06.Feb.2009 Leadership 202: The Next Level
Matthew 5:3-10: 3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Leadership is about heart-to-heart connections. How do you relate to other people? These attitudes that Jesus lists are the realities of living. These are the basic ideas of how we as humans can positively affect the people around us. Attitude changes the atmosphere around you, and it begins by being honest and self-reflective. Be honest with yourself. What do you struggle with? What are your weaknesses? Don’t fall into a victim mindset; don’t start to blame; just be real and honest with yourself. Determine to change and move forward.
Now, this teaching from Jesus is very powerful. It helps us to get in touch with our emotions, and through that, we find parts of our world that need change in order to influence the world. Influence is a common denominator in leadership. First, you influence yourself, and, second, you influence others. What you do in life effects the people around you very deeply.
The life we live is not about us. Everything we do has an affect on other people. It is critical that we honestly lead ourselves and work out what is holding us back. One of the hardest things you will ever learn is how to view a conflict outside our own perspective. It is hard to see beyond our grid–the way we view the world forged by our past and the condition of our hearts–and try to understand the other person’s perspective. How do they view this moment? Conflict is causing a reaction in lives of the people. And we, as humans, are self-centered in the idea that the conflict is all about us. Christianity is about looking beyond yourself. We say often enough that, when one get’s saved, our lives are no longer our own but become God’s. But how often do we live that? It is hard to shift out of yourself and to realize that you affect everyone around you with everything you do.
Being self-aware is essential. Being emotionally tuned in means you are aware of the emotions of the people around you. It is called being empathetic. It helps you to get along in a diverse group of people. In being empathetic and self-aware, you know immediately who you are in the ranking of the people around you, and you can cope with your position with grace and humility. Submission and accountability are important, especially when in leadership. Leaders are just as accountable–if not more so–as those who follow. Know who you are and where you rank in each situation you find yourself and remain submitted to the authority in your life. Self-leadership will allow you to adjust your behavior according to your rank in the room.
Pride rises up to blind us to the truth of our situations. Pride comes before the fall, as it says in the Word. Pride will rise up when we have to submit to authority in our lives. Pride will drive us to act like we are more than we are. The Bible warns against acting like you are higher in the ranking than you truly are. Beware of your pride. When you bring the Kingdom of God into your life and embrace empathy and become emotionally and self aware of the world around you, your pride begins to die and the doors are opened for true heart-to-heart relationships.
Relationships are no clinical. They are on an emotional level. There has to be a heart-to-heart, emotional connection because that is where the influence is transferred. Bossing people around is not leadership. A bossy leader will lose his followers, and a leader without followers is just someone walking alone. It is a heart thing. Leading requires the forging of relationships. Relationships break down due to pride. Lower yourself and soften your heart. A hard heart–a prideful heart–cannot receive from God. Let go of your stuff and let God have His way with you and your life. Don’t get all your ducks in a row; cry out to God for help. He loves that!
Take the Kingdom of God out of your church world and place it into the middle of your work world and watch what happens. God will unleash His supernatural powers out there. Let Him help you tune into the emotions of the world around you. Let Him help you to serve the people in your world. Serve those in authority over you. Serve those who are in submission to you. Serve and forge relationships; that is the key to leadership.
Influence brings with it the ability to inspire people and to bring them hope. People need hope. Life is hard; many people don’t have hope. Inspirational leaders can influence the masses to change. When a leader becomes honest, self-aware, empathetic, and emotionally in tune in his relationships, the chance for influence and inspiration will come, and the relationship will grow in equity and become sound. The relationships will become so strong that the storms of life will not shake it. You give in relationships. Relationships are give and take. If you constantly take, you will not influence or inspire anyone. Give in a relationship; serve in your relationships; deposit into your relationships; and you will gain the ability to influence and to inspire.
Inspiration is guiding and motivating with a vision. Of you don’t have a vision, you can’t inspire anyone. God will give you a vision. He wants you to discover the vision He has placed in your heart. You can’t take anyone into their vision unless you are living your vision. You have to put your money where your mouth is; you need to walk the walk; you cannot inspire someone to do what you are not doing yourself. Jesus pressed this point time and again. If you are going to inspire the world with the message of Jesus, you had better be living it!
Self leadership requires a lot of us. Every decision we make is under the microscope of the world. Everyone around you is watching you. Children watch their parents. Co-workers watch their bosses. Bosses watch their co-workers. Friends watch friends. Every single action of every single day influences those around you. It is challenging, yes, but we have God on our side. Know and have faith in the fact that God is strong when we are weak. He is the one equipping us to live our lives for Him. He is the one guiding us and teaching us how to live the Kingdom of God out there in the world. Our connection to God is the key to everything. God teaches us to self-lead, and He will continue to guide us as we walk it out. So have faith. And go for it!
