Character
Articles in this category focus on how a leader can refine and build their character in Christ and lead by example from a Holy life.
7 Actions For When You Can’t Respect the Leader
An individual can continue to grow even with a leader he or she cannot respect – sometimes even more. Here are seven actions I suggest when you don’t respect the leader.
Ron Edmondson
The Terrifying Danger of Falling off My Own Platform
There’s no shortage of answers, and in the wake of each pastoral scandal, all sorts of finger pointing ensues. Certainly, we could, and probably should, question our definitions of success or our defining ministry philosophies. My goal is much more meager.
Matt Rogers
Quiet Your Ego
It seems like a simple recipe. First, you quiet your ego. Then, you become a better learner. Finally, you emerge a better thinker. If you have ever witnessed a disaster being pulled from a smoking oven, you know that some recipes are more difficult to execute than others. The recipe for better thinking is one of those difficult recipes and ego is the spoiler.
Paul Metler
Rewards of Leadership
Rewards come in all shapes and fashions. David exhorts us that the greatest reward of leadership is being forced to frequently confront and admit our own shortcomings, constantly growing even as we are the catalysts for others to grow.
David Goodman
5 Questions that Reveal your Leadership Strengths
Kevin Cashman lists several questions that can help reveal where our leadership strengths lie. In this article, these five questions have been adapted. I suggest reading these questions slowly and reflectively every day for the next five days.
Charles Stone
9 Traits of Excellent Church Leaders
If we strive to be excellent leaders, we must be intentional and passionate about serving Christ and His church ‒ moving forward, engaging culture. Leaders are born, but they can also be developed.
Matthew Fretwell
Six Characteristics of the Person Jesus Uses
Jesus did not recruit His men from Bible Colleges or Universities or the political arena. He largely found ordinary men in the marketplace, men with certain qualities. And we see in the calling of these four fishermen an important principle; He tested them to approve them and then to entrust them with responsibility. How did He do that?
Rod Denton
5 Roadblocks of Good Leadership
It’s the roadblocks in leadership which we can avoid that tend to be most damaging. They detract from growth and destroy organizational health. If they aren’t addressed, it can set some leaders back months, years, even an entire career.
Ron Edmondson
How to Be Joyful in Your Leadership
As a biblical leader, I choose to model joy for the people I lead. By choosing to model joy, I hope my colleagues can see “work” and “vocation” as synonyms for joy.
James Bruyn
When Leaders Act Like Kids, and Kids Act Like Leaders
Whether we know it or not, we adults (parents, educators, coaches, employers, aunts and uncles) are viewed by students as leaders. We are older and expected to be wiser than students. We must be careful of what we say and how we say it.
Tim Elmore
3 Ways to Hate Sin in Others More Than in Ourselves
We can be exponentially more disgusted with the sin in other people’s lives than we are with our own. Our own sin can fail to anger us the way someone else’s sin does. Here are three common examples of this.
Eric Geiger
Leading with Love on the Line
Every significant moment in history was led by leaders who were committed to another way. Leaders who acted counter-culturally. Leaders who selflessly did what was right rather than what was popular or comfortable.
Jenni Catron
3 Indications of Really Bad Leadership
To be a good leader, choose compassion over cruelty, clarity over chaos, and humility over self-consumption.
Eric Geiger
I’m Allowed to Change Slowly, but You Must Change Fast. Really Fast.
Yes, it’s hard to wait for others to change. But if God patiently waits for us to change, we can also wait for others.
Stephen Altrogge
Why Being Flexible Matters
Being flexible allows us to assess what’s coming at us, and it helps us to focus on the things we can control and to not lose it when things come that we can’t control. I want to tell you, those things will come; they always do.
Russ Cline
Doing Good Things Is Not the Same as Doing Good
Not for earthly comfort or gain, not for recognition or fame, but because in due season, I will reap. And that, my friends, is truly good.
Katie Hughes
Externalizing Blame
Most people blame external sources when they are criticized, yet doing that is a huge character flaw. Here are three questions you can ask to align yourself when faced with negative feedback.
Pieter Messelink
Finding Character and Chemistry in Recruitment
Obviously it’s almost impossible to really know someone’s character before they start work. But that’s no excuse for just ignoring it. We can at least try to find out what drives people and how they react in difficult situations. And it does not stop with recruitment – what about staff appraisal and development?
Rick James
Steward Leaders Temper Power
Have you ever known someone who let power or position go to their head? I’ll bet it was hard for you to follow or respect that leader. Power is an essential force in human relations that can be used for good or evil, but to be a benevolent force it must be tamed; therefore, Christ’s stewards must consider the responsible use of the power He places in our hands.
Howard Rich
3 Ways to Respond to Criticism
Always remember, if you’re doing anything of substance and meaning, criticism will come your way. It can’t be avoided, but it can be advantageous if you respond properly.
Shane Pruitt