Facing The Giants In Leadership.
We all have them even if we don't want to admit it. That can be a giant in it's self, the unwillingness to admit we have giants.
I think it takes a lot of self-examination to get anywhere in leadership." An unexamined life is a life not worth living"
Let's look at a few giants that we as leaders will face:
1. Pleasing People - this is subtle giant that doesn't raise it's ugly head right away. This giant shows up once you begin to demand commitment and a loyal following. Then it's then that the resistance that you and I sense that causes us to all of sudden become apologetic and say and do certain things to keep a following (wrong) but it is a giant that must be slain.
King Saul had this giant...always wanting to please people, that can be seen in 1 Sam.15.
2. Pedestal Propping - this is giant many leaders don't even recognize. Leaders are often propped up on a pedestal by the people who follow them. How you might wonder.. it's through excessive flattery, numerous thank you's, especially in public. What's amazing, as leaders, we sometimes prop ourselves up without anybodies help.
3. Pride- ooh, this giant is a scary one. This giant is one that hangs around or even creeped in thru the cracks as we might say. It slipped into our leadership. It's not a pride from the world, its worst- spiritual pride! The bible says: pride comes before a fall. The giant of Pride shows up when somebody "less experience" than us attempts to teach us something and we can't even hear that person out and even think we know what they're going to tell us before they finish speaking.
4. Passiveness - this is an obvious giant, it lurks around any task that requires dilligence. Instead being passionate about serving, leading the way, this giant steps up and introduces us to it's twin - apathy. Too many fall at the feet of this giant with a lack of motivation and desire...wow these giants are fierce and out to stifle and hinder our leadership efforts. They can be slain, yes there's more giants which I won't labor, but mentioned - pleasure, prayerlessness and politics. In the next issue we'll discover how. Thanks for stopping by The Leadership Den.
