“Everything rises and falls on leadership.” ~ John Maxwell

 

How do you see good leadership, or lack there of, effecting our world today?

How do you see this statement true in yourself; in your own leadership?

 

This month we are looking at key components to fulfill your God-given purpose. The series has been called, “Impact the World:….”

Your purpose on this earth is nothing short of this series title. Never estimate the part you play in God’s greater plan to “impact this world!”

Prior articles in this series:
Impact the World: L.E.A.R.N.
Impact the World: G.R.O.W.

 

You may be called to start a new company, move to a new city or you may be called to serve those suffering from addiction in your community. No matter what purpose God created you for, you can go forth in confidence that He is using you in a mighty way.

Scripture says we should do our work as though we are working for the Lord. We don’t often think of our daily “grind” as work for the Lord. However, it is. He is always training us, growing us, drawing us closer to His likeness for the very purpose that He created each of us for. Colossians 3:23 from the Message version states:

Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.

 

In order to do our best, it is important that we are continually seeking to be the best leaders we can be. Professional women especially have multiple leadership roles. Professional women: People are always watching what they see in you. Click To Tweet
Professional Women:  people are always watching and taking something away from what they see in you. You are called to Impact the World! Because this is true, this week we will look at the acronym for L.E.A.D.

 

L is for Listen
Being a good listener is much harder than people think. Take the last 2 conversations you’ve been a part of. Ask yourself these questions:
– Who did the most talking?
– What is something ‘new’ that you learned?
– How many open questions did you ask the other person? An open question is one that inquires beyond a yes or no answer. An open question is curious and lets the other person know you care about what they have to say.

Being a good listener takes practice. Most of us think we are good at it, but I would challenge you to assess your conversations over the next week by using the questions above.

Most of us have information we want to share with people. We don’t go into the conversation expecting to monopolize it, but this often happens. Our conversations need to focus more on the other person than on us. When this happens, we are practicing the skill of listening.

 

E is for Example
As I mentioned above, people are always watching. I don’t say that to place pressure on you, but rather to draw out your awareness of this truth. Every person sets either a good or bad example many times over in a given day. Do we fall to the pressures around us or are we able to demonstrate greatness beyond the pressures we face?

This is exactly why I LOVE working with professional women to build a foundation of personal serenity. Our pressures are high and the likelihood they will stay that way is also high. Living from a place of serenity is the key to setting an incredible example. An example that honors God. An example that you can feel good about and you can know is leading others well.

 

A is for Attitude
Okay, at the risk of sounding like a broken record (I’ll take the risk), the way to keep your attitude in check is to live from a place of serenity. Seriously. When peace is the foundation we stand on, we more naturally have gratitude in our hearts. We more naturally view problems as challenges that can be won, rather than obstacles that can take us down.

Your attitude stems from your heart and your mind more than anything else. Proverbs 4:23 (MSG) states: “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.”
What you allow to live in your heart is what will effect your attitude the most. It is what your mind will ponder the most.

We can try to blame other people or circumstances for our attitude, but blame is simply a tool of deflection. It keeps us from owning the change we need to make within ourselves.

I am not suggesting you should be immune to tough circumstances around you or put on a false smile as you go through them. Not at all! Those same circumstances are the times to fine tune and shore up your foundation. Walking through tough situations provides great opportunities to demonstrate the attitude of a great leader.

Your attitude as a leader sets the tone, good or bad, for everyone around you. Click To Tweet

 

D is for Dare
Dare to be bold. Bold in being a leader who is known for making a difference:
– helping others be the best they can be,
– making the environment for others healthy,
– letting others know you care and they can count on you,
– taking time out for fun,
– mentoring someone personally,
– mentoring someone professionally.

There are many ways to be recognized as a leader who dares to be bold.

In what ways do you need to be bold?

• Is there wrongdoing going on around you?
• Is there something you need to make right?
• Do you need to step out on faith where God has been calling you?

I can remember standing up for my team when the corporation was going through a tough internal battle regarding telecommuting. I was advised against my decision, but I felt strongly that for the personal health of my team members, for the greatest outcomes of the business and for overall morale, I had to dare to be bold. The result was exactly what I hoped for, both from my team and from executive management. What stories do you have where a daring effort paid off? Please share below.

 

[stextbox id=”custom” bwidth=”3″ color=”FAFEFF” bcolor=”8C6727″ bgcolor=”50C7C3″ bgcolorto=”50C7C3″]…Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. ~ Colossians 3:23 (MSG)[/stextbox]

 

 

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Use the comments section below to share how you L.E.A.D.
I LOVE hearing from you and so do others!