Everyday Optimum Leadership

Enabling leadership builds on the “one another connection” of the New Testament witness. The following Scriptures affirm that we are servants of one another; dependent on one another and commissioned to do Christ’s work together: John 13:34-- “so you must love one another.” (See also Jn. 15:12, 17; Rom. 13:8; 1 Jn. 3:11; 4:7) Rom. 12:5-- “each member belongs to all the others.” Rom. 12:10-- “Honor one another above yourselves.” Rom. 12:16-- “Live in harmony with one another.” Rom. 12:18-- “live at peace with everyone.” (Mk. 9:50; Rom. 14:19) Rom. 14:13-- “stop passing judgment on one another.” Rom. 15:7-- “Accept one another.” 1 Cor. 12:25-- “have equal concern for each other.” Gal. 5:13-- “serve one another in love.” Gal. 6:2-- “Carry each other’s burdens.” Eph. 4:32-- “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” 1 Thess. 5:11-- “Therefore encourage one another.” (Heb. 3:13) 1 Thess. 5:11-- “build each other up.” (Heb. 3:13) James 5:16-- “confess your sins to each other.” James 5:16-- “pray for each other.” 1 John 1:7-- “we have fellowship with one another.” Practice #4 Effective Leadership “Doing the right things on purpose.” Servant leaders intentionally seek to establish kingdom mission, goals, and direction with the church body, its members and in the marketplace. That is the mark of effectiveness or excellence Paul sought in the service of Christ: 2 Tim. 2:15--Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Phil. 3:12-14-- Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 1. Personal effectiveness: Commit yourself to a lifetime of growth, development, and contribution: Continue to learn about your service/leadership roles--from Scripture, studies, experience, mentors, and ministry team members. Covey, Habit #7-- “Sharpen the saw is the endowment of continuous improvement or self-renewal to overcome entropy” (Principle-Centered Leadership, p. 47). He also admonishes: “Think effectiveness with people; efficiency with things and methods” (p. 52). Discover and put into practice your spiritual gifts, empowering you to work with others to pursue kingdom goals. Romans 12:8-- . . . if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; . . . Actually exercise consistently your giftedness, what you have learned, and the skills developed. Personal effectiveness has a diverse set of traits and skills; examples only include: A personal sense of mission and calling, high regard and respect for others, integrity in behavior and methods, communication skills, with a focus on listening, forward-looking, visionary, intelligence, job knowledge, energy for “second mile” efforts. Congregational effectiveness: In church or the marketplace work with your congregation or team to establish and achieve kingdom goals. In the church think about the congregation as a social/spiritual “system”; the connectedness of the parts affect the whole. Do not be shortsighted or crisis/event driven. Establish with the congregation a kingdom-size mission/vision as its true center. Assess its actual situation, its opportunities, challenges, and resources. Cast the mission/vision into a desired future. In the marketplace empower the coworkers to transform vision into a new reality; implement toward desired results with objectives, goals, and action plans. Effective leaders consistently develop as servant leaders; and, they consistently work with others to pursue kingdom purposes.