specific place where we can make a difference. This has to do with timing.
2. Ability: We recognize that we have the God-given gifts to do something about the need. This has to do with competence.
3. Desire: We want to step out and address the need; our hunger pushes us. This has to do with our passion.

The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Birds Of A Feather

"Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on." Proverbs 4:13-15

Leadership Promises - Birds Of A Feather.

A factor in your personal development comes in the area of your relationships with others. You can tell a lot about which direction your life is heading by looking at the people with whom you've chosen to spend your time and share your ideas.

Their values and priorities impact you the way you think and act. If they're positive people dedicated to growth, then their values and priorities will encourage you and reinforce your desire to grow.

It's not always comfortable to associate with people who are ahead of you in their growth, but it's always profitable. Try to cultivate relationships with those people who can help you grow, but don't think only in terms of what you can gain. Always bring something to the table yourself. You've got to make the relationship win-win or it won't last.
Your Road Map for Success. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Invest To Empower

Barnabas took [Paul] and brought him to the apostles, And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus."Acts 9:27

Leadership Promises - Invest To Empower.

Barnabas let no opportunity escape to add value to others, and his greatest single contribution in terms of empowerment can be seen in his interaction with Paul.

• He believed in Paul before anyone else did.
• He endorsed Paul's leadership to other leaders.
• He empowered Paul to reach his potential.

To be an empowering leader, you must do more than believe in emerging leaders. You need to take steps to help them become the leaders they have the potential to be. You must invest in them if you want to empower them to become their best.

Empowering people takes a personal investment. It requires energy and time. But it's worth the price.

If you do it right, you will have the privilege of seeing someone move up to a higher level. And when you empower others, you create power in your organization.
The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Good day

Leadership Promises - When The Real Leader Speaks

"Then Elijah said to all the people, 'Come near to me.' So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down." 1 Kings 18:30.

Leadership Promises - When The Real Leader Speaks.

When Elijah spoke, people jumped. But most amazing of all, by the end of the day after all the theatrics, Elijah turned his face toward heaven and cried, "Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again" (1 Kings 18:37) - and God did.

How did the prophet gain the ear of everyone who heard his voice? We can discern a number of reasons:

• His Courage: He was willing to stand-alone for God.
• His Conviction: He had a passion for what he believed.
• His Character: He was honest and forthright with everyone.
• His Connection: He magnetically drew the people to himself and to God.
• His Credibility: He eventually gained the people's ear because he got the results he wanted.

The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Family First

"Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord." 1 Samuel 2:12

As a priest, Eli mentored Samuel; however, Eli's failure to lead his family eventually led to his downfall as a religious leader. This revered judge in Israel failed to discipline his two sons and ended up rearing spiritual rebels. Eli lost his credibility, his job, and eventually his life.

Leadership Promises - Family First.

The Scripture teaches that if we do not faithfully lead our own household, we lack the qualifications to lead beyond the home. In other words, if it doesn't work at home, don't export it. How could a priest like Eli miss the mark?

By making some crucial errors.
- Emphasis: Eli emphasized teaching his colleagues and clients, not his family.
- Expectations: Eli thought his sons would "get it" just because they lived in the house of the Lord.
- Example: Eli failed to live out in his home what he taught in his work.
- Entanglements: Eli got so caught up with his profession, he blinded himself to his failure at home.
The Maxwell Leadership Bible. Good day!

Leadership Promises - The Commitment Crucible

"Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' But Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'" John 6:67-68

Leadership Promises - The Commitment Crucible.

People often associate commitment with their emotions. If they feel the right way, then they can follow through on their commitments.

But true commitment doesn't work that way. It's not an emotion; it's a character quality that enables us to reach our goals. Human emotions go up and down all the time, but commitment has to be rock solid.

There are some things every leader needs to know about being committed:

• It usually is discovered amid adversity.
• It does not depend on gifts or abilities.
• It comes as the result of choice, not conditions.
• It lasts when it's based on values.

The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player. Good day and Happy Easter!

Leadership Promises - The Mark Of A Believer

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

Bud Wilkinson states, "If a team is to reach its potential, each player must be willing to subordinate his personal goals to the good of the team."

Leadership Promises - The Mark Of A Believer

Some sports teams seem to embrace an everyone-for-themselves mindset. Others weave the attitude of subordination and teamwork into the fabric of everything they do. Notre Dame and Penn State don't put the names of the players on their jerseys. Lou Holtz once said, "At Notre Dame, we believed the interlocking ND was all the identification you needed . . . If your priority is the team rather than yourself, what else do you need?".

Winning teams have players who put the good of the team ahead of themselves. They want to play in their area of strength, but they're willing to do what it takes to take care of the team. They are willing to sacrifice their role for the greater goal.
The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork. Good day!

Leadership Promises - Tool Time

"If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy. And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me." Nehemiah 2:7-8

Leadership Promises - Tool Time.

When we give our people authority and responsibility, we must also give them the tools they need. Giving responsibility without resources is ridiculous. It is incredibly limiting.

If we want our people to be creative and resourceful, we need to provide resources. Tools, however, include much more than just equipment.

• Be willing to spend money, on things like books, tapes, professional conferences, etc. Fresh ideas from outside an organization can stimulate growth.
• Be creative in providing tools. It will keep your people growing and equip them to do the job well.

Developing the Leaders Around You. Good day!