When the Going Gets Tough, Real Leaders Step Up
Leading others through a fire is a great opportunity to develop sustainable leadership skills.
Many leaders can point to a single event when they were aware of a need to step up. Opportunity knocks for potential leaders in the form of an apparent crisis. The deep truths about leadership are forged in the midst of trouble.
Daniel demonstrated his skills as a leader after King Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream (See Daniel 2:1-12).
The king called for his advisers and demanded an interpretation of his dream. He spread joy throughout his cabinet when he told them that if no one could interpret the dream properly, he would kill them all. Daniel was on the sidelines, yet known to be an adviser, so the same fate would apply to him.
Daniel immediately called his three colleagues to pray. After prayer, Daniel waited for God to reveal the dream. Of course, God sent the interpretation and Daniel shared the revelation with the king.
Leaders will experience many tests throughout their season. Most tests precede battlefield promotion.
Too often, leaders rush into a crisis without adequate understanding of the true problem. Flailing arms and shouts of impotent commands simply confuse a team in the midst of a fire.
Effective leaders seek to be at their best when times seem to be the worst. The leader immediately seeks to understand the problem. Like Daniel, leaders seek the Holy Spirit to reveal the problem. Everyone can see the symptoms, but God will show us the essence of the problem if we will seek Him.
Quiet but confident leadership will calm a team wrapped in fear. Quiet confidence is diffused through a team.
Leaders seek the Holy Spirit in every situation.
When Daniel replied to the king he said, “No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Dan. 2:27-28, NIV).
NOODLING
Here’s something I’m trying or thinking about today …
“Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume.”
This 10-minute TED talk advocates that hiring managers should look for a “scrapper,” rather than a perfect resume.
Regina Harper said, “Choose the underestimated contender whose secret weapons are passion and purpose.”
Platform No. 20
The only way the development of platforms won’t work for you is if you stop publishing.
Publish or perish.
Start and don’t stop.
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