Leadership

---

Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday September 29, 2005

For most of my life, beginning in lower elementary school, I have been a student of the mystery of Leadership. This came about initially because whenever there was trouble, I was the first one the teachers looked for, not to enlist my aid in finding ways out of the trouble, but the one on whom to place the blame. The teachers were wise beyond their years.

For many years, in different types of work and as a pastor I just knew that the secret of effective leadership was the constant development of myself. This personal growth is certainly essential and no leader will get far who is negligent in growing personally.

In his book, "Winning" Jack Welch wrote:

"Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others."

The principle stated by Mr. Welch is often overlooked by those who live and may I say die by the negative adage, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." Men and women who attempt to live by this rule, end up living lives of frustration.

The wise leader will always have folks who he/she is training in the real essentials of their profession in order to not only accomplish more, but through the proper training enhance their quality of life.

True leadership communicates to others what you have learned and are learning thus enabling them to have a higher level of confidence concerning the things that matter most.

The Christian worker has the awesome responsibility to teach those under his/her influence the principles taught by Jesus concerning leadership. J. Oswald Sanders wrote a book called, "Spiritual Leadership" that is, in my opinion, the best in print on the subject of true Christian leadership. Mr. Sanders knows and shows the difference between true leadership and mere manipulation. You would be surprised at the number of so called leaders who are in reality little more than accomplished users of the Lord's people. By all means get the book and read it through many times.

The Apostle Paul summed up the principle when he wrote in 2 Timothy 2:2,

"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

I assure you the toughest part of becoming a true leader who is eager to develop others is found in the word, faithful. Faithfulness is the first word to describe the kind of person worthy of your time in training others. No one can grow to their full potential or lead others to a full life sans the principle of faithfulness.

How do you define a ‘faithful’ person? Is your definition in harmony with known Biblical principles?

Leadership is all about growing others, it's as simple as that.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2005 Use with credit

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE