Principles of Leadership

If you are going to be an effective leader, the first thing people must see is that God is with you. It’s important for those you lead to see God’s favor and empowerment operating in your life. The resulting fruit from this is defined by the following principles of quality leadership:

1. The ability to obtain followers — Leadership implies that you exercise enough influence over other people so that they trust the direction you are taking and follow you in that direction.

2. Relational skills — Your skill in developing, cultivating, and conducting relationships is what makes you a successful leader. Know well the people who are accountable to you: how they think, how they respond to various circumstances, their weaknesses and strengths, the areas they need support and encouragement, the skills they have which can best be utilized to achieve the goal you desire. And make sure they know you!

3. Modeling desired behaviors — When you desire a specific result from those working for you, make sure it is being demonstrated in your own life. What they see in you is what they are going to become.

4. The ability to organize — Launching a vision will require the human resources which have been entrusted to you–those who follow your lead. And you must organize those human resources along with material resources–knowledge, finances, and so on–in order to achieve the desire the Lord has put in your heart.

People are important, and they have to be made to feel important. Those who trust and follow the shepherd are not going to listen to any other voice. Build this trust by being a leader that’s knowledgeable, consistent, and responsible.

Jesus did not direct from behind; He led from the front!

(Excerpts from “Positioned for Promotion” by Mac Hammond)

Honor

When you give honor to people, you open them to your influence in remarkable ways. Honor is the key to making any relationship work. And as a leader, it is perhaps one of your most important tools in opening another person’s life and heart to your influence and to the direction God would bring through you.

Discover this about biblical love: it is a reflection of how much you value another person. That’s all. Your willingness to serve on a long-term basis is a reflection of how much you value whomever it is you’re serving. So love really is an outworking of your decision to place a priceless value on the people that God brings into your life.

Have the attitude of a servant-leader in the decision-making process. That makes the well-being of those you lead the primary consideration in decision making, rather than your own job security or your own future. This is how you show them honor.

On the contrary, when you ignore another person’s questions or opinions, you dishonor them; or if you belittle a person’s opinions or views. You can also dishonor someone by not giving him or her your full attention when they’re trying to tell you something.

When having to correct someone, the key is to do it without dishonoring them. Avoid giving the correction in anger. Make sure your message isn’t judgmental or harshly critical. Attack the behavior, not the person. Point out the mistake in judgement, rather than questioning the person’s intelligence.

If you’re quick to give praise and recognition for contributions made–if you are consistent in honoring people for genuine efforts and good things done–then when it comes time to correct, you can do so without devaluing them. If you don’t express appreciation for all that’s done for you, then you’re greatly dishonoring the people who serve you.

Honor: one of the leaders’ greatest tools for accessing the whole-hearted support, loyalty, and cooperation of those who are a part of your life. If you take the time to honor them as valuable–treasures God has entrusted to your care–and if you approach them that way, I am absolutely confident it will stand you in good stead.

(Excerpts from “Positioned for Promotion” by Mac Hammond)

When The Unexpected Hits

Today we’re faced with challenging circumstances. There’s no need to turn on the news anymore because you can look all around you and find for yourself plenty of craziness. In these times, just saying, “Oh well it’s the signs of the end times!” doesn’t cut it anymore. It doesn’t make things clearer although it’s certainly part of the equation.

Truth be told there are no real answers when unexpected trials hit us square in the face. In fact, difficulty only multiplies when we try and resolve things or answer all the questions. We think we’re helping, but really we’re scratching our curiosity itch. So what do we do then? What do we do when something seemingly terrible happens and we’re the one’s that are supposed to lead the charge into victory?

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus came that we would have the choice of life. It’s an abundant life that we must continue to receive on a day-to-day, moment-to-moment basis. And in doing so, we can hope that the people God has put under us and in our lives receive from the supply that’s flowing within us.

That’s about it. You can try and council people. You can try and answer their questions. You can try and ignore the problems. But none of that will really create any lasting salvation. Jesus–focussing on His abundant goodness–is the only thing that can create any sort of forward momentum when the unexpected hits. It keeps the attention off our struggles and puts the focus on His strength–giving us the power to overcome.

Gentleness

Real gentleness springs from confidence in your strength and in the ability of Jesus which resides in you by the power of His Holy Spirit. It is confidence which comes from walking in the knowledge that you need not feel threatened that somebody might usurp your power or your authority. Many leaders possess and unshakable firmness, but gentleness is a sign of strength that can come only from God.

Why is gentleness important? Would you want to follow a tyrant?! Our leadership success will come only in obtaining the voluntary and willing support and service of those whom we lead. This is a defining characteristic of godly leadership.

You “rule” by your obedience to the Lord, the One who gently leads through you. 1 Timothy 3 defines what happens outwardly when we allow God to lead us inwardly:

1. We place a priority on marriage

2. We’re not lazy

3. We’re not given to foolishness

4. We always act becomingly

5. We’re able to be with people for fellowship and ministry

6. We avoid the pitfalls of alcohol

7. We do not make hasty covenants for the purpose of gain

8. We’re not unduly motivated by financial gain

9. We’re steady in the face of adverse circumstance

10. We don’t lose our temper

11. We don’t wish we had what belongs to someone else

12. We’re able to lead our own family

Verse 7 continues to explain that “their testimony must be proven and established over time.” (Paraphrased) This means we do not elevate people to a position of importance in the local body, simply because of their marvelous testimony or talent. That’s a big temptation we face when we’re often looking for talented people to fill our open band positions.

Do those characteristics of a godly leader sound like a lot to handle? They are! They’re much to difficult to achieve on our own which is why the only way these things (and all things) are possible is through Christ. As we continue to receive from Him and let Him gently lead us every day, He promises to give us all things that pertain to the demands of our lives, families and ministries!

(Excerpts from “Positioned for Promotion” by Mac Hammond)

Radically Transform Your Worship Services

Psalm 19:1-4  “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament (expanse of heaven) shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line (sound) has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.”

David’s statement in Psalm 19 “the heavens declaring the glory of God” parallels those times in worship when we say, “God, I give you all the glory You deserve.” He does deserve it! But isn’t it interesting that even in those moments of giving our praise to God, He is actually giving to us?! He “utters speech” and is ” revealing knowledge” into our situations day and night! In everything we say and do He is making His voice heard!

As worship leaders, there comes a point where we stop coercing people into “entering in” but instead help them realize that God has already “entered in” to their lives and is moving and speaking at that very moment. Not because we’re at a church in a worship service, but because He passionately loves to see us sit and receive all He desires to give us–much like Jesus loved to teach Mary as she simply sat at His feet and received.

We lead people into worship this way by choosing songs that speak of all Jesus has done for us instead of all we are doing for Him. See the difference? When worshiping freely in the Spirit, sing phrases from the Word that speak of Jesus–not the usual “We worship You, we worship You, we love You, we love You.” This paradigm shift will radically transform your worship services.

What’s our job as worship leaders anyway? Is it to convince God to come be with us in worship? Are we trying to get people to reach just a little higher so they can touch God and maybe feel some goose-bumbs? If Jesus touched and transformed a thief and a liar like Zaccheaus, and even a murderer like Paul–neither of whom were trying to be like Jesus–then what makes us think that He won’t swing into action for people like us? We can run, but we can’t hide!