Challenged To The Core - Del Brixey

Big Dog is company that creates catchy slogans to print on their clothing line. One of my favorites is “LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY.” It’s a great example of how a positive leadership quality, confidence, can be taken to the extreme. Unfortunately, many people believe that you must possess this type of “extreme” confidence to be a good leader, when in fact it can be a detriment. Almost any leadership quality when lived in the extreme can be a problem for the leader as well as the people they are trying to lead. There are four specific abilities that I believe each leader must have; they must be able to “Listen, Encourage, Advise and Demonstrate”. Since we are all wired differently inside, to be effective we need to lead from our strength.

Listen - “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:26-31.

Some people are great listeners while the rest of us have to learn how to listen. Listening is an important quality for a leader to have. Even if you instinctively understand a situation or have experienced the “same” problem so many times before that you could diagram it in your sleep, a leader must be willing to listen; because listening is as much “relational” as it is “informational”. Philip was a leader who listened. First, he listened to God who wanted him to take a road trip. Then he listened for further instructions. Finally, he used his strength of “listening” to ask the Ethiopian eunuch if he understood what he was reading in the book of Isaiah. A leader who listens demonstrates compassion, concern and a connection with the one speaking. If you are good at “listening”, lead with your strength. Use the “information” you hear and experience to lead your team.

Encourage - “Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus…” Acts 15:36-39

Leaders who have the strength of encouragement are the positive people in our lives. They find the good in anything or anyone. They can turn the most tragic situation into a party if given enough time. Barnabas saw the good in “Mark” who had “deserted” Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Barnabas saw the need to “encourage” Mark, whereas Paul didn’t want to be bothered by him. The only clue we have to the success of Barnabas’ leadership with Mark is in 2 Timothy 4:11 where Paul makes a request for Mark to come see him “because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” Wow…what a change of heart in Paul concerning Mark, from “deserter” to “helper.” If you have the strength of encouragement you can see what others don’t even see in themselves. Lead with your strength to impact the lives of people who are often overlooked by others.

Advise - “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.” Acts 9:17-19

Who doesn’t need good advice? Good advice is like water in the desert, it’s needed but hard to find. Ananias was told by God to go and “advise” Saul during his conversion experience. Saul had been blinded by God because he was persecuting believers. If you read the complete passage you will discover that Ananias was very hesitant about God’s request, believing that God wasn’t aware of Saul’s mission of destruction to the early church. Advice is not always received well and especially by someone who isn’t in a good frame of mind. However, God knew that Ananias had the leadership quality to “advise” even the harshest critic and just needed a little encouragement. Saul received his advice, repented, and became known as the Apostle Paul who under God’s direction wrote most of the letters or “books” of the New Testament in the Bible. Leaders who have the strength to “advise” may not be as flashy as those who possess the other strengths of leadership (listen, encourage or demonstrate), but their depth of understanding can guide people who have lost their way.

Demonstrate - “When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help, "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." Matthew 8:5-9.

The power in a leader who “demonstrates” what they believe is irrefutable. A person who “walks the walk” as well as “talks the talk” stands far above the crowd of “wannabe” leaders. This centurion soldier came to Jesus with a simple request to heal his servant. When Jesus agreed to go with him, he “demonstrated” his faith by telling Jesus that he knew he could heal his servant without taking another step. His “power” was not limited by his “presence.” If you are a leader who consistently “demonstrates” your faith through your life; people will follow you wherever you go. Lead from your strength, gather your team and take on the challenges that God has for your life.

You might be asking yourself which strength is the most important for a leader to possess. I believe that’s the wrong question. You need to be asking yourself, “What strength did God give me?” It’s not a matter of which strength is best, it’s whether or not we use the strength(s) that God gives us. No one can be a better you. God has gifted us all with strengths and weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) so that he might receive the glory for what we accomplish. Take some time, “check your pulse” and then “lead from your strength”.