Leadership Lessons: Leading with a Pure Heart

In my previous post #The Power of The Holy Spirit, I alluded to the lives of the disciples of Jesus Christ who were once followers, now ready to lead. I also shared that the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives empowers us to do the extraordinary. The last few months I have faced all sorts of leadership lessons, personally and professionally. The constant question that I asked myself was, how do I ascend from a good leader to a great leader? Again, experience and observation, coupled with God's Word and Wisdom granted this revelation.

As good leaders ascend from good to great, they begin to see things from a different perspective. This change in perspective shifts their position from the Overseer Leader to the Shepherd Leader. Our greatest example of a shepherd leader is our Heavenly Father. In Psalm 23 we read about the nature and the leadership of our Heavenly Father described by David, a model shepherd himself. "The Lord is my Shepherd." The term "shepherd" is used throughout Old and New Testament scripture to illustrate leadership. Leadership involves both the rod (correction) and the staff (direction). Leadership communicates love, compassion, nurturing, intimacy, and the spiritual care a godly leader provides.

"Not only does leadership demand the shepherding of others, but leaders must exhort them and build internal motivation in the hearts of their followers." John Maxwell

In my observations and in my own personal experiences, effective leadership is not always so easily demonstrated without proper preparation. Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 challenges us to walk prudently, to draw near to hear, and to not be hasty in our speech. Ouch! What lessons we can all learn from this. In the text Solomon describes three major pitfalls lying in wait for careless leaders:

1. Hasty Speech - leaders must listen as much as they speak. It takes more than words to fulfill dreams.

2. Empty Promises - leaders tend to say what others want to hear. Don't promise what you can't deliver.

3. Lame Excuses - leaders diminish their influence when they try to reverse a mistake with a lame excuse.

                                                                                         #LoveLeadership

10 Commandments of Leadership

1. Leaders must be willing to listen as they lead

2. Leaders must be willing to learn as the lead

3. Leaders must be willing to serve as they lead

4. Leaders must reach the heart before they ask for the hand

5. Leaders must keep their hearts and motives pure

6. Leaders must keep their word

7. Leaders must stay on their knees in prayer for those they serve and lead

8. Leaders must make excellence a lifestyle

9. Leaders must remain committed to what really matters

10. Leaders must display integrity and sound ethics



"Leaders are compassionate listeners of the heart who use their hands to ignite a flame of hope in the lives of those they lead" Chi T. Mathias, Visionary | chitmathias.com | Compassionate.Humble.Inspired


Join us every Tuesday @ 7:30 beginning November 11th for a 7 week journey of #GENUINE servant leadership. The Leading The Way Bible Study at The Creative Arts Building in Grand Center located at 3617 Grandel Square 63108. RSVP REQUESTED @ 314.224.5377. Please bring a friend, a refreshment of your choice and your John Maxwell Leadership Bible. Don't have either of these? Come anyway! #NOEXCUSES #THETIMEISNOW #WHATRUWAITING4 #STL #HEALING #INSPIRE #EMPOWER #TRANSFORM #LEADERSHIP #ABUNDANCE #GRATITUDE

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