Great Leaders

Great Leaders...

Hello loved ones, especially leaders!
Can a leader be great? Can he or she really become excellent and expert at the art of leadership? Absolutely.
Leaders come in all types of shades and hues, and exist in just about every sphere of life. However, all great leaders possess certain fibers vital to their championship. Some of these can be seen by the naked eye, others require a microscopic eye. These are those very fibers deciding if a leader will be poor, average, good, or great.

By. Pst. Daniel Sembiring (HARVEST MEDAN)

(1) Great leaders set the example.

They project no expectation without example.They model what should be, can be, and will be (1Pet 5:3). They themselves are the firstfruits of the harvest they are cultivating in their followers.

(2) Great leaders navigate problems gracefully.

Because they are not afraid of problems and dilemmas, they possess an emotional equilibrium to navigate such with much-needed composure (2Ti 4:5). Because of diligently accumulated wisdom, they possess an intellectual finesse to know often what to do and how do it (Ecc 8:5 NIV).

(3) Great leaders attend to major problems, bypass minor ones, and stay focused on the ultimate goal in the midst of it all.

They embrace problem-solving as a vital part of the journey, but not as the ultimate goal. They realize different problems demand different degrees of attention, all the while staying focused on the ultimate goal. Great leaders defy problems by using them as an opportunity and stimulus.

(4) Great leaders are fearless decision-makers.

They thrive on opportunities to shape a situation or environment. Consequently, they do not fear "pushing the button" or "jumping off" to bridge the ideal and the real.

(5) Great leaders reproduce themselves.

Moses produced Joshua. Naomi produced Ruth. Elijah produced Elisha. Jesus produced Twelve. Peter produced John Mark. Great leaders think generationally and multiplicationally, knowing they are only a firstfruits.

(6) Great leaders are experts in their fields.

Proverbs 24:3-5. They never stop reading, studying, learning, and informing themselves. Whoever has the answer holds the scepter.

(7) Great leaders truly care for their followers.

Proverbs 27:23-27. Leaders are not bullies, dictators, or hot-shots. They are shepherds--in any field. Great ones genuinely care for the needs and burdens of their followers.

(8) Great leaders humbly acknowledge major mistakes.

They show humanity and humility when truly appropriate. People are not looking for Superman, only competence. This is a fair request.

(9) Great leaders are team players.

They delegate, distribute, and divide responsibility according to the ability and preparedness of the followers. They think in terms of multiplicational results that only team effort can yield.

(10) Great leaders balance professionalism with relationship.

Relationship has been, and always will be, the greatest leverage of a leader. A great leader conducts vocational professionalism while maintaining a relational climate that encourages interest and productivity.

(11) Great leaders focus on their signature talents and dominant gifts.

They do not waste time trying to be everything. Rather, they channel their energy and initiatives toward their God-given strengths, producing profound fulfillment and fruitfulness.

(12) Great leaders guide their followers into their signature strengths.

They employ and energize their followers' signature strengths. Similarly, this produces profound fulfillment and fruitfulness in them as well. The entire operation prospers when leader and follower are faithful to their divine design. 1Peter 4:10.

(13) Great leaders remain in promising environments.

They know when a person, group, or environment is unfertile, unyielding, and unwilling. They do not labor in vain because they know environment is just as critical to success as effort.

(14) Great leaders inspire, not domineer.

The three greatest people-motivators are relationship, proof, and joy. Coercion yields superficial and temporary complicity; relationship, proof, and joy yield faithful partnership.

(15) Great leaders flex their authority only when absolutely necessary.

A leader who is constantly flexing is vain and insecure. The most composed and patient leaders often possess the loudest roar. Great leaders don't waste their roars. 2Corinthians 13:10.

(16) Great leaders communicate their agenda clearly and honestly.

They are not chatter-boxes, nor do they indiscriminately release sensitive information, but they do communicate their agenda clearly and honestly as much as possible. Great leaders are trustable, they do not see their follwers as trickable.

(17) Great leaders prioritize their initiatives.

They converge efforts on what's most important, and move down the list from there. As seasons change, priorities change, and so do efforts and initiatives.

(18) Great leaders exert excellence and quality, even in the little things.

They do not do mediocre or "okay" jobs. Great leaders are always doing "a great job", giving attention even to the smallest details. The diligent will always rule, the lazy will always want, Proverbs 12:24.

(19) Great leaders expose themselves to high-grade counsel and information.

Proverbs 24:3-6. Not all counsel is equal. Great leaders expose themselves to a wide array of perspectives, while filtering out that which is low-grade and medium-grade, prioritizing that which is highest grade, most researched, most relevant, and most promising.

(20) Great leaders are marathoners, not sprinters.

They pace themselves. They respect the process. They understand the little-by-little concept. Rarely do things happen overnight. Their patience and diligence progress them to the highest high place. Exodus 23:30.

(21) Great leaders hold the vision tightly, but the plans loosely.

Vision is constant, but plans change with different seasons, situations, and settings. Great leaders adjust and adapt accordingly, while holding tight the vision.

(22) Great leaders maintain balanced lives as complete individuals.

They are not obsessed with their leadership to fix a broken emotion. They have wholesome relationships, personal hobbies, healthy physical habits, and most importantly, they commune with Jesus daily. Ecclesiastes 3:12,13.

(23) Great leaders depend daily on intimacy with the Holy Spirit for endless motivation and energy.

Colossians 1:29 says it all. Candles that burn wick burn out; candles that burn oil seem to burn forever. Great leaders burn oil.

(24) Great leaders give the Lord Jesus Christ all the glory in word and attitude.

They know that "from Him, through Him, and to Him are all things" (Ro 11:36). Their gracious words and attitude of humility show where their truest Glory lies. People know it too.